Only Fern

(From somewhere on Pinterest). I found the above "poster" on Pinterest awhile back.  This morning, I don't know if it was the cool morning or the prospect of a good weekend that put pep in my step and a fullness, yet lightness, in my heart, but as the dog licked my had I realized that I have more than plenty to be thankful for, to be grateful for, to treasure.  I am blessed. Not only do I have food in my fridge, clothes on my back, and a warm bed to sleep in at night...my cup over flows with family and friends (although not near) and experiences that I wouldn't trade.  I may never see the castles in Ireland, but I've seen... the St. Louis Arch (even went to the top in the tiny elevator) the Golden Gate bridge (been across it in a 15 passenger rental van, can you say that??) the "Faces" a.k.a. Mt. Rushmore the Alamo both the Atlantic and the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico (and the North Platte River, but who's counting?)...I've dippe...

I apologize for my absence, but we'll cover that later. On a recent road trip (day trip), for work, I made a little list in my head, let's see if I can recall the jist of it all. I worked up a list of things that we should all have in our memory books, and on my list, thanks to my iPod, I have the '80s ladies. No, not the great friends from the dorm and I that re-worked the K.T. Oslin's hit from the '80s. That is definitely another story for another time. As I was cruising across the Lone Star State in my Gold Lincoln Town Car on Friday of last week, I spent a lot of time being thankful that it was a solo mission---I did a lot of singing and dancing in that car that day. Some of the favorite stops made by my iPod were on the Ladies of the 80s. Let me just share with you right now that my musical stylings were utterly amazing and a force to be reckoned with, not to mention the moves that accompanied them. Tell me, who doesn't know their way through ...

I wish this was today's ensamble in real life... by onlyfern featuring brown boots

Monday by onlyfern featuring yves saint laurent handbags

TGIF by onlyfern featuring rubber shoes

Ranch Rodeo Weekend by onlyfern featuring slouchy handbags

Untitled by onlyfern featuring distressing jeans Ralph Lauren Childrenswear vest $100 - lordandtaylor.com Current/Elliott distressing jeans $229 - saksfifthavenue.com Old Gringo mid heels $490 - infinityshoes.com Michael Kors sports jewelry $225 - net-a-porter.com rings - Dos Piedras Ring $260 - crowsnesttrading.com Womens Western Shirts, Jackets, Jeans and Hats $159 - crowsnesttrading.com

Fern's Feelin' Fancy by onlyfern featuring a 18k gold ring Long sleeve t shirt $235 - barneys.com Alice by Temperley faux fur jacket $487 - my-wardrobe.com Denim jeans £14 - peacocks.co.uk Frye boots $348 - zappos.com Roberto Cavalli leather tote $1,060 - net-a-porter.com Yves Saint Laurent snap bracelet $895 - net-a-porter.com Dannijo 18k gold ring $183 - my-wardrobe.com ASOS turquoise necklace $31 - asos.com

Awhile back, a friend of mine was traveling in the Midwest and ended up at the Ghyslain Chocolatier .  She was so sweet to bring me back a sampling of their goodies. Now, I've never been one of those "I need chocolate" or "Chocolate fixes everything people".  Personally, I'd rather have a plate of cheese fries on a bad day, but that's me, and I do march to my own drum.  However, the small blue box she brought me contained six little pieces of beauty.  Each was a different flavor and shape, and the remarkable thing to me is that each was HAND PAINTED.  They were little tiny works of art.  I have to be honest, they sat untouched in the box for a couple of days before I could bring myself to eat one.  The were so pretty!  Were being the operative word...they were also tasty!! To find the image this morning, I found their website .  Their story is interesting, the things that they can do with chocolate are amazing, and there are pastries.... ...

http://emerson.tamu.edu/ephemera/success.html Favorite Quote (day 5).

Day 4: (I know I'm a few days behind. I'll post this weekend as to why I've been so out of pocket, so to speak) This should be no surprise. Favorite book: Lonesome Dove. If you have NEVER seen the movie, stop what you are doing and devote 6 hours to watching it. If you have NEVER read the book (even if you have seen the movie), STOP RIGHT NOW, go to amazon.com, and buy the book!!! As soon as UPS drops it off, STOP, tear into that box and get to reading. It will consume you, wear comfy sweats, make a pot of great coffee, curl up. DO IT.

