While They Were Out!

Hubby and I have returned from a "While You Were Out" weekend. No, we did not get the makeover; we did the makeover.

SIL has been wanting to re-do her living room. It's hasn't seen change in 25 years. BIL is not a fan of change, and has been reluctant to take that first step. But, in spite of BILs reluctance, SIL and I found a paint color for her walls. It's a beautiful plum color; quite a change from the stripey-cream wallpaper that has graced the walls for a very long time.

They had a vacation planned, and it seemed a good idea for us to come out while the house was empty, and make the transformation! We would be steaming off wallpaper, patching holes, washing the walls, priming, and finally, painting. They also have a small bathroom which needed patched, primed, and painted.

I was a little concerned about how someone who didn't like change would like coming home to a completely different living room. I was also concerned about getting finished in the alloted time. They planned to be home Sunday afternoon, and we couldn't get started until Friday morning. My biggest concern was that the wallpaper would not come off easily.  The wallpaper cooperated, and came off like a breeze. Hubby followed behind me, washing down walls and filling holes.

We decided to save time by having the primer tinted a dark color, hoping we would only need one coat of wall color. Unfortunately, the primer did not cooperate. Apparently, there was still some glue residue on the walls which kept the primer from sticking properly. YIKES!! This required putting on two coats of primer--not saving any time at all. And, to make it more stressful, the paint was not drying quickly. We had to locate every fan we could find to hurry up the process.

Understandably, SIL kept calling to see how we were progressing, then called to say they would be arriving Saturday evening and not Sunday. They couldn't wait to see it. "Ummm, we may not be done if you get here too early!"  Panic is setting in.

When they arrived home, the paint was barely dry, and the furniture was just moved back. I was just painting the final strokes in the bathroom when they walked in.

SIL loved it and is ready to re-do the kitchen. BIL was less enthusiastic, but appeared to like it. He needs time to adjust.  I think it looks nice. Here's some before and after pictures. I have to say that the pictures make the walls look a lot more purple than they really are.

My pictures refuse to line up the way I want them, and it's getting late, but, you get the idea.

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Almost Wordless Wednesday

After Abilene, Kansas we kept driving west, on to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Our first stop was the U.S. Air Force Academy. As we were pulling in, BIL and SIL spotted a family who were leaving that looked familiar. It was their neighbors from Michigan! It is a small world!

Somewhere in Colorado

The most imposing sight (other than the landscape) is the chapel

It's hard to capture the awesomeness

Inside the chapel

A gigantic pipe organ

The ceiling

Outside of the chapel

Marching

Hup - two double time

Amazing scenery

Cool sculpture of an eagle

Panoramic view

A tree!

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Try it, You'll like it! Tuesday - Taco Soup

 Like I've said before, I really, really like recipes that are easy. The hardest thing is this recipe is using a can opener. With the cold weather coming on, this soup will warm you up in a hurry.

So, without further ado, let me present

TACO SOUP

1 lb. hamburger

1 onion, chopped

1 can corn or hominy (or frozen corn)

1 can chopped tomatoes (or Rotel)

1 can chili beans

1 can black beans

1 can ranch beans 

1 can beef broth (I've used chicken)

1 pkt. dry ranch dressing (I've made it without this)

If desired, fresh cilantro and sour cream, for garnish

Brown hamburger and onion together in large kettle. Drain fat. Add everything else. You can use whatever beans you like. The original recipe calls for 3 cans of black beans, but I like to mix it up a little. I don't drain anything, I just dump it all together. Heat and eat.

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Stalker? Me?

I have had a few embarrassing moments in my life.  I've forgotten most of them. I only remember the really horrifying ones. If you want to read how I put my foot in my mouth, read here.  Or, you can check out here for another red-faced moment. But, this story may possibly be one of my most embarrassing moments. I can't believe I'm going to share this, but here goes...


This unfortunate event happend many years ago. It happened on the last day of VBS (Vacation Bible School), which was on a Thursday night. Hubby had stopped by the church building for some reason, which is now forgotten. As Jennee, my Amazing Daughter, and I were getting in the car to leave, the last words he said to me were, "I'll see you at home."


(Oh dear, I'm starting to sweat...but I think it could be a hot flash! One moment please while I fan myself.) OK. Now, where was I? Hubby was in his pick-up truck and pulled out of the parking lot, and we were right behind him. (Remember, I said it was dark out.) Surprisingly, Hubby turned off on a different road, which happens to lead to Bob Evans restaurant.


"Well, he never said anything about going there." Translation: If he's going for dessert, I'm going too! (But, why is he going for dessert?)


