Catch you up.

Just a few quick things...

1) Our house and our belongings have been lucky, thus far with the oddball Oklahoma weather. The hail that looked like the aftermath of a blizzard went 10 miles south of our house, leaving us with a slight rain shower that watered the garden. The tornadoes of last week also went way south of us. Thanks for everyone that has checked in. And, if you haven't... shame on you;) HAHA

2) My herb's died. Cute little blue potters now looking for something else to live in them. Maybe hit up a farmers market for some lettuce or spinach plants. That seed growing crap is for the birds- honestly. Ate the little plants right out of the containers. So, I just hope it gets warmer so my garden can flourish... CROSSING FINGERS NOW!

3) I had a lunch meeting with the American Diabetes Association and if you are looking for a walk or bike event, they have two coming up in OKC. I am sure they have them all over the US. I am going to try to volunteer to help out or find a way for my work to donate something.

4) Thanks to everyone that showed up at Star Lake and purchased jewelry. I had fun selling things during the pre-sale party. Awesome idea, so if you are having a sale let someone help get the crowd in the mood. Have a little trade show. A lady also sold Scentsy at the same time. I will put pics of what I have left up on FB soon.

5) I have decided to try a new recipe every week. This is the one for this week..... Grilled Steak Tacos with Poblano- Mango salsa! You do know that May is National Beef Month, right?!?!?!

6) My brother is back home and I miss having him around. No real reason to sneak to Stillwater! Don't tell him I said this:)

7) I put in my application for the Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program and I am in the works of getting an interview set up. If I get accepted, it will be 3 days a month for two years! One week in D.C. and 2 weeks over seas. Those things have me pretty excited but still hope I get a chance to see the family more often than I do know.

8) I am taking the whole week of Hereford Junior National's off and will be in Indy, so I hope to see EVERYONE!!

9) Got some awesome books I will have to share with you all later.

10) I had a dream last night that I saw my baby picture and I was a conehead, like the movie Coneheads.... what do you think that means????

Give me two steps... or five answers. Whatever!

I found this and wanted to do it in an effort to procrastinate. It said to tag people, but I am not 100 percent sure how to do that.... Here it goes..... Well, hell- that didn't work! Just read them and tell me what you think. Then you do it. That is how I will handle this!!!! Cheers!


Where were you five years ago?
* May 2005.... bartending at the Copper Penny and doing days at a daycare
* Still in Oklahoma, but could have gone anywhere a job would have taken me
* Enamored by a dude named Circle K
* I was living in a more toned body with muscles
* Enjoying a happy hour or two in Stillwater

Where would you like to be five years from now?
* Not farming gophers on my one acre, but with actual grass.
* I should say raising a family, but that still trips me out.
* Viewed as a world traveler
* Judging the Hoosier Beef Congress showmanship, or have all ready done it.
* In a career I am passionate about, maybe with youth.

What is on your to-do list today?
* Finish my Oklahoma Ag Leadership Program application
* Find someone at the bank to write me a letter for said application
* drinks with Teacher after work
* Grocery shop since the tornadic weather put a stop to that yesterday
* water my trees- who I will introduce to you guys soon.

What snacks to you enjoy?
* Cheerioes
* Baked cheetos
* Carrots
* Celery
* Sugar free pudding cups (that question was much easier than the others!)

What five things would you do if you were a billionare?
* Get my mom and dad moved to Oklahoma
* bigger house with land, barn and Hereford babies
* donate to Breast cancer research.
* start a scholarship fund at OSU and BHE
* get a Barbie body... not going to lie here.

Let me spew my knowledge....

I was sad to hear the Ann Landers or someone like that passed away. Now I am scared that my vast wealth of knowledge will die with me when I pass! So, I compiled a short list of things that I HAVE to share with you guys.

Hold on to your wigs folks, this post will blow your mind;)

Hydrogen peroxide gets out stains. Blood, grass, cow dung, etc. Simply test it on a corner of a garment and watch the bubbles in it lift the stain up and away. Then wash as normal.

Use masking tape to hold the hem of pants up if you are too scared to commit to getting them professionally altered or to find out if you like that length. Another denim tip- when trying on jeans (I guess work pants, too) grab different types of shoes from the shoe section- heals, flats, boots, whatever you have in your wardrobe at home- and try them on with the jeans to see if you like the length. BUT, I guess some of you aren't freaks and absolutely petrified of your pants being too short. That goes back to a growth spurt I took and that is a whole other blog post!

Save CD covers in case you have a random first day of Spring snow storm. They will save your butt when you have all ready put away/lost your snow scraper.

If you have floor heat vents and want to add moisture to the house/office, put a metal can full o f water directly on the vent. the heat will cause evaporation, causing more humidity. My mommy taught me this one:)

Put a scented plug-in by the door of your place you enter most. Make it a scent you love and it will help you drop all your stress at the door.

