A MOST EXCELLENT ADVENTURE!!!!!!!

I'M BACK!! A most excellent adventure! Six days in the "COOL" & Beautiful Northwest were enjoyed by all of us. We came back physically tired and with a few blisters, but well worth the pain and effort! Hiking these long hikes day after day rivals running and training for a marathon as far as the physical effort. Over today and the next few days, I will give you a day by day journal of our days and pictures to go along. I hope all of you friends enjoy it a fraction of as much as I did.

After flying into Calgary, we all loaded into the van and headed to Glacier National Park-in Montana for the first few days. A 3 plus hour drive through RURAL country side that is also very beautiful. We arrived at our hotel, Many Glacier Hotel and finally fell into bed around 11, knowing the next day would start bright and early. After a "Logger's Breakfast", we were off on our first day's hike. A measly 9.6 miles, from the starting point to Iceberg Lake. We caught up with a ranger guided hike after a couple of miles and decided to follow along and listen. We had a lesson in bears and wildflowers while traveling along the steep trail. The wildflowers were thick and the fields on each side of the trail were covered with more varieties than believable.

During the hike, we came upon a Mother Grizzly and her yearling cub. She was slowly making her way up the side of the mountain meadow and seemed to totally be oblivious of our presence. We all stopped and took pictures while the ranger watched carefully for other hikers behind us. They never got in any hurry and crossed the hiking trail and kept on going up the mountain. We then hiked the rest of the way to Iceberg Lake. The Lake is full of icebergs year round and is quite beautiful. We ate our lunch by the lake and headed back to the trail head.

We felt so good that we decided to hike up to Tarmigan Tunnel which was an additional 5 + miles. OH BY THE WAY STRAIGHT UP!!!! After we had hiked FOREVER, we then hit the switch backs going STRAIGHT UP. The tunnel was at the top-but so small-because of distance that you could not make it out. The tunnel was dug for a horse route through the mountain. REALLY SOMETHING! We finally made it through the tunnel and over to the other side which was unbelievable! IT WAS A LONG WAY HOME on very tired legs. PERHAPS A LITTLE LONG for the first day's hike considering we are all flatlanders who live about 100 feet above sea level the rest of the year. LIVE AND LEARN!

Here we go-off for the first day's hike. The pavement runs out after about .3 mile and it is dirt and rock the rest of the way.

The ranger stopped to show us a tree where the bears have been scratching and give us a lesson on bear etiquette.

Babs does not seem very happy during the bear lecture!

A little rest by the stream for water and a snack. Sonja is meditating and enjoying the scenery while Sandra is testing the COLD mountain stream.

A small example of the field upon field of wildflowers that we hiked through. The pink flower is a wild spirea that we pay plenty for around here.

Look down through the meadow. The brown thing is one of the bears. We were about 100 feet away from Momma and Baby.

Here we all are in front of Iceberg Lake. It was COLD!

On the way to the tunnel, you will note the trail over to the right of the picture. There was still snow left-everywhere we hiked.

Here we are at the top of the mountain in front of the tunnel. Note behind Sonja's back how far down you can see.

Almost everywhere we went, the chipmunks were. This one let Sonja feed it from her hand.

The Tunnel. It is really unbelievable that they drilled through SOLID rock to get to the other side!

The view on the other side of the mountain. It made the really hard climb well worth the effort.

15.1 miles on the first day. We ate dinner at the trailhead restaurant and headed back to the hotel to fall in bed after a short soak. Tomorrow is coming and another long hike is planned with a early start. Stay tuned tomorrow for part two of A Most Excellent Adventure.

A view of just one part of the switchbacks that got you up and down the mountain.

WEDNESDAY'S SUMMER SUPPERS

I do not like peas, but I love my hubby. He loves peas, so I made the sweet boy peas & cornbread for supper. His quote was, "It was better than my Momma made." QUITE THE COMPLIMENT, HUH? I am not trying to insult all of you "Old Cooks" out there, but we have young, novice cooks who may not know how to cook peas, so here we go.

