Hi everyone – this is just a short note to let you know I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. At first, I was merely enjoying my time off and then I was cleaning up my older posts. I am very excited to tell you that I have become a Featured Blogger on Fave Southern Recipes. You can find many of my recipes on there and if you use Pinterest, you can find another board that I pin to on there as well called Bloggers Southern Recipes We Love. Fave Southern Recipes sends out a newsletter that gives you all kind of Southern Recipes from all over the blog world and best of all? THEY DO IT CORRECTLY! Yes, they ask permission to use the pictures and then link directly back to my blog for the entire recipe……….it’s so nice to find a place that wants you to grow with them!
I am also slowly putting all my recipes on Ziplist – for those of you who use that. It is time consuming and as I am doing it, I am trying to “fix” up my pictures – or at least some of them that look just awful!
We had a yard sale two weekends ago and with the leftovers I called my former work buddy Patty to asked about the VA nursing home we worked with at Christmas one year. They did not need our donations but the activity director gave me the names and numbers of three others, one right here in the town I live in. The VA center in the smallest town returned my call quickly hoping they were the first to call because apparently, VA nursing homes in smaller towns do not get donations like those in larger ones. The activity director is just giddy that we are bringing books and pants and wide shoes (the hubs and I both wear wide shoes) but I also promised her treats. I thought hey, I’ll make some old-fashioned treats and take pictures for the blog then give to them and everyone will be happy, right? Well………..it WOULD be right if I could make the doggone things correctly! I have messed up, burned and otherwise ruined more food in the past week – I don’t even have a post right now! For the candy, it could be the 3000% humidity we have going on in Oklahoma right now! You nearly need a snorkel to go outside – seriously!
In an attempt to make homemade gumdrops (both with sugar and sugar-free) I have made a bunch of goo. The hard candy only ever got to the tacky stage. I burned the gingersnaps and sugar cookies. Finally, the “Cracker Jacks” had drippy coating!
Today, I am taking off with the hubs – I have a hair appointment – and I’m going to take some pictures around the state as we go on a date for the day, then tonight, I will tackle the recipes again…………..and get pictures! Tomorrow is our day to take our donations to the Sulphur, OK VA Center and there is 100% chance of rain! Yay! We need rain really bad. The highs over the next few days will only be in the 70’s.
In summary, all is well just not GOING all that well in the kitchen right now! I hope to have a post up before the weekend – thanks for all the emails and well-wishes!
I’m sure the VA nursing home is going to be very happy with any snacks you come up with. You’re a good person, Kelli.
Lillian
Awww….thanks Lillian – but if I don’t get these treats made right, they are going to end up with store-bought ones! 🙂
So, I hope you are out enjoying this awesome Oklahoma weather today, Kelli. I have the laptop on the patio and am browsing away. Congrats on the new pub!!!!!! I have toyed with the idea of ziplist but haven’t done anything yet. I probably should get on that since the summer is winding down. Not too many days left. Enjoy your date!
Thank you Debra – and we were out until just about an hour ago – such a wonderful day but the fronts are moving in now and that always give the hubs a headache so we are finally home – now to make those cookies, the right way!
It’s good to get your update 🙂 🙂
Thank you for your VA donations, I know they will be appreciated.
I sure hope so Rust – now to just get those cookies baked! 🙂
I always knew you were cool, and your time and efforts spent to help others is one reason why. Where is that Wonder Woman logo? 😉 Congrats on the blog features. (I should be saying congrats to them — for landing your services!) Behave yourself and godspeed.
Adam – I can’t behave myself! never been able to…. ha! You are so sweet – I don’t feel like WW, but I will feel better if I can get those darn cookies made. Thanks for dropping by!
Congrats on the Featured Blogger status! And thanks for continuing to do so much for Oklahoma seniors!
Thanks Jennifer – I miss you guys, but I really am enjoying not being there! I’m up at the crack of dawn trying to make these dang cookies one last time! 🙂
Good to catch up with you Kelli. I had the very same BAD week in the kitchen recently too…threw out more things in just a few days! ;-( That so rarely happens…guess sometimes we just make up for ‘lost time’ of not having problems in the kitchen huh? How wonderful you’re helping out the VA center – excellent idea to do with your ‘leftovers’ from the garage sale. Looking forward to more recipes from you soon…when you get back into the swing of things. A break now and then is good for the mind and body…enjoy! The excitement of being featured at another blog should go a long way…nice!!
Thanks Marsha! I’m back on the cooking horse tomorrow morning!
I have a feeling that what you would call a fail would still be a treat for the folks at the VA. My grandmother always said you can’t make candy when it’s humid. She would complain bitterly before Christmas if our weather hadn’t turn cold and dry because that was her prime candy making season, for giving it as gifts. Sounds like you are making the most of being blissfully unemployed, my friend! I’m looking forward to traveling Oklahoma with you through your photos.
Thanks Stacy! I took pictures yesterday and sadly, it was raining all day long (still raining today) so nothing came out………but we really need the rain this time of year so I can’t complain too much!
Congratulations on the status my friend, it is so deserved 😀 You are incredible!
And OMG LOVE how you manage to be such a wonderful person at the same time 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Well you are so sweet!! Thank you so much for the compliment. We had so much fun doing it.