Keep hand sanitizer in your car's console and use once you get done at a store. You don't want all those freaks germs in your car! Before it totally absorbs, run it over the steering wheel, too.

Don't be embarrassed to kick cans at a cattle show. I found two cans of black finisher paint and one of adhesive at the OYE this year. Then I paid it forward and gave to strangers. Minus the odd look they gave me, I felt good. And, I am slowly but surely realizing how great the cost of showing cattle really is. Insert a giant thank you hug to my mommy and daddy here.

Never pay to sweep out your car- do it with a cool Dust Buster like me. This one.............ROCKS!

Buy a fruit bowl! I got one three weeks ago and I haven't left the house without picking up a piece of fruit. One step closer to a healthier lifestyle! AND, I can play with the colors in my house because I am thinking of going with a green color .

Since I am addicted to candles, again- a whole other post- I hate it when my favorite one dies. Instead of buying a higher priced warmer, I bought a coffee cup warmer and it does the same thing for a fraction of the price.

Add cream corn to you Jiffy corn bread if you like it more moist. Follow the directions on the box then add between 1/4 to 1/2 can of cream corn, depending on what you like. It keeps longer if you don't eat the whole pan like me and it comes out more cakey. Total HEAVEN!

This book is my lifesaver on MANY things.... I was that girl that sent my CC payment in the day I got the bill. Not anymore because this book reminded me that I was making that company more money off interest drawn from my early payment! If you are like me, your mind might have wondered during financial or personal accounting and that little fact went to the wayside! Her down to Earth advice and info helped me make more informed decisions on things like home buying, first car purchase and more.

AND!!! I just found out the author, Jane Buckingham, has another book that comes out May 11th. Pre-order here and save! You can bet your bippy I am going to the store and pre-ordering TO-freaking-DAY!

Well, I better get off the Internet and to the mall b/c apparently some people don't like how I dress. Can I find close toe black shoes in the summer? Guess they just don't appreciate expensive designer shoes that make me really tall;)

Peace out cub scout,
Keffer

Whining Wednesday

(I think the picture shows how I feel today)
About time for it to be Wednesday! What a long couple of days in OKC. Coming into the office today officially cost me $188.50, or so says the nice policeman that pulled me over.

Back to my last few hours. Hit snooze too many times this a.m. and don't get a chance to see if my clothes match. Coffee pot didn't start on it's own, so I had to trudge to the kitchen and manually push the button. Who really has to actually do that?!? Out the outrage. Then, I can't find my makeup bag, which was tucked away in my car, so I have a makeup-less face when Mr. Cop pulls me over.

So, I am just going to head out the door with my breakfast and roll, or so was my plan. I try to get my smoothie I made last night, but it is frozen. I listened to dumb, dumb Circle K and tossed it in there last night, not even thinking it would be a ginormous iceberg! Smoothie be damned, I head for the door and spill coffee all over me in my car, nonetheless. UGH!!

Cruising along a new strip of road, few houses, mind on a friend that passed away and his love for metal, screaming music I encounter a nice policeman. Who, might I add, was on his way home b/c that road only leads to a house!!!!! Well, this nice man decides to not put my ticket as the true 58 in a 45 that is was. He saves me by making it a 55 in a 45. Gee thanks!

All this crap happened before 7 a.m., people. I should have stayed in bed!! But, even as I whine I can't help but here the radio in the background and think how lucky I am to still be alive. There was a fatal accident on I-35, a route I often take to work. So, it could have been me but wasn't. I am alive, safe and sound. I should stop whining now, huh? I shall formulate a short thankful list to get myself back on the right path!

(This flower makes me hopeful for a Thankful Thursday)

Today's list: (goal of 10)
1- my job that pays me so I can pay my ticket, even if the whole ordeal is rubbing me the wrong way!

2- the flowers I planted last night are so pretty

3- I am eating my leftovers from last night, which my husband cooked and packed for me, as breakfast.

4- My Wednesday edition of the paper will be home for me to read after work, all be it outdated

5- The boss is out and about, not in the office wearing me out.

6- my bangs b/c they are hiding my furrowed brows, which increases my "idiot" line

7- I got to listen to Bob and Tom this a.m. Check them out at bobandtom.com

8- Guess I should be thankful the cop didn't make my ticket so high it would have put points on my record!

9- Oh ya.... Glad I got my expired DL renewed this week or I might be in the slammer with a cross dressing transvestite rubbing my back.

10- COFFEE that didn't spill all over me or my car b/c it will keep me alive today!!

Slowing it down in OKC.

KCK

Couple of things from my brain

Book Exchange, anyone?