I started with a pound of salt pork. If you buy the whole pork, cut it into 3 or 4 pieces. I bought the pre-sliced. Put it in a quart of water and simmer with lid ajar for 2 hours, adding more water if necessary. Remove from heat and add 1 more quart of cold water and let come to room temperature.


Wash your peas and be sure and pick out all the hard ones & pieces. You can use frozen peas or dried peas that you have soaked overnight or 4 to 5 hours. THOSE fresh peas are better.

Put the peas on to simmer for 15 minutes in the salt pork water. During that time cut up an onion, a pod or two of garlic and about a 1/2to 1 cup of celery with leaves.

Add that to the pot along with about a T. of Worcestershire, 2 T. of salt,

1/2 t. Tabasco, & 2 T. Pepper. Simmer covered 2 hours or until peas are tender but not mushy.

TA DAH- Peas

Momma was not much on cooking, but the few things she did cook were ALWAYS good! This is Momma's cornbread recipe.

Preheat oven 450 deg.

Put iron skillet in oven with 1/4 c. shortening in it & melt shortening and get pan hot (be careful & do not burn shortening or start a fire)Roll the melted shortening around in the pan to grease it well. OH YES-I ALWAYS USE A HEAVY WELL SEASONED IRON SKILLET.

Sift together 2 c. cornmeal/ 1 t. baking soda/1 t. salt/1 T sugar (Optional if you don't like your cornbread a little sweet-omit). Put in large bowl & make a well in the center-like below.

Pour 2c.buttermilk, 2 beaten eggs, & melted shortening into the well. Mix well (check that you have not left unmoistened cornmeal mixture) and pour into hot pan.

Bake 30 minutes and then test with a toothpick in the center. The Finished Product.

Here is the Man of My Dreams plate. He LICKED THE PLATTER CLEAN & told me multiple times how good it was. What more can I say!

STAY CALM!!!!!!!!!!

We are nearing civilization once again. No cell-No Internet since we have been gone. We are in the Canadian side of Glacier tonight and I am sitting outside a lounge to send this story to you-BUT YOU HAVE TO HEAR ABOUT THIS!

We hiked to the top of a lookout today to see two different glaciers. It was a LONG hike up and a steep incline. We traveled with a ranger for a while and then decided we needed to go faster since we had to travel also today. We were swiftly making our way up the mountain. For THE FIRST TIME since we have been here, I was in the lead of the group. I had just told Sonja that while she was leading she was not making enough noise. I let out a HODIE YOO HOO before rounding a corner. When I rounded the corner about 15 feet in front of us was a grizzly looking at me from a snow field. I very calmly stopped - I DID LISTEN TO THOSE RANGER LECTURES. Turned around and told those behind me "Bear-We need to get in a group." Before I got bear out of my mouth, Sandra and Babs have pivoted in their tracks and were headed down the path. Sonja, Jim & I stayed and watched the bear as he watched us. He rolled in the snow-pictures coming- and frolicked for a while. Sonja stops and wants her picture made with the bear behind her. Unfortunately my picture was out of focus. Could have something to do with hands shaking! Then HE STARTS DOWN THE TRAIL toward us. We are on a VERY STEEP mountain side with no way but the trail to go. We start down knowing the ranger and group are coming up behind us. We keep stopping and looking, but he keeps coming. When we finally reached the ranger, she heads us all back down the steep trail. There were about 30 in the group and we keep having to urge the back part of the pack to NOT STOP FOR PICTURES but keep on going. FINALLY when the bear sees how many are in the group and finds a path down, he heads down the mountain. We have spent the day laughing about the bear and you all will have to hear this tale for many days to come. We have seen multiple bears every day as well as other varmints-SO GET READY FOR SOME TALES!

I will post when I get home beginning Thursday-MANY PICS-and lots of fun stories. It has been glorious!

SUNDAY'S REVIEW

Since I am off hiking, I thought this book I finished recently about climbing Mount Everest would be a good choice. ENJOY!

HIGH CRIMES
Michael Kodas


The quest to stand at the top of the world on Mount Everest has turned ugly! This book chronicles the greed and corruption that surround the world of climbing. If you thought climbing Mount Everest was all about the sport of climbing and pure effort involved in the deadly climb into the upper atmosphere, you are in for a rude awakening. As with any endeavor that involves huge amounts of money and ego, the sport has attracted the unscrupulous, money hungry, and shamelessly self involved.

