Eureka Springs Arkansas Round House

If you ever get a chance to visit Eureka Springs, Arkansas you will love all the sites and beautiful little town tucked away in the Ozarks. The roads leading to Eureka Springs are filled with lots of curves and breathtaking views. I would suggest you do a little research on all the awesome places to see in Eureka Springs and check out all the little shops to find the most unique items.

While the Round House represents its connection to the Ozarka Water Company to most people, it has a varied past, just as the community in which it resides. The Round House stands on land first claimed by timber entrepreneur William Evans. By 1884, this land was subdivided into building lots as the new city of Eureka Springs boomed. William and Mahala Evans and their partners, David and Precious Bays, sold the land in 1886 to the Interstate Gas Company, which in six months sold to the Eureka Springs Gas Light Company, one of General Powell Clayton's enterprises. Located across the street from the railroad station, they built a limestone and rock pilaster base to hold a round metal tank containing coal gas (methane) for lighting the streets and homes of the city.

This large circular structure first appears on the street maps about 1892, identified as a "Gas Holder". In 1904, an eighteen inch thick walled limestone structureforty four feet in diameter was built to replace the metal tank. It was then used as a warehouse for bottled spring water sold under the trade name "Ozarka".

After Ozarka ceased operations here the building was used for various purposes through the years, including apartments, an art gallery, a restaurant and a nightclub. It was vacant for a number of years and fell into disrepair. Finally, it was totally renovated with an additional story added in 2002.

Tomatillo Sauce

I have never cooked with tomatillos, but after watching Melissa d'Arabian on her Food Network show Ten Dollar Dinners, I need to check them out. I love roasted veggies and she roasted the tomatillos.

Tomatillos are also called "tomate verde" in Mexico (which means green tomato) and are considered a staple in Mexican cooking. Tomatillo is a member of the nightshade family, related to tomatoes.The fruit of the tomatillo is green and about the size of a large cherry tomato. The inside is white and meatier than a tomato. They grow to maturity inside of a husk. They can range in size from about an inch in diameter to the size of apricots. They are covered by a papery husk which may range from the pale green color of the fruit itself to a light grocery-bag brown. The husks are inedible and should be removed before use.

Melissa d'Arabian from the Food Network

Has a new cookbook...order on line at

http://www.foodnetworkstore.com/

Tomatillo Sauce from Melissa d'Arabian

Ingredients

• 1 pound tomatillos, husked and rinsed
• 3 cloves garlic, unpeeled
• 1 Anaheim chile, seeded, deveined
• 1 white onion, quartered
• 1/2 jalapeno chile, seeded, deveined
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more for sprinkling
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for sprinkling
• Juice from 1/2 lime

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the tomatillos, garlic, Anaheim chile, onions and jalapeno on a baking sheet. Toss the vegetables with the oil, salt and pepper. Roast the vegetables until the tomatillos turn a dark-green color and the onions golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Let the vegetables cool slightly. Peel the garlic and transfer all the ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the lime juice and sprinkle with more salt and pepper.

The tomatillo sauce can be made 1 day ahead, covered and chilled.

If you have never watched Melissa, check your local listings and watch her show. She has some awesome money saving tips.

Friday Foto

GG's Day

Today is GG's birthday...GG is my sister and my great-nephew's Grandmother

My great-nephew calls my sister GG...Happy Birthday GG

Here is GG and her grandson picking cherry tomatoes.

He is really looking at that cherry tomato.

In the photo below he is having fun at the park.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GG

(She is a CLASSIC....1955 Model)

Pumpkin Seeds

Save those pumpkin seeds!

I have been reading more and more benefits of seeds...something we usually just toss in the trash. When my kids were small we roasted pumpkin seeds "for fun." I know it is still a couple months until we will be buying those fall pumpkins, but start looking at ways to use the seeds now and be ready!

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

1. Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water and pick out the pulp and strings. (This is easiest just after you've removed the seeds from the pumpkin, before the pulp has dried.)

2. Place the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet, stirring to coat. If you prefer, omit the oil and coat with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Sprinkle with salt and bake at 325 degrees F until toasted, about 25 minutes, checking and stirring after 10 minutes.

4. Let cool and store in an air-tight container.

Health benefits of Pumpkin Seeds

Crunchy pumpkin seeds are high in calories, but they are packed with fiber, vitamins, minerals, and numerous health promoting antioxidants. Their high caloric content mainly comes from protein and fats. On the positive side, the nuts are especially rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids that helps lower bad LDL cholesterol and increase good HDL cholesterol in the blood. (My doctor will love that part!)

The seeds contain good quality protein. Pumpkin seeds are a good source of Vitamin E. It prevents tissue cells from the free radical mediated oxidant injury. Thus, it helps maintain the integrity of mucus membranes and skin by protecting from harmful oxygen free radicals.