Everywhere I look, ie- anywhere I have been, I see books! Tons and tons of books I have read. Circle K and I are boring old married farts and sometimes like to prowl around Barnes and Noble. Well, he prowls, I manage to simply grab some gossip magazines, read them, returned them and then hit my favorite section; The Bargain Book Section!!




No trip is ever complete without both of us gathering three to four new books. Circle K pays full price, but not my tight-wad self. I only buy the ones from the bargain section and only ones that I think I will read.




Just last night, I finished a Danielle Steel book that I purchased at a garage sale. Another hobby of mine- trolling garage sales looking for that perfect find. I really want to find a cool chandelier for my bathroom, but I never have. As a consolation prize, I purchase books.




Now, my house is overtaken with these random purchases. I know, I know. If Dave Ramsey reads this he will chastise me up and down for such frivolous purchases, but they are for my brain, not my vanity. (or so I rationalize to myself.)




Anyone in the blogging world want to start a book exchange program? Sort of an old fashion pen pal thing? I mailed two books to Brat a few weeks ago and it was fun to put them in a box with a couple surprises. It is amazing how we forget the postal service and the joys it can bring people!

Talking to strangers-

I love talking to strangers. Disclaimer- not crazy killers with candy trying to lure children down a dark alley type of strangers. I like to chat with the people in lines at places like Sam's Club. Just last week, this darling girl, Lindsay Heffel, was behind me wearing a stunning necklace. Come to find out, she sells the jewelry and gave me her card (hint as to why I know her name, peeps!:) and this is what she had on....

Check out what she has to sell. I fell in love with it, but can't come to pay for it! www.stealldot.com/lulugazelle. You can shop there, book a party or become a stylist.

Another jewelry note- I will be working on some new creations of my own soon. Once I get them done, I will put them here and on facebook:)

Oh HAIL:

The herbs from my second post were doing great........ until last night. Oklahoma storms can't simply be rain, thunder and lightening, oh NO! They have to involve hail. So, my friends I have a feeling my spinach and herbs will be goners when I get home in the daylight to assess the damage. I should have known it would happen.

Insert a huge thank you to the inventor of the garage! Now that we have one, I can try to sleep in a hail storm instead of fretting about my car. Lars was all tucked in the garage last night, safe and sound. Thanks for asking!

I am suffering from severe boredom, so this is all I can conjure up at the moment. Sorry to be a blogging blah! heehee

Until I get in trouble. KCK

Mastering Cheddar Bay Biscuits

This is going to be quick. Last week, an old friend from junior college was in OKC and I asked him out to the house for dinner and drinks. With the 40 mph wind gusts, I wasn't in my right mind when I asked that question. However, it turned out to be a nice night and we learned that the front porch, all be it a tick on the really small side, was protected out of the wind. Note- drag the cooler and a chair there to stay miss the abuse of Oklahoma wind.

Of course the meal centered around a great STEAK seasoned and grilled to perfection by Circle K. But you can't live on steak alone- or I sure would try- so I had to come up with other options. After I got my asparagus and salad ready, I wanted some carbs. My uncle John Greavu gave me a fast bread recipe a billion years ago and it is my old standby. But, I switched it up last week.

Normally the recipe looks like this:
3 cups self-rising flour (requiring no yeast and no waiting for it to rise)
1 beer, at room temperature (tried it cold once, didn't work as well. Drink the cold ones, okay?)
2-3 tablespoons of sugar
Bake at 375 degrees for 35- 40 minutes. Test with a toothpick, use that method. Keep baking if needed---- I don't really know exact details:)

And I use a honey, cinnamon, butter combo to dip it in.

BUT!!! This is what I did last week
3 cups self-rising flour
1 room temperature Bud Light from Texas
1/2 to 1 cup shredded Colby jack cheese
salt and pepper to taste.

I put these in muffin pans, baked as above, and we had knockoff Cheddar Bay biscuits! I was very, very impressed with myself (if they sucked, I would have tossed them out and the men would have never know of their creation!) Joe asked how I made them, even. He, having been a junior college kiddo with me, didn't know I could turn on a stove, let alone make some bread!

So, go try them. Either version. You will never be without self-rising flour again. It is almost too easy. Mind you, it will make a heavy loaf, so the bread is great for chili or some stuff like that.

Tootles!
KCK

What my iPod means to me:)

Okay- Corny title, but without it I would be lost. It has saved my life more than once. I have the old, old, old school iPod that is an iPod, contrary to what some sophomores and juniors in high school challenge. They haven't seen on like it before, which should tip you off that it is one of the first "generation" ones. It looks like this....



