Window shopping

So last night, Stephen wanted me to watch a movie with him. Well it turned out to have too much shooting and car racing for me, so I pulled out my handy laptop and decided to window shop on etsy.com. I love this site. It is so addictive though. I did not even cover half of the site. Here are a few things I have added to my wish list that will probably always stay there. Still it doesn't hurt to look and dream and even get some ideas for crafts to make myself.

I love all things monogrammed and orange lately. Leigh recently said orange is my new color. In fact, my toes are even painted orange right now :)

I also love things with birds on them. Guess I'm buying into the whole French country style that is so popular right now:

I just liked these. I thought they were very pretty. They are just begging to be used for a tea party:

This is made of yarn and felt! I love it! May need to make one for myself. Im sure I could find some how-to videos on youtube. Now just need to find time to make it:

I LOVE THESE!!! I could totally do this too! I love this idea. I might have to steal it!

Again, more buttons! Isn't this cute and different?

Thats all for now. By the time I made it through these sections, the movie was over. I did get a peek at the wall decor section. I will def need to revisit it to see what other things I may need :)

I think all we did was eat this weekend

I was oncall again this weekend, so we had to lay low. Friday night we went to Columbus with the Blakes and the Mintons to eat at Huck's. This was the first time Stephen and I had been there. It was so good! I had chicken and andouille sausage pasta. Stephen had the grits and grillades. Tasty!!! I highly recommend going if you get the chance.

Sunday we tried another new eatery. We went to the Ranchhouse. If you saw the outside you would never believe good food could come from there but it was really good. It was a great buffet with all homemade down home Sunday cooking! A great deal for the massive amount of food you get. We left totally stuffed saying we would be back very soon. Headed straight home and crawled into bed for a nap!
Im on call through Friday and then Saturday I leave for Mexico!!!! Yea!!!! Ill be working extra all week and then packing so will probably not post again for a little while. Just check back later.

Grandma Powell's Squash Casserole

So we have been getting a lot of fresh squash from one of Stephen's classmate. We have been cooking it several nights the last couple weeks. I emailed my grandmother to ask for some recipe suggestions so that we could change it up. She sent me my great great grandmother's, Grandma Powell, recipe for squash casserole. I made it for the first time tonight.

The squash we got were huge! I only needed one to make this whole recipe!

First you saute it with onions and let it cook down. Mix about 2 cups of the squash mixture with one can of cream of chicken soup. Coat casserole pan with Pam. Sprinkle with crushed Ritz crackers and pour in squash mixture.

Next, cover with shredded cheddar cheese and sprinkle with more Ritz crumbs. Then place a couple pats of butter around the casserole.

We had dirty rice, squash casserole and cornbread:

Grandma Powell's Squash Casserole

2 cups squash, stewed with 1 diced onion (the 2 cup measure is after cooking the squash down, not raw)
3 hard boiled eggs (I left these out)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed

Spray a casserole dish with Pam, and cover bottom with crushed Ritz..
Slice eggs, thin; or dice. Whichever you prefer.
Mix eggs, squash and soup; stir well. Taste to see if you want to add salt and pepper. The soup adds salt, so taste it before adding more.
Pour mixture in casserole
Cover with cheddar cheese, top with crushed Ritz, dot with butter

Bake, uncovered, at 375 until top is brown.
You can also use breadcrumbs instead of Ritz, if you prefer. This is one of those recipes that you can play with; exact measurements aren't necessary.
I was going to make it all reduced fat but could not find any reduced fat Ritz in our tiny town this afternoon. I did use the low fat cream of chicken but used regular cheese.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

I know, three post in one day?!? But, I need to say Happy Fathers Day to my favorite daddy. I was flipping through some pictures on my computer this afternoon and wanted to post a few of my favorites of Dad.

His first sushi experience. The chef was surprised by his Pourciau size head. Ha ha! Just a little small:

The resemblance is freaky. He did not keep this beard long because it really confused the little kids at church:

I love this one! Not sure who took it. It was from one year in Mexico. Ready to go back this year:

I love this one too! It was taken for promotional stuff at church. I saved it for myself. I love that its not posed and they are just being themselves:

The day he loved and dreaded at the same time. Walking me down the aisle:

Our faces say it all! This was probably the quickest walk down the aisle any bride has ever made. I think it lasted 3 sec, maybe. I loved that he got to be the pastor that married us. I would not have had anyone else in the world do it:

This was our special moment. He got one last "Casey Pourciau hug" before he pronounced us "Mr and Mrs. Stephen Richards". I love that Stephen never let go my hand as Dad hugged me! I asked him about it and he said "You were mine now and I was not letting go." I love these two men more than any others in this world. Can't imagine my life without either of them:

Dad, I love you so much! I hope you have had a great Father's Day! Sorry I could not be there. Who gets married on Fathers Day weekend? We did not think that one through. Ha ha! I get to see you in 13 days! See you at the airport. So ready to spend the week with you in Mexico!