The book was written by Michael Kodas, who was part of an expedition to climb the great mountain during the 2004 climbing season. He and his wife, both reporters were financed on the expensive endeavor by the newspaper that they were employed by. They chronicle the dysfunction of their expedition and the lack of good leadership exhibited by their guide.

At the same time Mr. Kodas is following the fatal attempt by Dr. Nils to summit the mountain at the age of 69. Dr. Nils is lead by a guide whose falsified credentials are the tip of the iceberg. When reading I found it difficult to believe an intelligent man would have fallen into the trap of hiring an inexperienced ego-maniac to lead him on this dangerous and potentially fatal pursuit.

The book bounces back and forth between the two stories and at times is difficult to follow. I found the names sometimes confusing and the stories sometimes hard to discern. To add to the confusion, there were also other tales of corruption thrown in through out the chapters.

I have long been a fan of adventure books, but this sordid side of this sport leaves a bad taste in my mouth for them. I will always have a slanted view when reading any other adventure book after reading this book. A truthful depiction of what really is happening on our globe’s greatest mountain has left a bad taste in my mouth for those that would corrupt the sport. What Sir Edmund Hillary began so long ago as a pure pursuit of the seemingly impossible has become an expensive side show at the top of the world. If you enjoy your adventure books, think long and hard before reading this sad portrayal of what the sport has become.

I'M LEAVING ON A JET PLANE!

As you read this, I am defying gravity by flying through the air. Call me "Super Woman"! I have very vivid memories of flying as a young girl. Momma & Daddy would put me on the airplane and I would fly to see my Aunt Lora or my Gillespie Grandparents. It was very exciting, but travel has changed QUITE a bit over the years. Back "In The Good Old Days", we dressed up to travel, whether it be train, plane or automobile. We put on our good clothes-some of our best clothes when we traveled. I have memories of my Grandmother James and several of my Aunts wearing hats and gloves for traveling. There was an air of specialness when we traveled. People did not just jump in the car or hop a train or plane on a whim as they do today. IT WAS A BIG DEAL! Wonderful memories of times gone by that I could never adequately describe with mere words.

Do you feel like traveling is special today? I am amazed at what I see people wear to fly in today. Don't get me wrong, I like to be comfortable, but some seem to go over the edge. You are subjected to sights that would have sent my Grandmother James into a swoon. I really do not care to see your belly button, your rear end, your cleavage, or your tatoos. I am not a prude, but some things appear to be just beyond words.

As my sweet friend, Barbara (a frequent traveler), says, "Flying is not fun anymore." That is the understatment. We have the terrorist to thank for some of the hassle, but our complicated society and ease of traveling today have just made the entire process a hassle. I find it very interesting the hoops you have to jump through before they allow you on that airplane. I truly feel like our cows and sheep must have felt-like I am being herded through a chute.

With all that said, I am still glad I am in the air and looking forward to a fun trip! I wish you all were with us and I will think of you when I am on the top of those mountains.

WEDNESDAY'S SUMMER SUPPERS

I have been on a quest to find a delicious peach dessert. I have made 2 cobblers that I found less than perfect-too much dough. Today I worked at a peach pie. My pastry skills are less than good-so look past the fact that this is not very pretty. It was delicious! Served warm with ice cream-YUMMY! & EASY! This is still not "The Peach Dessert", but I am getting closer.

PEACH PIE

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1 (15 ounce) package pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
1 egg, beaten
5 cups sliced peeled peaches
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter

Preheat your oven-450 deg.

Cut up peaches & gently toss with lemon juice.

Line the bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie plate with one of the pie crusts. Brush with some of the beaten egg to keep the dough from becoming soggy later.

Mix your dry ingredients in a small bowl and then pour over peaches.

Gently coat the peaches with the flour mixture.

Load your crust with the peaches.

dot with butter. Cover with the other pie crust, and fold the edges under. Flute the edges to seal or press the edges with the tines of a fork dipped in egg. Brush the remaining egg over the top crust. Cut several slits in the top crust to vent steam

Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for an additional 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is brown and the juice begins to bubble through the vents. If the edges brown to fast, cover them with strips of aluminum foil about halfway through baking.

