I used to hear stories about my grandmother getting together with her friend once a month and making 20 loaves of bread not to mention doughnuts and buns and rolls.  Can you imagine?  A whole day devoted to breadmaking and friendship building?  I have my grandmother's recipe for this monthly ordeal, but I have yet to find the friend that wants to spend all day doing it! Several years ago, I heard about this book called Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg, M.D. and Zoe Francois.  It is still available on Amazon if your are interested!  This book make ..read more

I've enjoyed making these fun stars in all kinds of sizes with all kinds of paper for years.   I've  hung them on the wall for decoration attached to cards and notes placed on Christmas tree added to homemade signs added as decorations to tablescapes What would you do with them?  Enquiring minds want to know! ​P.S.  What is that dorky laugh I do at the end ..read more

When it comes to pork chops, my husband is a mustard man while I have firmly held on to the Shake and Bake 80's trend.  I came across a dijon mustard sauce for fish that sounded pretty good, but as I did not have dijon mustard and I also had pork, I decided to try a little inventing. What came of it is possible the best chops of my entire life!  I love these chops!  The sauce tastes good on potatoes.  I'm willing to bet it would taste good on all kinds of vegetables.  I'm even willing to bet that people who "poo poo" mustard will take a liking to these chops! If you ..read more

Story Mill Park in Bozeman, MT is one of my favorite places to go.  The nature trails leading from it take you through sightings such as deer and great horned owls to waking past cattle sale arenas.  In the park itself are play structures such as a huge huge huge dinosaur climbing design  that is  made out of wood.  It is a piece of art of and by itself.  Then there are the climing walls, the slides that go down a massive hill, and two story playhouses.  I wish I could play on them! Last week, as I was watching the news, I heard about an art exhibit at the p ..read more

-  What a wonderful Sunday Morning we had!!  I spend probably too much time thinking about all the time we miss out on - exploring new things, tastes, talents, interests, opportunities, when we are just sitting at home avoiding the Corona.  There doesn't seem to be many occasions for us to connect in a joyful bridging manner.  The truth is that we like vastly different things,  and that can limit us even in unCorona times.   Before Christmas, an event came across Facebook for a painting class.  I had seen them before, but either hadn't liked the pictur ..read more

I made this shirt to remind myself that I don't have to like the way things are, but I do have to have the resolve to go forward.  What a year 2020 has been!  2021, you will see me "Bucking it Up" and moving forward  in (at least for me) exciting new ways.  I have some great news that I am ALMOST ready to share with you!  If you would like a shirt like mine, you can get it here  See you soon!!  ..read more

Okay, you guys.  We are still going strong on this $20 ham we bought for our New Year's Day dinner.  So let's go through what we've made with it. New Year's Day Dinner - Plain ham with baked beans and Macoroni sides Split Pea Soup Ham and Cheese Hand Pies Ham and Cheese Pasta Salad and today...... Montana Scalloped Potatoes  but guess what?!?  We STILL have ham left.  Like half a gallon bag.  I'm going to need your ideas now!! This is another recipe that I am only going to show pictures of because you can literally do it however you want.  If you use more o ..read more

If You Give a Girl a Ham and Pasta Salad The title of this article is a one off on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by by Laura Numeroff.  It can also go with the saying, "If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day.  If you teach a man to fish, he will eat for a lifetime".  Well, if you give this girl a ham, she will be eating for at least a month.  As well as....If you give this girl a ham, she will need some macaroni, cheese, onions, barbeque sauce, mustard, split peas, potatoes, biscuits, bread, and mayo. We always have a ham on New Years because it goes good wit ..read more

Who'd have a mind to disagree?  I've travelled the world and the seven seas.  Everybody's looking for something.....  Oh, excuse me.  I just got caught up in the song!  If you are too young or just can't remember it - Here it is!  Just notice  that I change the words to suit myself lol! This cake is definitely a dream.  A super rich, decadent dream.  Thank goodness for friends and neighbors, because I really should not eat the whole thing without worrying about getting diabetes.  A super special treat is in order sometimes and this hit the sp ..read more

I've waited for you for a good long 9 months!!  The longest 9 months ever, anywhere.  I have plans for you 2021.  To bad all my plans start with a vaccine.  But the vaccine will get around to the little people eventually, right? My 2021 To Do List: Vacation - Preferably Italy, Utah, Tennessee, and a whole bunch of little towns throughout Montana Make my medical appointments.  Someday, I'll tell you how hard this is for me to do!  For example, I have tried for over 3 years to get a mammogram.  I've had 3 email conversations and 3 phone conversations, severa ..read more