Jennee said, "Mom, are you sure that's Dad?"


"Of course, it is. He was right in front of us."


We came to Bob Evans--and drove right past it. "Well, that's weird. Where is he going?"


Jennee said, "Are you sure that's Dad?"


"Of course, it is. He was right in front of us. But, where is he going? Oh, I know. He must have to do an estimate for some gutters."


So, we continue following, this turn, then that turn. When he turns into the driveway, I sit at the end of the street. It would be silly and unprofessional for us to pull in behind him while he's giving an estimate.


For some reason, it didn't occur to me that it was too dark to give an estimate. But, as we were waiting, Jennee again said, "Mom, are you sure that's Dad?"


"Of course it is. He was right in front of us."


I watched as "Hubby" got out of the truck, then got back in and started backing out of the driveway. I was a bit confused. What's he doing?


Again, Jennee with her crazy question.


He pulled out, and I calmly started following. Then he pulled over to the side, and I fell in right behind him.


It was at that point that I noticed the logo on the back of this truck was different than the one I remembered seeing--and there seemed to be a woman sitting in the passenger side.


OHhhhhhhhhhh Crrrrrraaaaaaaaaap!!!! "Jennee, why didn't you say something???"  


So, at this point a couple of different scenerios were racing through my head.
1) Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were my husband, and I thought you/he was going out for dessert with out me.  
No, that didn't sound good.


2) I thought you were my husband and I wanted to see where he was going.
No, too stalkish.


In the end, I couldn't think of a logical explanation that didn't make me sound like a fruit cake, so before he got out of his truck, I quickly sped away.


I felt kind of bad, because they had no explanation on why some woman was stalking them. But, it was either put their fears at ease or save face. I chose to save face.


When we finally got home, Hubby said, "Where have you been?" 
"It's a long story, and I don't wanna talk about it."  Of course, Jennee was more than happy to provide every little detail.  


I still, to this day, don't know how that truck got between me and hubby.    I wonder how his story goes.

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Almost Wordless Wednesday

Some sights of Kansas...

Even though most of my pictures of Kansas show flat lands, I was surprised that Kansas was actually pretty hilly!

We made an unscheduled stop at Fort Hays. We stopped on a Sunday, and it was closed. That's why it looks so empty.

Pretty cool statue of a buffalo

The barracks

I think this was the artillitry building, but I could be wrong.

There used to be buildings all along here. Actually, it formed a big circle.

Storm's a comin'

Just playin' around with the camera.

Next stop...Colorado.

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Try it, You'll like it! Tuesday - Sour Cream Cheese Enchiladas

This was our first introduction to making Mexican food. It is not at all spicey, so if you like a little heat, feel free to add some jalapenos! The original recipe calls for only 8 oz. of sour cream, but   we were always fighting over the sauce, so I doubled the sour cream. At our house, this is known as "Chinese Enchiladas". When the kiddos were little, that's what they thought we were saying! 

So, if you try this, I hope you'll like it!

Sour Cream Cheese Enchiladas
1 lb. ground beef
1 chopped onion
16 oz. sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup catsup
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
Salt and garlic powder to taste
1 pkg. flour tortillas
1 pkg. Monteray Jack cheese

Brown beef and onions together.

Add the next five ingredients. Season with garlic powder and salt.

 Mix together and heat, then remove from heat.

 Grate cheese.

Warm the tortillas in the microwave for about 45 seconds or so, just so they are pliable and won't crack when you try to roll them. 
Divide cheese evenly into each tortilla.

 Wrap the tortillas and place in casserole dish. (It is usually a tight fit, and I have to put 2 along the bottom of the dish.)  Pour mixture over the top and bake at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes.

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Almost (Never!) Wordless Wednesday

Waaay back in July, Hubby and I took a road trip out West, and I'm just now getting around to posting the second edition of photos for your (hopefully) viewing pleasure.  We stopped in Abilene, Kansas to go to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Museum. There is not much else to see in Abilene, Kansas. This definitely qualifies as "Small Town, USA."

President Eisenhower

The home of the President, before and after serving his term

The living room where many dignitaries visited

Maime's inagural gown. She did not have designer gowns, but this one is quite beautiful

Hubby and Ike

I always liked this picture, now it's a statue in the museum

Hmmmm, could this possibly be true?

If you eat at this restaurant....

... This is what you will be served.  Everybody gets the same thing! There were no complaints.

A ride in a horse-drawn carriage is available

I like the posts

There are windmills as far as the eye can see in Kansas. I wonder how much electricity they produce!

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