Update on My Honey

As I was walking up the stairs this morning the song "Oh Happy Day" started playing through my mind. Well the chorus maybe I don't think I remember the whole song anyway yesterday was a big day.

It was our 7th chemo treatment and it was the day that we got the results of his p.e.t. scan.  

Negative.

The pet scan was NEGATIVE!!! 

Negative for cancer!  ( insert picture in your mind of me dancing the jig here)

My honey cancer is not curable but it is highly treatable and the treatment is working (picture me with tears rolling down my face and a great big smile spread across it) 

The doctor said the scan shows no sign of cancer, there is no cancer growing, it is all dead, we got it!  Woo - Hoo!! :))  

He still has to finish his chemo treatments but they took the "bad" drug out so it should be a little easier on him and we have to finish this walk we're on but you know that light at the end of the tunnel, it suddenly got a lot brighter.  

The doctor cautioned us to remain careful during these last two treatments so we don't end up in the hospital but it is almost over and then we begin the maintenance phase.  

Oh happy day.

I can't thank you guys enough for praying for us, asking about us, putting us in your thoughts and concerns.  I can't even begin to put into words my gratitude so I will just simply say thank you with the promise of standing in the gap for you.  

After a few minutes of calling family and through the joyful sobbing did I hear in my spirit God say, I AM.  

I AM that I AM and there is no other.  

Yes Lord. Yes Lord.  Praise Your Holy Name.  Praise You.  

(insert picture of me kneeling down and praising the LORD here) 

Salty Sister Cooks

I have tried to do a cooking post before but my food photography is waaaay bad.  Although I never really give on an idea, so I decided that I would give it one more try.

  

This is one of my dishes that I haven't seen anyone else do so I though I would start with this one first.  Welcome to the new Salty Sister Cooks segment of this here blog.  Thank you.

I found this recipe in a cook book years ago, I can't remember which one but I can still see the cover of the book in my mind's eye, if that helps any. ?  Also, no clue as to if it had a name or what that name might be so here are the ingredients.

Um hum, yep broccoli and bacon.  Some of my family loves it, some not so much but she's just scared that way.  

So here is how I do it.  Chop up the broccoli first, put it in a bowl and set it aside.  Then cut the bacon in one inch sections.  That way only one cutting board.  Just a little diddy from me to you.

Separate the bacon and drop it in a preheated pan.  You know just like you would anytime your cooking bacon.
I use the largest size pan I have because your pan is going to get pretty full.

Start the water boiling for the pasta.

Cook bacon until it is almost done.  Drain grease.  One f the easiest ways for me to drain grease from a pan with bacon or hamburger cooking is to spoon the meat out of the pan and then clean the pan with paper towels or you can pour it into an empty can.  I've noticed that the older I get my wrist can't handle the weight of the pan as easy so using the paper towel method works for me.  Paper towels and paper plates....I keep the paper making people in business.  Just call it my contribution to the economy.

check pasta for doneness.  You seriously need to leave the pasta a little crunchy.  Al dente as they say.  Because it is going to cook more in the pan with the other ingredients in a minute.  So, get one of the pasta pieces and take a bite.  

Push the bacon to the sides of the pan and add the broccoli in the center of the pan. 

 
I didn't make note of the time but I leave my broccoli crunchy too, so don't cook it to long.  Just steam it and when it looks nice and dark green but still crunchy, stir the broccoli and bacon together and add the drained pasta. Turn the heat off here.

Gently toss together.  I think the original recipe called for one-half pound bacon and half the box of pasta but I use the whole package.  Like I said I've been cooking this for a long time.  

Now add the cheese.  It calls for parmesan but I for the longest time I could only find mozzarella and parmesan mixed together.  So I used that.  Now I can buy the parmesan separately but I like the mozzarella so I keep it in there.  The one thing I have learn, don't use cheddar cheese - hmm, not so much.  
Again, gently stir the cheese in.  Not too much just mix it a little. And if you like things even more spicey  sprinkle cayenne pepper on top.

Okay, that's it.  It really is yummy. 

I serve it with a salad or wedge of lettuce a slice and maybe a slice of bread.  This is a garlic bread I found at the grocery story in their fresh baked area.  And un-sweet ice tea but that's just me. 

I use the whole package of bacon - sliced in one inch segments, two broccoli heads - chopped, one box of pasta - I use the penne rigate or the spiral and parmesan and mozzarella cheese.  I my experience the parmesan is a must, you can do with out the mozzarella.  And as I have been preparing this post I realized that the original called for a garlic clove minced.  I haven't used that in years but it sounds good.  Next time for sure. 

 

So there you go.  My first "Salty Sister Cooks" post.  I hope you try this dish and I really hope you like it.  That would be bad if you didn't.  Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

  

See ya.  :))  

                  

                

Idol Smidol

I guess I was wrong . . . again.  Darn-it.  That just blew my top five predictions right out of the water.  

Never mind. 

American Idol Top 9 - 2x's

As always linking up with BooMama's American Idol post.  Thank you for giving us this forum.  

First thing I've got to say is What?!!!?  Adam Lambert is the mentor??  Okaaya, let's get on with it, then.   My daughter, Danya gets  together with me every week (on the phone)  and we dish about our impressions of American Idol.   And then we get a few comments from our significant others, my honey RS and hers CC.

So Danya, what did you think of Adam Lambert as mentor?

  

D - I don't understand why he was a guest mentor, shouldn't it be somebody like Carrie Underwood or Kelly Clarkson?  I thought it was just a little weird. 

Yea, it was a little strange for me too but he did okay.  See, I think it should be Kris Allen or Chris Daughtry, that would be good.   

