Have I told you lately...

Heavy D

--that my brother has a blog? He generally steers me in the right way towards indie bands, and he's all about that on his page. Check him out here or on the side. He's Heavy D.


--that I'm participating in the Bible study the Patriarchs? We met Thursday night for the first time, and it's going to be great!

--that B is graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a Masters degree in Software Engineering on December 8, 2007? WHOOP!

--that we've been sick? Yes, still two weeks later. That's why you haven't heard much from us. But we are on the mend, so we're back in action!

Welcome to Aggieland

This weekend we went to the A&M - Baylor game with our good friends, the Cooks. We were pleased that the Aggies won, although the game itself wasn't that interesting until halftime, when the Baylor band played some "music to get you movin' and groovin'"--as in Michael Jackson's Thriller. The best part was when the flag corps and the woodwinds threw down their flags and instruments and did the actual dance from Thriller. I don't think Kyle Field will ever be the same again.

Pre-Game/Pre-Sunburn

Thanks for winning Aggies! Gig 'Em!

Start Spreadin' the News...

It's official. We're going on a Christmas trip to New York City!

This will be B's first trip and my second, so if you have any suggestions on sights we should see, or restaurants we should visit, your experienced advice is greatly appreciated!

Welcome to the Infirmary

Today, instead of making homemade ice cream to take to a church fellowship, we have been sitting at home. Sick. Both of us. B has some unfortunate food poisoning, and I have either developed an allergy to my hometown, or I have what is known as the common cold. We have been laying around all day co-miserating.

So since we didn't think that anyone at our church should be eating anything that came out of this house today, I'm passing along my mom's homemade ice cream recipe we were going to make. The key is lots of salt on the ice to make it freeze faster--at least that's what I'm told.

Mom's Vanilla Ice Cream

6 eggs, separated
2 cans of evaporated milk
2 cups of sugar
1 Tablespoon of vanilla
Whole milk (we'll get to the amount in a sec)
Ice (probably should buy 2 bags)
2 cans of salt

Beat egg whites with a mixer until forthy. Beat the egg yolks separately. Pour both into the ice cream freezer. Add the two cans of evaporated milk to the freezer, then add the sugar followed by the vanilla.

Stir all of this together with a long handled spoon. Finish the freezer up to the fill line with the whole milk. Stir it again.

After assembling your ice cream maker and the freezer, add ice to the bottom, then layer with lots of salt. Continue adding ice and salt. Be liberal with the salt. Add more than you think it needs. The salt on the ice somehow makes it freeze faster.

And just for a personal pick me up, here we are on a better day.

Mama's Fish House, Maui

Inaugural Friday Fave Five

In honor of my friend Amy, here is my very first Friday Fave Five. To keep it relevant, here are 5 things I like about my hometown:

1. My family lives there! And on most weekends, even the family members that don't live there are there visiting.
2. Collin Street Bakery, home of the World Famous Deluxe Fruitcake. If you didn't know, they now have a second location on I-45, so you don't have to drive into town, complete with free WiFi.
3. The trail at Community Park. I have made so many laps on the trail at this park, either on my bike or rollerblading as a kid, to running for tennis in HS, and just walking and talking with my mom. Good times.
4. Old Mexican Inn and their orange dip. It is greatness manifested in paprika laced mayonnaise.
5. HEB. Central Market without the pretension. And when we're there, we always see someone we know.

A Visit Home

This weekend I'm spending time with my parents while my brilliant husband is hitting the books. You may or may not know that my mom plays the piano in a swing band. Actually she tears it up -- she is that good. This is the band that played at our wedding reception. Anyway, last night the Swing Band was invited to play at a local nursing home, so my Grannie and I loaded up and went to hear them play. The music was great! And the residents there were so appreciative. It was a perfect night to sit outside, and I was so blessed to be in the company of this gracious special audience. And did you know they have a National Nursing Home Week? I had no idea.

Most of the music played was from their era, and I just imagined that they were sitting there remembering back to younger days, possibly days of young love. Music evokes such strong emotions and memories. Do you have a song that reminds you of a specific memory? The first song that comes to my mind is riding in my dad's old truck when I was little singing "Red Neck Girl." You better know this girl definitely had her name on the back of her belt.

I realize that this post took a really sharp left turn from big band music when I typed the words "Red Neck Girl." Hope you have had a terrific week!

Gig 'Em Aggies

We are ready for football.

Family Photo

First Monday Weekend

OK girls, I have something to blog about!

My mom and I went to Canton this weekend, and I bought a necklace. This is not just any necklace y'all! I bought it from Mei Mei's Designs. Mei Mei is Chinese for "little sister." Amy, who makes each piece, is adopting a daughter from China and is funding the adoption through her jewelry business. They want their son to have a "mei mei."

You can find her at Canton in Trade Center III. Her jewelry is beautiful, and I highly recommend it!

P.S. My mom wants me to say that she is the one who found it.