Jul 28, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday
I know. You’re thinking, “Water? Seriously?”
But, yes. Seriously. I’m sitting here wondering what to write for 5TF, and drinking my fruit-infused water, and it hit me. The idea, not the water. Oh, that would be bad, especially since that would prob’ly mean water on Blue Raven. Yikes. Oh, sorry. I digress. What were we talking about? Right. Water.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Berry Infused Water
Forget the fact that without water there would be no coffee or sweet tea. It’s good for so many other things, too!
Don’t believe me? Read on . . . But first, watch this short video of Nippers at his favorite fountain.
- Fountains are refreshing. There’s something blissful about a gentle water flow. It carries away the world and leaves you feeling refreshed. There’s a rhythm without a steady rhythm. It can be hypnotic or energizing. Fountains are just fun.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Refreshed at The Mission Inn
- Infused water is delicious. Call it flavored or Spa Water. Whatever floats your boat. [See what I did there?] Adding fruits, berries, herbs, flowers, or drops of essential oils to your water not only tastes fabulous, it’s fabulous for your body! Cucumber and mint. Lemon and orange. Lavender and citrus. Try your blending your own favorite flavors.
Berry Infused Water
- Speaking of floating your boat (Aww, I did it again!), waterways are amazing. We’re talking oceans, rivers, lakes, seas, streams. All of it! Nature’s infrastructure provides irrigation and allows for travel where there otherwise wouldn’t be. And the power behind such a natural force is, well, it leaves me speechless.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Flying over the Mighty Mississippi!
- Cleansing. Whether cleaning your house or flushing out your body, water is one of those pretty important tools. Let’s face it. Y’all aren’t only dry-dusting are you? That doesn’t do anything but move the mess around. Water helps remove dirt, toxins, and leaves your home, and your body, in a better condition. Am I right? How great do you feel after a gulp of ice-cold water on a crazy hot day? And how accomplished when the house is wiped down with water and Pine-Sol? Yeah, me too.
Frankly, My Dear . . . A Little Clean Sink
- It’s just pretty to look at. Now, maybe I’ve been in the desert too long, and maybe some of all y’all have a different perspective. But out here, rainstorms are few and far between, and when they do arrive they don’t last that long. So we like to take time to enjoy them like welcoming a long-lost friend.
Frankly, My Dear . . . Rain in the desert
I’m sure I could go on, but I’d like to hear from you: What’s your favorite use for water?
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Matthew 11:38 NLT
TWEET THIS: Five Things Friday: What About Water? @RealMojo68 #5TF #water
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Jul 27, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Nippers in the Kitchen
So, there’s this cookbook on my shelf and a poll on Facebook . . .
Last week y’all voted, and Hamburger Pie won the election!
This has always been one of my favorite meals since I was young. It’s hearty, savory, and just look at all those mashed potatoes!
Now, you can use fresh ingredients if you want to. My schedule requires something just a little easier, so I opt for the ready-to-use product.
Hamburger Pie: Seven Easy Ingredients
Have I shared this with you before? Well, it’s worth another helping, dontcha think?
Seven ingredients. Six steps. One big serving of delicious!
And, look! You can even print the recipe!
The Unemployment Cookbook: Hamburger Pie
Ingredients
- 1 eye-watering medium onion, diced
- 1 lb ground cow
- 1 can (14 oz) French style cut green beans, drained. Because Arctic beans are just too cold.
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup. Chicken, now. Not peacock or other foul fowl.
- 1 soup can of cow juice (That would be milk).
- 1 box (8 servings) instant mashed potatoes. Abacadabra!
- 1 egg. Again, from a chicken. Nothing else.
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and onion together. They're in a heated relationship.
- Spoon into 2-qt baking dish. Time to get comfy!
- Cover with green beans. Layers are so stylish this time of year.
- Mix together soup and milk. Pour over green beans. Time to cool things down a little, folks!
- Prepare instant mashed potatoes per package instructions. Take out the day's frustrations and beat in an egg.
- Spread on top of casserole. Apologize to the potatoes for the egg beating and spread them nicely.
- Bake uncovered 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
3.1
http://franklymydearmojo.com/2017/07/27/the-unemployment-cookbook-hamburger-pie-2/ (c) 2012 Frankly, My Dear... New Inklings Press
I like this meal best the next day after it’s firmed up a bit. Don’t get me wrong, hot and fresh is, well, hot and fresh. But warmed up stove top or in the microwave the next day, it still retains the flavor with less liquid.
