Bad Casserole

It is with much disappointment that I make this blog post...
Let me set the stage: Keith and I both had a long day. By the time I got home and started thinking about dinner, it was already 8:00. We were tired of leftovers and tired of the local restaurant and fast food choices (remember, we only have about 3 good places for take-out here).

So, I decided to make a quick casserole. I had bought the ingredients to make this chicken artichoke "delight" last week. The recipe sounded pretty good and I like all the things that went into it. Plus, I am a casserole and baking wizard.

Poor Keith was so hungry and tired. He was snacking on all kinds of things waiting for it to be done. I take it out of the oven. It looks good. Smells good.
But, to my dismay, I found that there was too much liquid floating around. Oh well. That's ok. I baked it long enough, any more would have burnt it. Just use a slotted spoon and it will be fine. So, we sit down at the table. Finally. It's 9:02 pm and at last we eat.

We both dig in. Hmmmm. Interesting.
In our efforts to be nice and sweet newlyweds, we said things like "maybe it was too much of the sherry", or "yeah, maybe it just needed a little more cheese." Add salt. Add pepper. Still bad. So, I finally said: "Between the artichokes and mushrooms, this is a little too rubbery!" That just did it for Keith. He couldn't eat any longer, "I wasn't going to say anything, but this is awful!" he said. After the rubber comment, neither one of us could swallow another bite.

So, needless to say, Betty Crocker Jones is feeling a little disappointed in her efforts. I read the recipe again after I cleaned the kitchen. I made it just right. Stupid Recipe, stupid casserole. Never again. Oh well, I guess you win some and loose some!

Here it is, in all its splendor:















Ewwwww.

House Pictures!

Finally! Here are some house pictures. I have been meaning to post these for quite some time. For just moving in a few weeks ago, we think it looks pretty darn "home-y". But, with that, please note that most walls are barren. This is our little work in progress! We happen to love it....

View of the Living Room looking back towards front door and dining room:


Updated Dining Room picture:


This is in the Living Room, between the fireplace and couch:


Here is the Kitchen, as you enter off the hallway by the Dining Room:


















Kitchen eating area; White cushions to be replaced soon with fabulous fabric!

More kitchen:

Beautiful framed photo hanging in the hallway (wedding present from sweet Mary Catherine):

Guest Bedroom below. Mom and Dad gave us this furniture and bedding so that their room would be "set-up" when they visit :)

Man Room/Office/Other Guest Bedroom:


Master Bedroom- still not complete :)

Master Bathroom-

Color-coordinated Laundry Room:

Ahh, the patio. Thank goodness it's screened in! Otherwise you couldn't even sit out there for all the skeeters!

So, there you have it! As we make additions along the way, I'll change out the pics. But, for now, that's a pretty good idea of where we spend our time. Doesn't this inspire you to come visit? I do have a birthday coming up.....

My little pretties...

These are my friends that I'm always talking about missing! I love these girls!
Don't they look hot in those dresses. What was the occasion, I wonder? :)

Weekend Update

We had originally planned to go to Little Rock this weekend to see friends and my family, but after the long week we both had, we couldn't stand the thought of driving anywhere. So, instead we stayed here and we were extremely lazy! We slept and ate and that's about it. I didn't get out of my PJs until around 3:00 both Saturday & Sunday and it was just pure heaven. We haven't had a "do nothing" weekend since we got married. It was great! I did actually do some laundry, cleaning, and cooking but it was at a very leisurely pace. The olympics have been turned on at all times. Between Michael Phelps and the cute gymnasts, I have been glued. Go USA!

I spent hours looking through pages of my new cookbooks (great wedding presents!) and carefully selecting meals for the week. It was like therapy!
However, I made the mistake of going to Marion's local grocery store. Believe it or not, they didn't have any chicken breasts. How much more basic and American can you get? Isn't Tyson Chicken based here in Arkansas? Hmm.....odd. So, next time, I'll be heading over to West Memphis to either Kroger or Walmart. Tonight, I made a pretty good lasagna. Later this week, I have steak stir-fry and a chicken artichoke casserole on the agenda (that is, if I can round up any poultry). Ahh domestic bliss..... If I make something out-of-this-world, I'll post the recipe!

This weekend, "our" little sister, Meagan Jones headed off to college. Keith and I are sad that she is leaving just as we move into town. But, she's gonna love Fayetteville! She'll be a great Razorback. She's going through rush next week. I plan to go up and visit her on bid day. I have a pretty good feeling she'll be a Delta, but I'm not pressuring her! Good luck, Meagan!

In other news, we finally have a mailbox at our house. The post office had been holding our mail (we hope) until ours was finished by the iron works guy. So, now it should be running to our home. If you get the itch to write some good ole snail mail, we have a gorgeous, empty metal box out front :)

Tomorrow I plan on posting updated house pics! Stay tuned...

PS- Friends in NLR, I miss you like crazy.

Ant Adventure

Ah the joys of being a homeowner! We have had a few issues here and there since we moved in. But, none have been as nasty as this one. I came home today to an ANT infestation! Sick, gross, ewe. I know! Apparently there was an ant nest/mound/colony in the back yard. So, they managed to weave their way through the patio, back door, along the hardwood, around the bar, and up to the kitchen sink and wall. There were hundreds. It gave me the heebie jeebies. Keith was playing basketball with some other dental students- so I had to attack the situation on my own. I needed to take care of this before they made it to the pantry! I hopped in my car and headed to Fred's discount store... Marion's finest! I stocked up on ant elimination products (see photo). Bubba behind me at the checkout said, "you must mean business, little lady." Darn right, Bubba.















I ran in the door so fast and sprayed Raid everywhere. I hit every last one. I didn't think about how great it was going to smell in the kitchen. I felt so victorious as they lay there dead. Now, I've set up traps (I prefer to call them Ant Motels), and had the parameter of the house sprayed.

Problem solved.

That's all for now. Until the next adventure...

Furniture Assembly = Fun

Keith has assembled many furniture items over the last few days. He is sick of boxes and instruction manuals. At approximately 12:02 am Wednesday morning, the kitchen table was finished. This was the most frustrating project yet. Handy man finished with a victory!




































Awesome "man-drill" courtesy of the Lynch family. He is putting this to good use!