Cool before serving. This tastes better warm than hot.

I found this recipe on the Allrecipe Site.

Just before I scrapped the bowl clean! No greater recommendation!

BEARS!!!!!!!

My sweet sister in law sent me the warning below. She led in a very serious vein. When I started reading the sign I thought it very official looking and quite like some of the signs we saw last year while hiking.

I worked on getting it larger, but to no avail. Here is the "Reader's Digest" version of what it says. There are bears out there and you should know what the signs are and watch for them. Carrying pepper spray and wearing small bells helps to deter the bears. The next paragraph tells you to know the difference in signs of grizzlies and black bears. It says that black bears leave small scat. Conversely grizzlies leave large scat characterized by a pepper smell and small bells in it. THANKS FOR THE WARNING!

Packing List

1. Backpack check

2. Hiking clothes check

3. Hiking shoes check

4. Hiking poles check

5. Band Aids check

6. Boat Load of Alleve check and double check

7. Oxygen & Mask OH NO-does anyone know where I can find an oxygen tank small enough to fit in my backpack?????

The plane leaves early Wednesday & we trickle in at different times during the afternoon. We hope to be across the border before it closes at 10 PM. It will be a long day-but then a hike is planned for the next day. LET THE FUN BEGIN!

WHERE AM I GOING?

I have mentioned in previous posts that we have been physically preparing for our annual hiking trip. This is the week that we depart. I AM PUMPED! This is the third annual "Runner's Hiking Trip". My second trek with the group. Last year was just UNBELIEVABLE! We stayed in Banff Canada and hiked every day for a week, even taking two hikes in one day while there. The original reason for starting my blog was that trip. I posted everyday while we were gone with pictures and a written descriptions of what we were doing for those at home.

Friend, Sandra, Trip Planner Extraordinaire, is currently in Banff rehiking those same trails. She will send her hubby and in-laws home Wednesday & we will all be joining her. We plan to drive from Calgary to Glacier National Park in Montana the first day. We will be staying in one of the old lodges while in the Park and that will be our base of hiking operations. After hiking through the American side of the park, we will then travel to Waterton, Canada for the remainder of our trip and try the trails on the Canadian side of the border.



Pictures, even with a camera as good as Sandra's, just cannot do justice to the beauty that we experience each and every day. Look behind Dwight's legs on the right and you will see a lake far below. That was about the mid-point on your way up. This is Sentinel Pass where we sat and ate our lunch before heading back down. GLORIOUS!

Another summit on Fairview Mountain, as evidenced by the pile of rocks to the left. Tradition has it that when you summit the mountain, you place a rock on the pile to mark your success. Sandra indicated that it snowed and sleeted on them while they were at the top. Note the glaciers behind them.

This is a small example of the scenery we will see while hiking next week. Between the scenery and the wildlife, this is an experience of a lifetime. I am so looking forward to an exciting and fun filled week. Since Sandra has had a week to acclimate to the altitude, she has a head start. We "Flat-landers" have a really hard time the first couple of days with the "Thin Air" after living at just above sea-level.

I plan to post while gone, if Internet service is available. The first part of the trip is very remote, but check in for updates. I have already lined up the Wednesday supper and Sunday's review for you, but hopefully pictures and hiking adventure tales will be also posted. My wish for you all is that you were with us and personally enjoying the fun. The next best thing is telling you about the wonders and exciting things we experience while enjoying our "Big Adventure".

SUNDAY'S REVIEW

"How to Make an American Quilt"

A oldie,but a goodie! This is definitely a chic flick. The plot revolves around the lives of a quilting group. As they sew the wedding quilt for Finn (Ryder), the stories of each woman are revealed. Decidedly different and yet all intertwined the stories are poignant and full of life. This movie proved to especially remind me of the fact that all women were young once and led lives of the young. Full of romance, hurt, betrayal, love, devotion, and all of the other emotions of the spectrum. The women have a common bond that has spanned the decades and they continue to grow together as they age together. A well done film, I would highly recommend it and even recommend a rewatch. Below is a review as published by Time Out Film Guide.