The next recipe poll will be posted in a few days, so stay hungry. I mean, stay tuned!
What’s that? Y’all want more? Well come on home, honey. You know I’ve got food on the table for you.
You can find the basic version of this and many more table-tempting recipes in The Unemployment Cookbook, available through New Inklings Press. But for a healthy serving of snark, come on back to this table.
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . : The Unemployment Cookbook: Hamburger Pie. @RealMojo68 #amcooking #unemploymentcookbook
Frankly, My Dear . . . Hamburger Pie
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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Jul 26, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
INVITATION: Harbingers, Cycle One
Book Three is no less exciting than Books One or Two. In fact, in my opinion, it’s better. It’s better because — Oh, wait.
Not sure you want to know the spoilers.
So we’re gonna do this again. Yup, I’m gonna type random notes so you don’t see anything you don’t want to unless you actively click and scroll.
That’s right. You have to decide. Do you want to know the next episode from Andi’s POV? [Sorry, Mom. That’s writer speak for Point of View.]
I’ll tell ya a non-spoiler. Andi was raised in Florida by Jewish grandparents. And author Angela Hunt presents them both remarkably well. I feel like I’m in a Florida storm, listening to Andi’s Safta (Grandma) talk of how she’s smart but needs a good, Jewish husband.
Right of the bat, and I mean BAM! Front Page News kind of excitement- this weird thing happens. Andi has a premonition. Now, she’s always good at visualizing patterns, but notsomuch the other stuff. But it happens. And the wildlife starts to die off. Rapidly. But–super creepy here–with no eyes. Oh, yeah. That’s right. Fish wash ashore and birds drop from the sky with holes where their sightseers used to be.
It’s like Signs and The Birds and other creepy movies all rolled into one. And this is just Chapter Two!
As Andi researches mass animal deaths, she discovers another pattern. The pattern. Phi. Now, being the nerd geek life student that I am, I looked up Phi. It hurt my head. So much information! And I wanted to get back to the book. So, let’s just call up a cursory memory of mathematics. Remember the TV Show NUMB3RS? “Everything is numbers.” [Side note: NUMB3RS is currently not on TV reruns or Netflix. Not to toot my horn, but I told y’all Why DVDs are still important, didn’t I?] Okay, but don’t let that scare you. You don’t have to be some awkward Big Bang Theory adult to get this. Just know that there are patterns everywhere, and Andi’s your girl for figuring them out.
“Something was out of kilter in the universe.”
Andi decides it’s time to get the band back together, and sends Sabba’s (Grandpa’s) jet to pick up the peeps. Not understanding the dynamics of this conversation, Safta and Sabba have left for their vacation home in Manhattan and soon the rest are having dinner together.
Remember the little boy, Daniel? He connects with Andi’s dog in a way only he can. As the group sits on the porch, something invisible–not Daniel’s friend from Book Two–startles the pair and Abby the Labrador runs off and disappears.
Meanwhile the University Hazmat team and local Aquarium doctor reach out to Andi and the Professor with their explanations, which really don’t explain a thing.
Of course there’s a Sherlock Holmes reference, the good detective’s take on Occam’s Razor. So I’m pretty much in love with the book for this passage alone.
I wanna say, “Now here’s where it gets good,” like the stuff I’ve read so far hasn’t been. There’s doubt and floating orbs and evil and things only a drunk can see and then there’s . . . more. A demon? An alien? A hallucination? And what becomes of it? Where is Andi’s dog? Why does Daniel see and sense things the others can’t?
I held my breath through most of the book, putting it down only to make notes. And here’s the thing, the most remarkable thing for me: I read it all in one sitting.
Folks, that’s just not something I do. But I needed to know what happened.
And you do, too. You know you do!
So this blog post is over. It’s time for y’all to get yourself a copy and see what happens next. And next week, I get to read Al Gansky’s contribution. Y’all know that makes me happy. I owe that man a coffee. After reading his book, I may just buy him two.
Hop on over to get your copy of INVITATION: Harbingers, Cycle One.
TWEET THIS: Frankly, My Dear . . . : INVITATION: Harbingers, Cycle One, Book Three. @RealMojo68 @angiehunt #harbingers #sentinel
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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