Pumpkin kernels are also excellent source of B-complex group of vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6 and folates. The niacin helps reduce LDL-cholesterol levels in the blood. Along with glutamate, it enhances activity inside the brain, which in turn helps reduce anxiety and neurosis.

The seeds also contain very good levels of essential minerals like copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Just like pine nuts, pumpkin seeds are very rich in manganese, pines are one of the richest sources of manganese.

There is lots more information out there about Pumpkin Seed benefits...but you get the idea. They are a good healthy snack and would be good in a trail mix or other dishes.

Fingernail Tips

It amazes me how my children can hold the camera out and photograph themselves. I can't even get a good photo of my hand! And another thing is how the color of what ever you are using as a background can change the color of the subject. These photos make my hand look really yellow, because of the red background. The ring on my middle finger is black hills gold and jade...real dark green jade. Strange.

My sister and daughter have the worst time trying to grow strong fingernails. They love to have pretty nails. As you can see my nails grow like crazy and are hard as rocks. These photos are just before I cut them. This is not the longest they have ever been, but about this length and they annoy me. It is hard for me to type with long nails. I found these tips for weak or brittle fingernails I wanted to share with those of you who have trouble growing nails.

Tips for weak or brittle fingernails

Weak fingernails can be a challenge to toughen up. To protect weak or brittle fingernails and reduce the risk of splitting or breaking:

• Keep your nails short. Long nails are more likely to split or break.
• Use moisturizer. Apply moisturizer to your fingernails and cuticles several times throughout the day and before bed. Consider wearing cotton gloves while you sleep, to help seal in the moisture.
• Apply nail polish. A thin coat of clear nail polish can help keep moisture in your fingernails.
• Limit use of nail polish remover. Don't use nail polish remover more than once a week. When you do need to use nail polish remover, choose the acetone-free variety. Acetone dries nails.
• Ask your doctor about biotin supplements. Changing your diet or taking daily multivitamins isn't likely to strengthen your nails. However, some research suggests that the nutritional supplement biotin might help strengthen weak or brittle fingernails.

You know you are getting old when your hands start to wrinkle.

Facebook

I do not do FACEBOOK...but I do love all the e-mails I recieve with things others have found on FB. Everyone says "you need on FB"...then they think about it, (and how I voice my opinions) and say "oh maybe not"...LOL

 

I did sit down at my husband's Facebook one time to look at some photos and ended up posting a comment to one of our daughter's childhood friends (she is 35 so not a child anymore)...the jest of it was she needed to listen for the pop........you know the sound made when her head popped out of her @@@........she really pushed my buttons and just reassured me that I do not need FB.

 

With that said I want to share some of my favorite Facebook things others have sent me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: The school teacher income listed above is much higher than in Oklahoma!

 

 

OK, I will do some more Facebook things at a later date...there are tons of them!

 

 

 

 

Larry the Cable Guy Tater Chips

What you may know is that comedian Larry the Cable Guy’s famous catchphrase, “Git-R-Done” has been a staple in his stand up routine and movies for over 20 years. What you may not know is that he has been donating time and financial support to any number of causes, from the FFA to the National Guard for just as long. His catchphrase has now taken on a higher purpose as the name of his new charitable organization, the Git-R-Done Foundation. The mission of The Git-R-Done Foundation is to provide assistance to charitable organizations that are experiencing hardships beyond their control, with an emphasis on children and veterans.

I found Larry the Cable Guy Tater Chips in our local store. OMG...GOOD! I started out with the Fried Dill Pickle Tater Chips. I photographed the package because I loved it as much as the chips. But, chips are not his only food product. He has spices, barbeque sauce, and new items are coming out all the time. http://www.gitrdonefoundation.org/who/tater-chips/

CHECK IT OUT...Barbeque Rib Tater Chips

Buffalo Wing Tater Chips and

Cheese Burger Tater Chips!

I took a bag of each flavor to work and everyone loved them.

Don't forget the spices...we all use spices.

GIT-R-DONE!

THE NEXT TRIP YOU MAKE TO THE STORE

LOOK FOR LARRY THE CABLE GUY PRODUCTS

Coupon Clutch

My friend Pat sent me this cute little clutch she made as an example. I just love it to keep my coupons organized. This cute little clutch helps me remember to take the coupons to the store and use them!

Friday Foto

Granny's Love at the outdoor showing

of the Lorax Movie

sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce

in the park across from City Hall

Remember the Mullet?

Do you remember the MULLET hair cut? I watched a tv show about the top ten mullets of all time...it made me laugh. The program was hosted by Neal McCoy and he was laughing at himself, as well as the others featured on the show. I did notice that all of the guys with their famous mullets have really wavy or curly hair. Hope you enjoy this trip back in time...

Neal McCoy

Billy Ray Cyrus

Toby Keith

Blake Shelton

These before and after views of these guys and their mullets beg to ask the question they all ask on the show...What were they thinking?