So for the show;

Crystal Bowersox

I feel like what Ellen said, "just how many ways can you say, your amazing, the best, awesome, authentic, from the heart".  She's just so good.  She's like a little power pack or something.  She has stayed solid through out this competition, never wavering.  I can't wait for her career to begin.  She one of my top three and she may be the winner. 

RS - She'll make a lot of money.

Danya - I don't even know what to say ... she's amazing, she's excellent, she's so good that... okay I have something to say, I'm a Little worried about her.  I'm worried that she's fading.  Not that there is anybody as good has her I'm afraid that some people are getting better and she isn't.  I don't think she pushing herself.  What do you think?

 

I didn't see that.

D - You didn't?  You thought she was amazing?  Okay, I don't want her to be first anymore, I gotta ease into it before I watch her.  

Eh?  Why do you feel that way?

Because, I got be in the right frame of mind.  It took me by surprise, the show came on and there she was and I wasn't ready.

Danya, if she doesn't win promise me you won't have a coronary, k.

Andrew Garcia

I think his performance is solid.  He put his own spin on it.  I can't say anything bad about him.  

RS - either him or the sliding guy will get kicked off.  I think he'll go home, he doesn't sing very good.

Danya - he sucks, horrible haha, hahaha.  

Tim Urban - Can't Help Falling In Love

My least favorite Elvis Presley song.  Um, nice acoustic guitar, I'm loving this.  I like it!  I think it's great.  Very nice.  Simon said, "managed to go from zero to hero".  Well done Tim.  I don't think he will go home this week.  

RS - where those "guys" dancing? 

Danya - Much better.  Better, actually liked it a  little.

Lee Deywze

Wow, I love it, love Lee.  Yay!  He looked like he was having fun.  I can't wait for his music career to begin too.  Simon said you nailed the song, that's what it's all about.  Top three, that's my prediction for this guy.  Ya'll vote for him, k.

Danya - Lee's really good.  Love his voice, looks confidence has a really cool voice.  Kind of agree with Kara but I think that 's just Lee

Aaron Kelly

I wasn't liking the first of the song but he brought it out in the second half.  I think that is what I've been seeing out of him the whole season.  He looked to me like he was sick to his stomach after the judges critiques.  Poor guy.  

RS - I didn't like the first half but the second half was good.

D - I think he really can sing.  I liked it, better.  

Siobhan Mangus - Suspicious Minds

My favorite Elvis song.  Hmm, I don't know, maybe not.  You know I think I'm confused by her too.  Yeah, what the judges said makes sense to me, it is like there are two types of singers there.

D - She sucks, I'm sorry don't write that.  I didn't like it.  Not last week, not this week, so fake.  Last week she was all controlled and I didn't like it.  The beginning of this song - controlled and the end of the song was a little too crazy.  I agree with the judges, there are two voices and so I think that if it were somewhere in the middle I would like it... maybe.

Mike Lynch - In the Ghetto

I love this song too.  Loved it when Elvis put it out and Mike did a good job with it but I missed the guitar lick that is in the original version.  I think Mike felt that song.  

RS - Horrible, worse anyone has done all night.

Danya - In the ghetto, I thought it was good.  I don't like, love him, but I do think he's always good.  He's always there, he always on, he's always solid.  He really brought it.  Last week when it was time to be saved he put it all out there.  He's good.

Katy Stevens - Baby What Do You Want Me To Do

Sassy!  I like it.  I think a few weeks back when Kara told her she was more R & B than country that she started finding her place.  She seems to be more comfortable there and her confidence level is up.  She is not going down without a fight.  I also think I heard a little Trisha Yearwood in there.  Which is country but she can do anything.  I love Trisha Yearwood and when she first came out I she reminded me of Linda Ronstadt.  So you know that kind of comes full circle with the R & B/country thing.

D - I didn't like it, really.  I felt like on some parts she was doing that yell thing, it didn't sound right, but no one said anything so I don't know.  Maybe she was just too young, maybe she just doesn't have it.

Simon seems to agree with Danya, loud and annoying.  

  

Casey James 

Top three.  That's what I have to say about him.  I do agree with what the judges said last night.  He did seem to leave something on the table.  But still good.

D - He does something funny with his mouth, but I really like him, he's got a really good voice and he sexy.  Lee's not sexy, Casey's a little more vamped up.

Whose going home? 

D - I just really don't care as long as Crystal wins.  

Is that Carlos I hear in the back ground?  Who are his favorites?

CC -  I liked Tim Urban, that song was good, the little kid sucked with my blue suade shoes.  Lee sounded good, he did alright, average, he did what he was suppose to.  Siobhan sings the wrong songs, she sucked.  Big Mike did alright.  I didn't get to hear Crystal or Casey.

So I guess we think Siobhan and Aaron and Andrew are in trouble.  I guess out of those three, Andrew and Aaron will go home.   

Spring in West Texas

I took these pictures Friday.  This is what our pastures look like right now.  

There is some green showing up, but it's not really spring in these parts until this start putting on leaves.

Awe, the lovely mesquite tree.  See those thorns?  Nasty.   

The rule in this part of the world is the danger of freezing is not over until the mesquite trees start budding.  We got close last week with a low of 34.   

 

AND - for us spring means some of these beauty's.  A sampling of this morning's time in the pasture.

Have a beautiful day.  

See ya.

Sunday Morning

A sampling of 

Proverbs 11

13.  A gossip betrays a confidence,

but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

16.  A kindhearted woman gains respect, 

but ruthless men gain only wealth.

22.  Like a gold ring in a pig's snout 

is a beautiful women who shows no discretion.

27.  He who seeks good finds goodwill,

but evil comes to him who searches for it.

29.  He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, 

and the fool will be servant to the wise.

and one from 

Proverbs 12.

1.  Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but he who hates correction is stupid.

                                                                           posted from the NIV

Amen.