Because my parents may be the last two people on the planet not on facebook

First Baptist Church Louisiville, MS is having their 175th anniversary next month. They have been collecting old pictures as they prepare and an album has been started on facebook. This week I was tagging in a few photos. Keep in mind we were there 1991-1999. Not my most attractive years :). Despite that, wanted to share a few that have shown up of our family so Mom and Dad can see what is on facebook.

Dad sitting on the far right of the stage:

Mom far left:

That is me on the front row of the choir rocking the baggy shorts and red sweater vest. Yes, I know this look is irresistible:

Mom, Leigh and I are someone in this picture. This was from Hanging of the Greens. I still remember carrying those poinsettias that made up the large tree behind the choir:

Look Dad, one of the first Nail Benders trips! Poppa you are in this one too:

Leigh is on the front row, second from the left. She looked really happy about having her picture made here. I hardly remember her hair ever being this long!

Weekend Away

So we went Birmingham this weekend for a weekend away to celebrate our anniversary. It was such a relaxing weekend. I love just hanging out with Stephen. We have the best time doing nothing at all! As a gift to my sweet hubby, I put the camera away for the weekend. He is usually pretty patient about me constantly taking pictures but its not his favorite. So I thought a camera free trip would be a nice treat for him. Here are just a couple pictures that I took with my trusty iPhone.

Took this one right before we headed out to dinner last night:

We went to The Church at Brook Hills this morning. We were hoping to hear their pastor, Dr. David Platt, preach but he had just returned from a trip so one of their associate pastors preached instead. Maybe we can catch him next time we are in B'ham.

We went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch before heading home. We split this and it was sooooo good! I loved how they had the plate decorated. Will have to try to re-create that one day soon.

Memphis Day 3

Day 3 we took a tour of St. Jude. I had been there when I was in nursing school but it was great to see it again. If you plan on going, you can call and schedule an appointment. I love that this place does not feel like a hospital. It is decorated with bright colors and art created by the patients. Such a special place even though it has to deal with such sadness on a daily basis.

After our St. Jude tour, we went to Chili's for lunch. We had just toured the new building that they had sponsored at St. Jude and wanted to support the cause. After lunch we went "junktique-ing" as the grandmothers called it. We went to a vintage clothing shop, antique shop and a thrift store.

After our shopping outing, I dropped the girls off at the cottage and I headed home. Just as I was crossing into Alabama, my car reached 100,000 miles! It was a big moment so I had to document it. I bet when my great grandmother would yell "Dont fiddle with the tapes" as you pulled out the driveway, she also meant don't take pictures while driving. Probably not a great idea. Oh well!

Yea! 100,000 miles and Yea! Im back in Alabama!

THREE YEARS!!!!

Happy Anniversary to us! Cant believe it has been three years! I love being married. It has been the best three years of my life. I can't wait to see what is coming around the next corner. I decided to post my wedding cake this year instead of one of our wedding photos. Mainly because there are not many photos of just the two of us from that day and also because I loved this cake. It was so tasty! I can just taste it now. Moist lemon cake with cream cheese frosting. Yummy! We are heading to Birmingham this weekend to really celebrate. I will try to take plenty of pictures and share them when we get back.

(Photo from Taylor Massey's Facebook)

Memphis Day 2

Day 2 was another busy busy day. We started by having a WONDERFUL breakfast at Brother Junipers (where the locals eat :)) I had the dish that Rachel Ray had when she was doing her show, Tasty Travels, in the Memphis area. I must say, it was YUMMO!!!!

Here it is. The San Diegan Open Face Omelet with cheese grits and toast!

Next on the list......GRACELAND: We took the audio tour. If you ever get a chance to go, do it! I was not that excited at first but let me tell you it is well worth the money! I loved it and have been singing Elvis songs since we left!

It was sooooo hot that day. Heat index was 108! I was literally melting in this picture.

Here it is:

Loved this room. It was so pretty. I wanted to take the piano home!

Have to brag for a moment. Elvis had the same pattern of china that I have. My grandmother said it was a different brand but I say it looks the same so I can now tell everyone that I have Elvis's china.

Had to give The King a kiss

Of course we all had to try on some Elvis glasses. We never saw any with the sideburns on them.

Thank you, Thank you very much:

You could even do karaoke

Loading onto Elvis's private jet, the Lisa Marie

Lunch at the diner. I really can't explain what we were discussing here. Sorry but what happens with the grandmothers, stays with the grandmothers. Don't even ask, Mom. Im not going to tell you :)

Next we went to Sun Studio. We did not take the tour. We were worn out from the heat so we just walked around the gift shop and enjoyed the free air conditioning.

After this we went back to the cottage for a nap and watched an Elvis movie, Kissing Cousins (not his best work). Then we went back into town to eat at Panera. I will do my very best to put the last of the pictures up tomorrow.