Yesterday was an amazing day in Oklahoma (minus the 35 mph gusts of wind) and visions of backroading danced in my head. I got home and plugged my love in and a rush of memories took over. I must let you in on a little history before I take a longer trip, with tips on hosting the perfect backroading bash, down memory lane. My ever loving pal Brat bought me an iPod, uploaded music to it and sent it to me while I did a stint at Vintage in Modesto, Calif. We had no radio and without music, I can't function. It can control my mood, change my mood and trigger long repressed thoughts for me. I am sure you are like that, too. And this device hasn't had new music added to it in oh.... say five years! And it holds some amazing gems of musical composition!! I am not pulling your leg!

Yesterday was a day that sent me back in time. I grabbed a BL and listened to Red Dirt music til my heart was content. I am smiling right now just thinking about some of our backroading (mis) adventures! Oh the times. First off, backroading= driving around dirt roads with some friends and drinks. Called dirtroading in some spots, road farming in others. Once I got to Stillwater, Okla., I had my very first backroading experience and I toured some great roads in Payne County. Here is Payne County.... And boy did we get to know those dirt roads. * Any names will be changed to protect the guilty!*

My first experience was on my second day of residence in Oklahoma. How fitting that I get to see the country and learn how to figure out N,S,E,W via the navigation seat of a Durango. With only a handful of friends in Stilly, I was eager to make more, so I agree to backroad with *Doug and a friend of his *Rufus. I hoped in shotgun and tossed my seat belt on wondering what in the hell we were about to do. The car didn't move forward, backward, nothing. The group, consisting of two complete and total strangers, was staring at me like I had just given birth to a puppy. This takes me to lesson number 1) You don't wear a seat belt in backroading. They stared until I almost blushed and then let me in on that little gem of knowledge. How was I to know? Heck- I didn't yet have any clue what we were doing. The whole concept is to be laid back, gossip, listen to music with the windows down. Applying a seat belt makes it a more formal occasion and also hampers your ability to jump out of the slow moving vehicle to do things like potty or switch drivers:)

Next lesson- Backroading is best with three people for multiple reasons. It makes figuring out which way to go so much easier. You simply play paper, rock, scissors. I don't remember if B or K came up with this, but it can lead to some amazing mis adventures. Do the simple game, declare the winner and go the direction of that person: driver= left turn, passenger= right hand turn, backseat= straight. One afternoon, B, K and I ended up circling a city block 10 times b/c of this game! And when it was just B and I, we drank 3 18-packs and could only turn left or right. We didn't have that anchor in the back to help us go straight. We did circles around Payne county, the outskirts of Guthrie and up into Kansas. I can wait while you get the map to see how many miles we might have put on that day. Always take three people!!

Never go on an assignment for a professional purpose and backroad at the same time. That is lesson three. My poor mother! I can only image her surprise when she developed the film for the assignment she had sent me on. When at her post at the beef association in Indiana, they decided to gather a pictorial database and where better to find cattle than in Oklahoma. Well, some of the pictures were cattle, some of camels, the moon, my reflection in the rearview mirror with a crown on, the passengers in my car, an armadillo, people peeing and so forth. I still wonder where the crown came from. Did I really carry on in my car? Details are still fuzzy!

Example of one of the only ones that somewhat came out.... You must have an iPod and it must be on shuffle. Anyone can touch the radio and you can't get upset. There is not spatting in backroading, only singing at the top of your lungs! And, backroading can cure all problems. We once solved world hunger on the gravel of Payne county! And, after a break up, those dirt roads consoled me and got me back in that relationship (which ended not long after we got back on paved road:) I even got a call from Circle K while B and I were driving around. Little did I know his cute flirty voice would end up being the one I hear every day. Odd the therapy of a dirt road.

So, if you are up for an adventure here is Keffer's backroading site checklist.
1) Find the camels- yes there are
2) There is a road that has a bridge consisting of two, 2x4's. Cross it.
3) A man covered his fence posts in coyote pelts. Old wives tale says it keeps live ones from coming on his property. Check it out- I bet he has a gun.
4) Some lesbians inhabit an old west looking apartment complex, complete with horse hitching post. As you are headed north, it is on the east side of the road.
5) Look at the houses on Yellowbrick road. Suggest this be at the start of your adventure as it is in town.
6) RRRRR road. Drive down it and try not to act like a pirate. It can't be done!
7) Drive around Red Rock and dispel the myths that Indians still live in teepee's.
8) Cross the smartest bridge coming and going. You will know it when you see it. It is set in a road where you think you have a choice of which way to go, but your car will be on autopilot and will do it for you. Smartest bridge in the world.
9) Go down Mecham road just to see the cool old bridges setting along the side of it.
10) Attend the Marshall, Oklahoma firefighters ribfest. All you can eat ribs for $5. Proceeds to go the fire department. Delicious ribs, once a year. Not sure when.

And, as always, pack you music, some drinks, chips and toilet paper! Okay. Now I am hungering for a backroad trip. Anyone up for it????
Until I become entertaining again, I will simply thank you for humoring me and move on.
Cheers,
Keffer