10 January 2010

The Cat Who Got into Everything


photo of yum yum sticking her tongue out
The little angel

My wife and I are about ready to kill a Siamese. Ever since Yum Yum woke us up this morning, the second time after being fed, she has been getting into absolutely everything. This little monster currently has five little plastic springs that she just loves to play with, but they've just disappeared. We looked under the couch, the chairs, the bed, but we just can't find them. So being spring-less, she began chewing on the Christmas tree (I know, it should've been taken down weeks ago, but we just love having it up) and if she isn't doing that, she is playing with the blinds, the cords, our iPod headphones, using my Total Gym for a scratching post, knocking the Dvd's off of the table, trying to steal my pen, or walking over the keyboard...I think you get the general idea. We usually squirt her with some water (we have a squirt bottle for just this purpose), but she just shakes it off and finds something else to get into.


It all started at around 7:00AM when she came pouncing on our bed and began to tear around over the top of us. My wife decided to get up and go into the living room, but did Yum Yum follow her? Nope, she continued to run over the top of me, attacking my feet and head for a good ten to fifteen minutes. Finally, growing bored with this, she took her show "on the road" and went to distract my wife. While my wife was wrapped-up in her blanket and trying to read the Bible, Yum Yum got right to work and began chewing on the tree. Unwrapping and grabbing the bottle, Mary walked over to the tree and squirted her. Back to the couch and just as she got wrapped up, Yum Yum renewed her assault on the tree.

This went on a few more times and I guess it finally sunk into that tiny Siamese mind to stop playing with the Christmas tree, because she stopped and began playing with the blinds and those tantalizing cords that hang beside them. The only good part about this change of venue, is the fact that my wife doesn't have to get up off the couch to "discipline" the little darling.

Fast-forward a few hours and my wife is in the kitchen preparing food for our birds. She has a bag of peas in her hand, when she hears the tell-tale sign of a cat trying to climb a tree. As Mary turns towards the tree, the peas go flying out of the bag and all over the kitchen and dining room floors; Yum Yum goes flying into the bathroom and thus earns her first, well-deserved, timeout.

After about ten minutes, she is released from her self-imposed prison and you would have thought that she may have learned her lesson, but no it was back to the mischief, which continued until just about an hour ago. She is now stretched full-length on my wife's blanket, dreaming no doubt, of other mischief she can get into.

07 January 2010

Friday Fotos: 1/8/2010


It is Friday once again and not a moment too soon. I hope you all have a terrific weekend and stay warm!


Yup, this is so true...
courtesy of... lolpix.com


Dude...

courtesy of... collegehumor.com



Ain't this the truth...
courtesy of... icanhascheezburger.com

06 January 2010

Making Texas Brownies


photo of texas brownies

photo courtesy of...
retorte.blogspot.com
Yes, I had to use someone's photo, because stupid here forgot to take a picture, again.

I made these a few days ago for my wife's friend at work and I decided that you may all want to have a go at these brownies. I have made these several times over the years and I must say that it is the best brownie recipe I have ever come across. I originally got this recipe from About.com and I will provide a direct link to them at the end of this article. In the meantime, sit back, grab a cold glass of milk, and get ready to enjoy some of the best brownies you will ever taste. Oh, in case you're wondering, yes, I allowed myself a small piece of one.


What you need...


For the brownies...


Flour...2 cups
Sugar...2 cups
Butter...½ cup
Shortening...½ cup
Coffee...1 cup strong (I use an instant espresso for this)
Unsweetened cocoa...¼ cup
Buttermilk...½ cup
Eggs...2
Baking soda...1 tsp.
Vanilla Extract...1 tsp.


For the frosting...


Butter...½ cup
Milk...¼ cup
Cocoa...2 Tbsp
Powdered sugar...1 ½ cups
Vanilla Extract...1 tsp

Putting it together...

  1. Preheat oven to 400°
  2. Lightly grease an 11 X 17 inch baking pan (I don't have a pan of this size, so I just used a 9 X 13 inch pan and it worked just fine)
  3. Grab a large bowl and add the flour and the sugar
  4. Mix well
  5. In a large saucepan, add butter, shortening, coffee, and cocoa
  6. Over medium-high heat, stir constantly until the mixture boils (this takes about ten to fifteen minutes)
  7. Once it comes to a boil, pour over the flour/sugar mixture
  8. Using a whisk, mix to combine
  9. Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla
  10. Mix until combined and then pour into you baking dish
  11. Bake for 20 minutes
    1. The Frosting...
    2. Whilst the brownies are baking, grab a saucepan and over medium-high heat, combine the butter, cocoa, and milk
    3. Stir constantly until it comes to a boil
    4. When it boils, turn-off the heat and add the powdered sugar and vanilla
      • I add the sugar ½ cup at a time and mix well after each addition.
    Back to the brownies...
  12. Using a toothpick or a knife, insert into the center of the brownies, if it comes out clean, your brownies are done
  13. If it does not come out clean, bake a few more minutes and recheck
  14. Continue with step 13 until they are done
  15. Once done, remove from oven and immediately pour frosting over your brownies
  16. While your brownies cool, take a glass of milk and place in freezer
  17. Once brownies are cool, I take a pizza cutter and spray it with Pam and use that to cut the brownies
  18. Grab your milk from the freezer and enjoy


texas brownies from about.com
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