Day 3: Favorite TV Show This like the favorite song goes in waves... Shows I really, really like...This by the way is like admitting to guilty pleasures...(in no particular order) Beverly Hills 90210 (the original, not the remake) M*A*S*H Dallas (love the theme song!!) Sex and the City (I will have the little pink box of DVDs, someday) I've also been known to tune into Little House on the Prairie from time to time... Lately, I've really gotten into Army Wives, The Good Wife, Grays Anatomy, Private Practice, Bones, and Castle. I'm also REALLY, into Food Network this summer. The Next Food Network Star and Diners, Drive Inns, & Dives are topping the charts there.

Day 2 of the 30 Day Blog Challenge is "Your favorite movie".  Unlike yesterday's terrible post about my inability to pick one favorite song, my favorite movie can be summed up in 2 words: LONESOME DOVE.

I recently found 2 new dip recipes.  One is road tested and crowd approved.  It will be made again! The other is low in WW points and is on the "things to try" list. Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Dip 1 16 oz carton of sour cream 1 packet of ranch dressing mix 2 jalapenos seeded and diced Cilantro Garlic powder Mix all ingredients together and dive in!! There were both pita chips and tortilla chips present when I served this dip.  It was great with either.  It was also tasty on celery sticks.  This dip is fabulous, fast, and terribly easy.  It's a great spin on the traditional go-to ranch dip.  Make it! And then, make it again. Spinach and Artichoke Dip I found this dip on the WW web site and have yet to try it, but it's going to happen soon!  According to the recipe it makes 12 servings that are 2 WW PP each. 2 sprays of cooking spray 1/2 lb of spinach, baby leaves, washed and dried (I would use frozen!! It would be easier!!) 1 1/2 c ca...

I had a great blogging streak going there for a while, and then, I fell of the wagon.  Well, this girl is picking herself up off of the blogging trail and getting back on that wagon.  I have several ideas up my sleeve to share, I just hope I can keep up!  I found this "30 Day Blog Challenge" at www.robynbeazley.com . (A site I stumbled upon through www.crystalcattle.com .) Her site is titled "Live An Amazing Life".  She's wrote a book with the same title.  I've bought it.  I started reading it and cannot find where I laid it down...that doesn't mean it isn't good, it is. I enjoy reading it.  I think that it's helped jump start me back to my old self.  Trust me, I have strayed away from her, and I've missed her.  Don't worry, she's on a come back!! The 30-Day Challenge TOPICS: •Day 01 — Your favorite song •Day 02 — Your favorite movie •Day 03 — Your favorite television program •Day 04 — Your favorite book •Day 05 — Your favori...

It's Friday! I have big plans to attend the Ft. Griffin Fandangle tonight.  Stay tuned.  My good friends Jeff and Cori are cast members. Tomorrow, I have big plans to do chores around the house and work on the blasted dissertation.  More importantly, I have big plans to grill tomorrow evening.  I have steak on the brain, so I have beef in my not too distant future. I encourage everyone to do the same.  For some inspiration, look towards the 29 Ways to Love Lean Beef and get to grilling . http://beefitswhatsfordinner.com

  It's Wednesday! I've been working on left overs from my busy weekend in the kitchen.  Mom sent pics from home yesterday, and I just love this little guy!  Hoping to try a new stuffed portabella 'shroom recipe, maybe this evening.   

What you will need: 2 tsp Chili Powder 3/4 tsp Ground Cumin 3/4 tsp Ground Coriander 1/4 tsp Salt 1/8 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper 1 (1-lb) Flank Steak, trimmed Cooking spray 4 Lime Wedges (optional) What you need to do: Combine the first 5 ingredients.  Rub spice mixture over steak. Place steak in a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag; seal bag.  Refrigerate 8 hours or over night. Preheat grill. Place steak on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill steak 5 min each side or until desired degree of doneness.  Remove from grill rack.  Cover and let stand 5 min. Cut steak diagonally across the grain into thin slices.  Serve with lime wedges, if desired.  Should yield 4 servings. Fern's Recipe Ammendments: I followed the recipe up until the grill for 5 min each side.  I didn't time each side of the steak, and I should have to share.  I left each side of the steak on the lower grill rack for 3 or so minutes, and I th...