"Struggling to finish a thesis on women's handiwork in tribal cultures and to come to terms with her imminent marriage, Berkeley student Finn Dodd (Ryder) returns to spend the summer with her grandmother (Burstyn) and great aunt (Bancroft). Their idyllic retreat is also the work place of the Grasse Quilting Bee, and as its members make her wedding quilt, Finn becomes privy to their tales of love and betrayal. Unlike the glib accounts of bonding in Waiting to Exhale and Now and Then, this adaptation of Whitney Otto's best-seller is a lyrical, intelligent attempt to create a specifically 'female' cinema. Moorhouse keeps the narrative, which spans 130 years, on a tight rein, never allowing it to wander aimlessly from one anecdote to the next. Admittedly, the metaphor (life's rich tapestry) is facile, but the direction, Janusz Kaminski's pastoral photography and Jane Anderson's finely tuned dialogue combine to produce a subtle, surprisingly witty film. Nevertheless, it's the remarkable performances which really enhance the mixture of nostalgia and world-weary realism: Ryder, as gamine as ever, delivers her most credible performance to date, while the luminous Simmons and imposing Angelou infuse the film with grace and understated charm."
Author: KM
Source:Time Out Film Guide


=Cast & crew
Director: Jocelyn Moorhouse
Producer: Sarah Pillsbury, Midge Sanford
Cast: Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft, Dermot Mulroney, Ellen Burstyn, Kate Nelligan, Alfre Woodard, Kate Capshaw, Lois Smith, Jean Simmons, Rip Torn, Maya Angelou, Melinda Dillon, Gail Strickland full cast


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Saturday's activity included a 7 + mile run. The heat and humidity were oppressing. The best thing you can say about runs on days like this is THANK GOODNESS IT IS OVER! I am REALLY looking forward to the cool temperatures in Canada & Montana.

SUMMER EVENING STORMS!

Our days are long and the heat is oppressing during July in Louisiana. When the grass and native plants (weeds) begin to turn brown, the rain has become scarce. Ironically the humidity is still very high which leads to mind melting heat on days when the mercury climbs into the upper 90's. On some of those days, if we are lucky, late in the afternoon, the clouds will begin to pull together and you will hear the roar of thunder rolling over the hills. Today was one of those days:


I went out to sit on my front porch and watch the clouds roll as the wind blew the trees to and fro. Deciding to sit until the storm came, I smelled the fresh scent of rain in the air as the wind blew from the South.

While watching for any sign of rain, our hummingbirds swooped in for my entertainment purposes. There were two birds fighting for the same feeder. The dominant bird would not allow the other even a sip of the red nectar. Time after time after time, he would fly in thinking the other gone. Over and over the dominant bird would sweep in and attack the poor thing. Greed-even in Mother Nature!

A little guy to be such a "Bully"! It is amazing to see how fast these little pigs can empty the feeder. We fill our two feeders every other day. NOW THAT IS A LOT OF SUGAR WATER! We spend hours watching them and they are better than the "Nature Channel" after all-this is up close and personal! Literally a few feet from my chair.

Unfortunately we only got 17 drops of rain from all of those clouds, while 3 miles away in town BC could not get to his car for the pouring rain. Oh well-back to pulling hoses!

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Saturday Product Review

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Stihl Gas Powered Blower. As you see, we are a two blower family. The older blower is 7 or 8 years old and we bought the new one last year. We have lots of decks, porches, & a long drive that needs cleaning off about every other day and sometimes every day. These little babies make the job short and sweet. These blowers have the best power of any of the blowers that I have observed. The Stihl backpack blower is even more powerful, but I find it a bit much for me. I feel like I am going to levitate when I use the backpack. I just want to blow off the drive-not fly over the trees. If you need to buy a blower-THIS IS THE ONE FOR YOU!

IMPORTANT DOCUMENT FILE

FOR WOMEN ONLY-My apologies to all the men that might stumble upon this and cannot resist reading.

