Happy New Year!

Tonight we are celebrating the coming of the new year of 2013 from the warmth and non-crowdedness of our living room.  Let's see if I can make it till midnight!  On a side note, look at the description of this New Years celebration:

That's right-welcome 2006!

Chicken and Dumplings

Tonight my husband made me some chicken and dumplings-one of my favorites!

Fire Place

It is a cold night, so my husband made a fire for me.  First fire this winter!  Love it!

Prickly Pear Soda

Something that has been tempting me lately is soda.  Not the typical Coke that I have loved for years, but the different, unknown varieties.  When my hubby and I visited Central Market this week, I picked up a few varieties.  I immediately drank the Birch Beer-and loved it!  But then, I already knew I liked Birch Beer-it isn't quite so different or unknown.  Tonight I enjoyed Prickly Pear soda.  Prickly Pears are from the desert-I have actually never tasted one, so I had no idea what to expect in terms of flavor.  This was was delicious, too.  I think I will try this one again, soon.

My Handgun

About a year and a half ago, a friend of mine was mugged just outside of her apartment. Her ankle was broken, and still all this time later, I don't believe it is back to normal yet.  This event made me much more cautious, especially when by myself, and in areas where there aren't a lot of people around.  It also made me re-think my views on carrying protection with me.  I did not want to just jump and make a decision to carry a gun because of a single incident, but wanted to make sure that this was something I really wanted to do.

After a year and a half of not only not changing my mind, but my decision being strengthened, I finally made a purchase today.  You might not be able to tell from the picture, but it is just a small handgun-a 380, but big enough to offer me some protection.   My next step is to take some classes-both beginner lessons, and to get a concealed carry license.  I am really excited about getting these under my belt!

Del Taco

I had noticed a Del Taco open in Burleson, but pretty much ignored it.  Then a friend from work, who is originally from California, told me that she used to eat at both Del Taco and In N Out Burger all the time in California, but when she moved to Texas she had to quit since we didn't have any.  She now gets to eat at both regularly since both chains have moved to Texas, and just loves it.  I figured I should give Del Taco a try.

Today, nearing 3:00, my hubby and I realized we had never eaten lunch, and since we were in the area, I suggested we give Del Taco a try.  I got the Value Pack (at least I think that is what it was called), which consisted of a Kids quesadilla, a chicken soft taco, and a bean burrito.  I figured this would be the best way to try a variety of their foods on the same trip.  My hubby had the nachos and a bean burrito.  The taste simply reminded me of Taco Bell-nothing to write home about.  If I am in the mood for quick Mexican at some point in the future, I will probably opt for Taco Bueno.  I doubt we will go back.

Dodie's Cajun Restaurant

Last week for date night, we traveled down Greenville Avenue before stopping at our planned destination.  While on the way there, we noticed Dodie's Cajun Restaurant.  We just love Cajun food, and so I suggested we go back to Lower Greenville Avenue to check this restaurant out.  It did not disappoint!  We started off with some chips with queso and salsa, and before we got too far with that, the waitress brought us our salad and coleslaw.  Here is my coleslaw.  It was really good-no mayo, and a little bit of Cajun kick!

We hadn't even finished our salad when our food arrived. I was very impressed with how quick service was!  I ordered chicken and sausage jambalaya, below.  Yes, I am fully aware the picture is fuzzy-that's what I get for taking a picture without a flash in a semi-dark restaurant!

My hubby ordered a Crawfish combo-fried crawfish on the left, and crawfish etoufee on the right.  Of course, you know me-I had a taste of his, too, and it was very good!

The food was all great-including the basket of bread they brought to the table as well.  Service was excellent, and fast.  I wish the restaurants closer to home held up the same standard of food they do on Greenville Avenue.  We had another fun night together!

Settlers of Catan

My sister gave us a fun gift for Christmas-a board game called Settlers of Catan. The boys and I have had fun playing-although I must admit the rules seemed a bit daunting at first.  As soon as we had a hang of the game, though, we really enjoyed playing.  It is like a combination of Monopoly and the original Sim City.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas!

White Christmases don't happen often in North Texas.  But today, the snow showed up!  I don't like being cold, so I sent my boys outside with my camera.

