postcard cookery

I recently found a Grand Rapids, Minnesota postcard in an antique store, and I think it's from the 1970's. When I flipped it over, I discovered it didn't have your typical 'Having a good time, wish you were here' thing written on the back. Rather, somebody used it as a recipe card! (Maybe the fish on the front made the person hungry...)



Anyway, a "pizza hot dish" recipe from a North Dakota newspaper was scribbled on the back:



So I figured, what the heck, I'll make it for dinner tonight! Garbage Puff put on his cute little red bib, picked up his little red fork, and pronounced it "pretty darn tasty".



Here's the unscribbled version if you want to try it. (I used low fat options whenever I could.)

Pizza Hot Dish

1 ½ lb. ground beef
1 tsp oregano, 1 onion, salt, pepper, garlic
2 - 10 oz. cans pizza sauce
1 - 8oz can tomato sauce
1 cup milk
1 cup mozzarella cheese
6 oz. noodles
1 cup sliced pepperoni

Cook and drain noodles.
Brown beef & onion; drain fat.
Add seasoning, pizza & tomato sauces.
Simmer 15 minutes.
Add cheese, pepperoni, milk & noodles.
Top with pepperoni and cheese.
Bake in 9X13 pan at 350 degrees for 1 hr.

new route and new 'friends'

I decided to try out a new bike route this weekend (new to me anyway). I was a little wary of my choice after I encountered this sign early on:



I usually consider the expression "Prepare to meet thy God" as a warning of impending doom.

But the bike ride turned out just fine. The route wound around a semi-rural area, and I visited with some nice horses...




...and a very friendly cow I've named Norman (as a tip o' the hat to the movie City Slickers):




There is a certain resemblance:

hint for family cleverly hidden in blog

I'm jazzed! The first season of thirtysomething is going to be released August 25th! (I don't watch a whole lot of tv, but that was one of my all time favorite series.) It's 5 days after my birthday, yet I think this DVD box set would still make a fine birthday gift.



(The second season will be released in February 2010, conveniently in time for Valentine's Day.)

Friday Five: The Big To Do

Kathrynzj writes, "It seems like every year I enter into the summer with a growing list of HUGE projects/events/trips that seem to have a permanent place on the 'to do' list." And that inspired the questions for this week's F5:

1. What home fix-it project is on your Big To-Do?
We really need to paint the inside of our house -- especially the living room/dining room area. (New carpet would be nice too!) But I dread the mess and moving all the furniture. I need Eldon the Painter from Murphy Brown to move in.

2. What event (fun or work) is on your Big To-Do?
Attending the college graduation of Offspring #1 -- which was truly made a Big To-Do by her receiving a Presidential Scholar Award! Only seven graduates in Western Washington University's class of '09 are given this award "for their exceptional scholarship and service to the university and community". Here she is eating a celebratory cupcake. (OK, actually this picture was taken Spring Break '08 in NYC!)

Anyway, I'll be bloggin' more about this one later (the graduation, not the cupcake)! ;)

3. What trip is on your Big To-Do?
France. We have yet to make good on our promise to Offsprings #1&2 to vacation there! Our next goal (and I think we can make this one!) is summer 2010.




4. What do you wish was on someone ELSE's (partner, family member, celebrity, etc...) Big To-Do?
One major item on the world's to-do list should be getting a handle on global warming.

5. Getting inspired? What may end this summer having moved from the Big To-Do to the Big Ta-da?
The only one that will get done for sure is item #2!

and the winner is...

...David (photoshopped below with victory crown and prize mug)!



Although mompriest had some excellent points, I'm going to go with David for making the best sense of the nonsensical for me.

I think Lorette was definitely on to something with her comment: "they're off their meds". (Since she's a physician practicing in the hospital setting, Lorette is in a good position to forward that theory!)

Dust Bunny entered late with a shameless, somewhat desperate attempt to win the mug. Sorry, DB, you needed to actually put forth an explanation to be in the running. :)

Congratulations, David, the mug will be mailed!

ooh, ooh, it's a contest!

About two years ago I saw and blogged about a car sporting a "billboard-style" bumper sticker with this theological message: "Jesus abhors all faith for it seems good but is lies that damn you to death in hell." (Hmm... ok, that's a head scratcher.)

Then last week Hubby and I drove up to Olympia to attend a dinner and continuing education class and spotted this new billboard-on-wheels:



What the frick?! This is even weirder than the other one (and that was hard to do).

I decided a prize will be awarded to the person who best explains the meaning of this new cryptic theo-message to me. (Or takes the best whack at it.)

What prize, you ask? Why, it's an excitin' Views from the Road mug!



But don't let that discourage you from entering! :)

the weekend in pictures

The picnic!


The throw!


The catch!


The theatre!


The park!


The other park!

(Yes, even Mr. Tumnus got out to play!)