The Runners come in all sizes and shapes. We have one friend that is much better endowed North of the border than the rest of us. We often accuse her of placing things in the "Black Hole" to never see them again. (To protect the innocent-names will not be given) Now personally, I have never been burdened with this problem. The only safe keeping spot I have while running is in the key pocket of my shorts. If I stick anything down in my sportsbra, there is a good chance I will never see it again. Not because it gets lost in "The Black Hole", but because it will slip right on through with nothing to slow it and end up on the ground. I am happy with what God has given me and since I have never known any different-I literally do not know what I am missing!

One running buddy has had a little help in this department and is proud of it. After many years of carrying quite a load while running, she finally went back and got her a racing set. Now I will not go into vivid details, just let your mind wander. You do realize that whatever is on your body you have no choice but to carry it along while you are running. Somethings can even be dangerous since the shorter the distance between your chin and the offending parties, the more likely you are to get hit in the face. Now that is all I am going to say about that!
She does seem much happier with the new models.

All this came to mind when a friend (no name-protect yada yada yada) sent me a copy of an email that her boss sent to all her employees. It seems recently she took an IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBER list from her important document file and posted it when in a hurry to leave. The following is her apology for pulling the file and posting it with private numbers on it:

"I apologies to all who phone numbers were compromised when I left the emergency contact numbers in the kitchen when I left. As I was leaving I recieved an e-mail to have all phone numbers available due to a possible XXXXXXXXXXXX those who had their numbers listed as private and need to change their numbers due to their numbers being compromised please let me know the cost. > > I am so sorry, I patted my breast half way to New Orleans wondering where I left those numbers. "

My laugh for the day! There are plenty of times that I cannot find where I put some important document, but BELIEVE ME-I have NEVER filed it there!

IT'S A MIRACLE-YOU'RE ALIVE!

It is beyond me how in the world my three children survived their childhood! The pediatricians and media have formed a conspiratorial alliance to convince all of us Baby Boomers that we were horrible mothers.

Today on the morning news, I found out that Mothers that ingest nuts on an everyday basis risk their children having asthma. HUMMM-now let me see-I am the one eating the peanuts, but the fetus or lamb in my womb is the one that will have the allergy and eventually asthma. GREAT-I ate peanut butter sandwiches EVERY day for lunch all three pregnancies. It is a wonder that the little darlings survived that poisoning!

It was not enough that when my grands came along, I was informed that babies should always sleep on their backs. It is VERY DANGEROUS to put them on their stomachs. OK-JUST WONDERFUL! I don't remember ever putting any of the three of them down that I did not put them on their stomach. I believe they told you at the time to do this in case they threw up (NOT VOMITING-IT'S NOT GROSS-IT'S BABIES) while sleeping. You did not want them to get choked in the event that happened. Somehow all three of them survived that neglect also.

About the time that I had # 3, they had decided that it was REALLY BAD for your baby to have any form of solid food before six months. Now let's see, the pediatrician put #1 on rice cereal at a few weeks old. I seem to remember the #2 was a little older, but not any six months old. I am sure their systems have permanent scars from this gross abuse.

This is just a few of the things that we are being told that we did wrong while raising our children. HOW IN THE WORLD there is anyone alive in that generation is beyond me. IT MUST BE A MIRACLE!

A WALK IN THE PARK

Mother Nature was very kind Tuesday morning! We went to Lincoln Parish Park early Tuesday for a walk on the trails. If you have never been to this "Little Jewel" of north Louisiana, you have missed a treat! The temperature was all the way down to the mid 60's-a proverbial Artic Cold Front! We walked 4 miles up and down the red clay hills in an effort to get ready for our hiking trip next week. You can not really get ready for these trips since we only slightly higher than sea level here and the Rocky Mountains-well let's just say they are HIGH!


We let Sonja led the pack. That is fine with me for the leader is on spider web patrol. You would not believe the webs they can spin in the matter of a night while the park is closed. The first ones on the trails get the treat of running into all of them. Up the hill we go!

A beautiful walk in the woods-LITERALLY! I am not sure what Lisa has hanging down below her shorts. I did not notice that she had a tail while I was walking behind her. Of course, she might have. You see I am so busy watching where I put my feet on the uneven and root-stub filled trails that I do not even know what she had on.