What you will need: 1 c Yellow Cornmeal 1/2 c Sugar 1 tsp Baking Powder 1/2 tsp Baking Soda 1 c Fat Free Sour Cream 1 Large Egg 1 Large Egg White 1 tsp Grated Lemon Zest 1 tsp Vanilla Extract 1 6 oz container Fresh Raspberries or 3/4 c frozen unsweetened rasberries What you need to do: Preheat oven to 375 F.  Spray 9 in pie plate with non stick spray. Whisk together cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda in medium bowl.  In another bowl, whisk together sour cream, egg, egg white, lemon zest, and vanilla.  Add sour cream mixture to cornmeal mixture and stir just until cornmeal mixture is moistened.  Spoon into prepared pie plate.  Sprinkle evenly with raspberries. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.  Let cool on wire rack 5 minutes.  Cut into eight wedges.  Serve warm.  (it's also great cold out of the fridge with a glass of iced tea for an afternoon snack, just saying) Fern's ...

Father's Day weekend found me hundreds of miles south of my Dad, and at least 40 degrees hotter outside than my Dad on Saturday.  My folks traveled to Wyoming for a cousin's wedding. Congratulations Johanna!! I hear that it was a beautiful ceremony, a wonderful day, and that you were a pretty bride.  Who could want more, right?! I found myself home for the entire weekend with no obligations filling my calendar.  Saturday, I putzed around the house--cleaned, washed laundry, found new recipes to try, worked on a dissertation, you know anything NOT OUTSIDE in the blistering 112 degree heat.  Yes, I said 112!!  Newton has come to believe that he is now a house dog.  "Hi, my name is Fern and I have turned my blue heeler into a grouchy show heifer.  All he has done for 2 days is eat, want to stay inside, and lay under the fan." Friday afternoon I had laid a Beef Flank Steak out to thaw.  When using this particular cut of meat, please be sure to giv...

I found this recipe the other day on http://neo-homesteading.blogspot.com . I don't even remember what chain of events got me there.  That ever happen to you??  It's a common occurrence to me, and lately I've realized it's not just pertinent to web browsing, but life. Bringing the rabbit back around the tree.... Last night in the search for something different, something un-heavy, something delicious for dinner (or supper, however you want to think about it), I looked through a couple of cookbooks and remembered this recipe that I'd emailed to myself earlier this week.  I do that a lot, email recipes to myself from sites I find.  The recipes end up in my email, consequently on my phone.  My phone later ends up on the counter with smudges on it due to my using it as a recipe card.  This practice needs to stop.  It's probably not sanitary and it's definitely not good for my phone.~~~~sorry, rabbit must have taken a left to get to the pond~~~heading h...

Just a quick note because it's Monday. It was a great weekend! Patio sitting with friends on a Friday evening with some great Sangria wine. A BEAUTIFUL wedding on Saturday evening. They are sooo cute and one of my favorite couples! So happy for them! I caught the bouquet. Don't hold your breath. This has happened before, and it's still just me and Newt. Sunday was full of rest and recuperation and inventing. I threw together a quick supper. Invited another great couple over and we dined on Sam's Crazy Chicken "Enchilada" Adventure (I don't know if this will see a round two), Sam's Delish Black Beans, and Sam's Shrimp Pico on tosdadas. The later two, as demonstrated by their names, are also Sam Inventions. They also have been lucky enough to make the recipes to repeat list. For now, I'll leave you with the "How To" on the Black Beans. For now, let's call them Sam's Delish Black Beans . What you will need: 1 can chick...

Last night I spent some time outside...unloading a giant cooler of BEEF , replanting and salvaging the bovine caused destruction from last week, Miracle Growing my "garden", rearranging pots, and endangering my own health and well being by standing on a 3 step step-stool in the carport with no supervision and no one to call 9-1-1. It was a beautiful evening. My carport is one coat of paint away from being a fantastic summer lounge, minus the optional Japanese lanterns. Oh yeah, and I need to get rid of the swallows nest. Damn birds. I'm afraid to knock it down...stuff will fly down on me. Yes, I can take whatever comes out of a cow, but not a birds nest. I'm okay with that. I did, however, spray it with wasp spray while I was spraying wasps in the rafters of the carport. I really would like a BB gun to shoot them (the wasps, not the birds). That's taking it a little far...that's me turning into the crazy old lady. I'm well on my way, I've also...