Dinner!

Okay, I had this nice entry all typed up and it disappeared. Long story short, I had a nice dinner with my friends. It's great that we're trying to keep up the monthly gathering. Yah, not everyone can always come, but we had a nice turn out tonight. It's especially nice as we no longer all work in the same section, building or company. So, this is our little way of catching up with each other, and just getting in some good belly laughs.

Tonight, we celebrated a new position, a son turning 21, a daughter going off to freshman year at college (okay, I don't think the mom is celebrating all that much), a vacationt to Florida and just having a great group of gals to gather 'round the table monthly!

Hot Pretzels!

My Dad and My Hubby ordered "Hot Pretzels" for Father's Day. I'm a little behind in the gift making/giving department. So, this past Sunday, I gathered all of the necessary ingredients and made up a batch of hot pretzels. The following recipe is actually for one bag of pretzels. Personally, I like it much better with the 2 bags . . . if I end up making it with only one bag, I cut the oil in half . . .

1 cup oil (I use canola and sometimes skim it down to 3/4 cup)

1 package Hidden Valley Ranch Seasoning mix

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp Cayenne Pepper

2 large bags mini pretzels

Using small bowl, mix the first four ingredients.

In a roasting pan, put a layer of pretzels and spoon some of the "dressing" on pretzels. Gently mix. Keep layering pretzels and dressing, mixing well after each layer. Continue to do this until all pretzels and dressing have been used.

Bake in a 200 degree oven for 2 hours. Stir pretzels every 20 minutes.

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Warning: if you take these to work and offer them to your coworkers, don't eat them all before the co-workers get a few . . . very upsetting to the coworkers and - it will make you look like a greedy piggie!

Measurements

Tonight, we had an appointment with Dr. P~.

Miss Mia is 29" tall and 17.3 pounds. That puts her in the 75th percentile for her height and the 5th percentile for her weight . . . she is a tiny little thing weight wise.

Everything is exactly on track. Dr. P~ has us starting Miss Mia on milk. So, after our appointment, we went to Giant Eagle where we picked up some groceries, including Miss Mia's first gallon of Vitamin D milk.

She also received a gift from Dr. P~. How awesome is that??? Go to the doctor and the doctor gives YOU a present to help celebrate YOUR birthday!?! Nice!

Fourth of July Weekend

Okay, so there are no pictures . . . we did nothing. Seriously. Nothing.

Steve went with my dad and Uncle John (dad's brother) to Back to the 50s and then a Truck Pull. Yeah, hubby is turning into a redneck loser.

John and Marilyn came out and we had a chicken sandwich from Wendy's.

We were planning on going to the Grove City fireworks. This didn't happen due to my aunt running over my Gram's dog.

Daisy Mae survived. She has a broken pelvis and a fractured leg. She was rushed by my Mom and Gram (and Tia) to the vet's in Greenville. Sandy refused to do anything in regard to the dog; it was more important to her to get trashed and shoot off fireworks. Real winner work there . . .

The next morning, Gram and I went and picked up the little doggie. The poor thing is to be kept in a crate all week. No walking on her leg. And the vet bill . . . . yeah, Sandy won't even acknowledge it was her fault. To her, some mean, evil person hit the dog. It's amazing how she turns everything to her benefit.

So, I've taken care of the very pricey vet bill. Daisy Mae is doing well - she and Gram are up at the lake for the week, just laying around, getting all better. We "accidentally" didn't tell Sandy or the rest of the boozing losers where Gram and Sue are for the week! HA!

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GOOD NEWS

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I've been wanting a sun room for awhile. I love sitting outside, but the mosquitoes and the deer flies are just hideous. I also swell up when bitten, not a pretty sight.

So, we've kept our eye out for supplies . . . we were thinking of splitting some sliding glass doors apart and making "windows" out of the panes of glass.

Then, at Amelia's birthday party, we were relaxing with Dave and Courtney and read that someone had a "patio enclosure" for sale - best offer.

We forgot about it, not calling until Wednesday. When Mom called (she had the paper), the guy told her someone had put money down on it but hadn't picked it up yet. He told her to call back Friday.

I called Friday and he was out driving around trying to find the girl - she wasn't answering the phone and not returning his calls. He took my number and said he would call me one way or another.

Sunday, he called. He was finally able to contact the girl who proceeded told him she couldn't afford to buy it . . . so the Patio Enclosure was mine if I would like it.

I did.

Miss Mia, Mom and I jumped in the car and we went to New Castle to take a look at the fixture. It's 12x14 . . . and once we get it installed (sooner rather than later, I HOPE!), it will be an awesome place to sit at night - and for many of Miss Mia's toys!

YEAH!!!!!

The one the guy replaced this with is exact same, only with windows instead of sliding glass doors (his is up on 2nd story with no stairs/ landing around the patio, so his one kid fell and was hurt. Anyway, his new one was $14,500. Mine, $500! Now, if I can get a good deal on cement for the footer, we'll be set!