The going down is more treacherous than the climbing. It also is much harder on the knees. All of the streams are already pretty much dried up. The hottest and driest part of the Summer is still to come!

You exit the woods and come upon the pond (or lake). This morning it was covered with a layer of mist floating just above the water. A glorious and beautiful sight at the end of the trail.

WEDNESDAY'S SUMMER SUPPERS

SNAPPY SMOTHERED CHICKEN

Another super quick & easy recipe. This is definitely mushroomy and reminds me of Beef Stroganoff-but with chicken. BC loved it and ate the remaining left overs a couple of days later-always a good sign! I found this in "Southern Living" sometime ago and ran across it while searching for something new.

SNAPPY SMOTHERED CHICKEN

1- 8 OU Wide Egg Noodles (I use whole wheat)
1 t paprika
1 t dried thyme leaves, crumbled
½ t salt
¼ t pepper
3 T. butter
1 lg onion-chopped
1 package mushrooms, sliced
2 t. minced garlic
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 c. milk
1/3 c dry white wine (optional-use milk instead if desired)
1 rotisserie chicken, cut into serving pieces (remove skin)
2 T. chopped fresh parsley

Prepare Noodles & keep warm
Stir Paprika, thyme, salt & pepper in a small bowl
Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat; add onion & mushrooms, and sauté 8 to 10 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in garlic & paprika mixture; sauté
2 minutes. Add soup, milk, & wine-bring to boil, stirring frequently. Add chicken pieces; spoon sauce over top of chicken. Reduce heat to low & cook 10 to 15 minutes covered. Stir in 1 T parsley. Serve over hot cooked noodles. Sprinkle with remaining parsley.

I normally use the "Lemon-Pepper" chicken from the deli, but you could cook your own-in an effort to save money. I used the parsley that I am growing with my herbs which makes for a super fresh taste. I think the wine gives the sauce a little something extra, but it will be fine without it. I will prepare this again, but it is not a "Let's have it every week" dish!

KNOWN BY OUR SIGNS!

While out running errands , I noticed a bumper sticker on a car and started thinking about the signs we post in our lives. We are known by our signs! I inherited the "James Gene" which indicates we want no signs on any of our stuff identifying who we are. We chose to be a mystery or an enigma and hold who we are and what we stand for close to us. I have never had a bumper sticker on any car I have owned. Now do not think this is an invitation to paper my bumper with those vinyl stickers. I would strip them off and fast as you could put them on.

My running buds gave #1 daughter a bridal luncheon before she was married. AS hostess gifts we gave them the above license covers. They all have them on their cars with pride. I do not have one.

I found the above sticker on the Internet and thought it quite funny. If you are not a woman, you probably do not get it. If you are a woman and do not get it, consider yourself Lucky. Most of us have a full understanding of just what it means.

I found this sticker on the same sight. This is how I occasionally feel, but I will never let you know that I am seconds from panic. Another "James Gene" is the cool demeanor. We do not want you to know we are in a tizz and try to keep a poker expression on our faces at all times.

This is the bumper sticker that set all of this thinking into motion. I am not sure this is a correct statement. The same car had several other bumper stickers including a "Ron Paul For President" sticker. That in itself explains a GREAT DEAL. There was also a parking sticker for the local university. AHHHHHHH!

I particularly find it annoying when I see one of the stickers with the young man spraying liquid waste on some object of the car owner's disdain. I find these stickers-RUDE - CRUDE - AND SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE!

Now this sign is the sign that the NY Yankee Fan has on the gate leading to her house. WHAT PART OF NO DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND! might be an appropriate paraphrase for this sign. Do you come upon a sign like this and think it could not possibly apply to you? There seems to be some out there that did just that. THE NERVE SOME PEOPLE HAVE!

We are known by our signs and our signs show who we are. I have no signs-so I must not be known?

We celebrated friend Sonja's BD at lunch . She is a wonderful and loyal friend and is a great example of how we should live our life. Her entire life is a reflection of the Love of Christ that she so lovingly embraces each and everyday. I am blessed to call her friend.

We ran 5 and walked over 3.5 after that. IT WAS HUMID & HOT-AGAIN!