My youngest scooped up what little bit of snow that had accumulated on the ground and made a snowball.  Yes, we can say we had snow on Christmas!

Christmas with our Niece

We made a visit to see my niece this evening.  2 and a half is a fun age-they just love receiving gifts!  Here she is opening her My Little Pony.

Opening Gifts

Merry Christmas!  I realize it is a day early, but we usually open gifts on Christmas Eve at our house since Christmas day tends to be busy.

ER Visit

Today has been difficult.  After church we arrived at my husband's aunts house to visit with family. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law was in a terrible amount of pain from a fall a few days ago, and was now mostly unresponsive.  My father-in-law took her and my youngest son to the hospital, while we took my niece and oldest son.  She got a nap in, as you can see here.

Thankfully, as soon as my mother-in-law arrived at the hospital, they were able to give her oxygen which helped her immensely.  They are planning to keep her for a few days while she recovers.  I am glad I serve a God who heals!

Dancing Christmas Lights

We passed a road that had a homemade sign a while back that said "Dancing Lights".  I knew at that point we must go back at night.  Tonight was our night!  We knew we were at the right place when we saw all these Christmas lights strung up in the home owners front yard, and a sign telling us to tune our radios to a particular radio station.  We did and then enjoyed watching the lights dance to the music for several songs.  That was so neat!

Choosing the Right Frame

A while back my hubby and I selected a gift for my father-in-law, a signed picture of Jim Arness, the actor who played Marshal Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke.  We are sure he will like it!  Trouble is, it was just the picture, without a frame.  So I went to the store this morning to find the perfect frame.  So many choices!

 We finally decided on this one.  I am sure he will like this!

Krispy Kreme

What I am about to tell you may make you wonder about.  I have never been inside a Krispy Kreme before.  As a kid I remember my dad had Krispy Kreme doughnuts delivered to his work on a regular basis.  We lived in a small town, and I have no idea where the nearest physical Krispy Kreme building was located.

As an adult I moved to a larger city, and I would occasionally see and sometimes pick up Krispy Kreme doughnuts at a gas station.  You should know that my breakfast of choice is normally something that involves egg, some kind of breakfast meat, cheese, and some kind of carb like a biscuit, tortilla, or English Muffin.  I do like doughnuts, they have just never really been my first choice.  In fact, normally when we visit a doughnut shop, I forgo the doughnut altogether and get a kolache (sausage roll).

But I digress.

Last night after going out to eat, we saw the Hot Now sign on at Krispy Kreme.  At this point I told my husband I had never tasted a hot doughnut from Krispy Kreme.  This is when all plans changed.  "Never?"  I am still not sure he believed me. :)

Needless to say, he immediately pulled into the parking lot, and I got to try a hot Krispy Kreme for the first time.  When we walked inside, we were both immediately offered a free, hot glazed doughnut, which the doughnut artist (I don't know what the employees are  called here-but it fit, I guess) took directly off the line of doughnuts on the conveyor.  The conveyor was neat-as a guest of the shop, you could view the doughnuts cooking in the hot oil, and then being glazed.  Who knew?  Well, okay, everybody but me.

The doughnut really did taste so much better fresh than the ones I have had previously from the gas station.  We promptly bought a box to take home with us.

Jack's Southern Comfort

Tonight for date night, my hubby took me to the lower Greenville area of Dallas to a new restaurant that had been recommended to him called Jack's Southern Comfort.  The menu was neat-lots of brunch foods combined with lunch and dinner foods which fit the category comfort food.

I snapped a picture of my hubby's soda while we waited for our food.

My hubby ordered one of his favorite foods-shrimp and grits.  He said they were very tasty-and had a particularly good sauce.

I ordered the BTFGT, which was a BLT, but the T was a fried green tomato.  Instead of being on toasted bread, though, it was on a biscuit.  It was amazingly good!  I had never heard of putting a fried green tomato on a BLT before, but it really makes this sandwich! The only downside to the sandwich was that biscuits tends to be crumbly, so it was a bit difficult to eat.

The service at the restaurant was great-we have noticed that most restaurants in this area of Dallas do tend to have good service-one of the reasons we enjoy lower Greenville so much.  I definitely recommend this restaurant!

Wordless Wednesday: Duck Dynasty Youth Christmas Party