Healthy Choice Soup

I take a can of soup for lunch any time we do not have leftovers to pack for lunch.

My favorite stand by soup is Campbell's Chicken Noodle.

I decided to try something different.

It tasted OK, but was just not something I would buy again.

Must just be too healthy?

I did LOVE the label.

I loved that it shows the Pyramid.gov

 information about daily recommended amounts.

It tells Weight Watcher Points for anyone on that program.

It gives diabetic exchanges per serving.

Lots of GREAT information on the label.

All of the nutritional facts are big enough to read.

Lots of food labels are hard to read.

The noodles are curly and there's lots of carrots and celery in the soup.

Next time, I will take red pepper flakes to work to add more flavor.

I know....I expect a lot from a can of soup:)

Oven Baked Chicken and Rice

We love chicken and rice baked in the oven in the fall and winter. My daughter uses brown rice and chicken broth to make her casserole extra special. It is so easy to mix together and slide in the oven while you have other things to do. Add your own variations.

• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite size pieces
• 2 cups milk or chicken broth
• 2 cups uncooked white or brown rice
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can of condensed cream of mushroom soup
• shake in seasonings: accent, chopped onion, garlic powder, lemon pepper
• seasoned salt to taste (my daughter seasons everything with these)                  

 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl combine the milk, rice, soup and seasoned salt if desired. Mix well. Pour mixture over chicken pieces in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for approximately 60 minutes or until rice is done. Uncover the dish and bake for another 15 minutes to allow the rice to brown.

Suzy's Totally Green Contest

I TOTALLY copied this information from Suzy's Artsy Craftsy Sitcom Blog...I want you to check out both her blogs...enter the totally green contest...have some fun!

http://suzyssitcom.com/

You will have to go to her blog to check out the list of prizes for this

TOTALLY GREEN CONTEST.

 

 

As you may already know, I am co-author of another blog, Totally Green Crafts. And I want to let you in on a great opportunity! In order to help launch our new website, we are throwing a huge contest! This thrifty contest is a competition between our readers with the intent of creating awesomeness from recycled items. We are challenging you to submit your best projects based on our recycled theme.

And why do you want to do this? Are we offering you fame, popularity, maybe even your own Kardashian-style reality show? Well, maybe not. But how about a fabulous prize package for the winner- over $350 worth of fabulous prizes?

Got your attention now?

The theme is boxes. What can you create with a cereal box, a shoe box or just a plain ol’ cardboard box? You can use it in your project in any way that you like.

Rules are as follows:

1.- Submit your project to admin@totallygreencrafts.com. Please be sure to include at least one clear photo of your finished project along with your name, email address and link to your website post (if applicable). You do not need to have a website in order to participate!

2. Your project must be your own creation, but it doesn’t have to be original. (Even though original is a good thing!) It must incorporate the theme of the contest.

3. Your project can be a current project, or one that you created previously- as long as it is your own. Please only one project submission per person.

4. You have until 8:00 PM EST, Friday, Sept 28, 2012 to submit your project.

5. Be sure to follow Totally Green Crafts on Facebook so that you don’t miss any of the contest happenings!

At that point, Johnnie and I will narrow it down to the top ten and then put it out to you, the readers, for a vote to narrow it to the top three. The top three will have a chance for a final vote, the winner receiving fame, fortune…oh, and that awesome prize package.

 

 

Berry Short Cake

Need a quick dessert?

Try this berry short cake.

Purchase a pre-sliced pound cake top with your favorite berries,

 in this case it was strawberries and cherries.

Dollop with whipped cream, between the layers and on the top, and it is ready to eat.

Grandparents Day at School

Grandparents Day at my Grandson's school was yesterday.

I was so excited to get to go and he was happy to show me around his school.

This is the same school his mother and sister attended

and he thought that was amazing.

I am ten years older than when I went to grandparents day with his sister:(

Each child got to take their grandparents and give them a tour of the school.

This photo of us was taken in the school library during the tour.

The students in his class made their grandparents this handprint keepsake with poem.

I miss you when we're not together

I'm growing up so fast

See how big I've gotten

Since you saw me last?

As I grow, I'll change a lot,

The years will fly right by.

You'll wonder how I grew so quick

When and where and why?

So look upon this handprint

That's hanging on your wall.

And memories will come back of me,

When I was very small.

 

I stopped on the way home and got a document frame to put it in.

 

Here he is showing me the cafeteria.

His class lined up and sang two songs about Grandparents.

Always brings tears to my eyes!

I only took 38 photos on Grandparents Day.

I put them on my Walgreens account and made a collage for him.

You can put 20 photos on a collage, but I only used 17 of them.

This is a photo of us with his teacher. What a great memory!

This is a photo of him in the hallway just outside his classroom.

My Grandson is the most sweet loving little guy and the light of my life.