River Bend Ranch - Patty Van Dorin

shaken not stirred

  Even thought I have moved more times than I can count, this move is taking more time than I had anticipated. Time is split between unpacking and updating but that is what comes with moving into an older home.

Thoughts of my seeing my journal appear a week or more away as I have not even started on setting up the studio. Visions of stencils, whiffs of spray paint and fabric longing to be pieced together is prodding me through long nights of elbows deep in paper and cardboard boxes.

Now if only I could find the martini shaker...

will be back soon

  Hopefully next week.

sawadee ka!

In the on-going search for the best in Thai food, this treasure was found.
  A very unassuming cafe, I would not have noticed this place if I hadn't been on the hunt for a good red curry.
  My photos are really poor and this one is bordering on frightening but let me tell you how good the food is. I thought I had died and gone to heaven with the first bit of my Gang Ped (red curry).  This is simply without doubt the best Thai food I have had in the US and let me tell you this girl loves good red curry. Having lived in Thailand, it has been quite the quest to find authentic Thai food.
  So if you are ever in the area and wanting the best Thai food, you must stop at the Thai Cafe on Perrin Beitel at 410 (San Antonio).
A small simple cafe that really draws the crowd, which is a testiment to the great food and good service.

twice baked

It was .99 day at the local thrift store and this is the day I try and pick through the racks looking for vintage clothing.
  After a good washing, I de-construct the clothes and salvage the fabric, trims, zippers and all the other good stuff. The aqua blue with pink flowers on the lower right will become a pillow top.
This huge dress will be turned into seam binding for new kitchen towels. I may save a few of the pretty lilacs for applique.
  I am not sure what I will do with the 60's lime green and avocado print dress but the trim on the collar is very sweet. I think the thin strap belt with the clear lucite buckle will find its way onto a journal cover.

Hold on to your waistline, here is the super spud recipe in the twice baked potato world. You must try this recipe....very good!! I made up several last night.  For me this is a perfect meal all in itself.

Ultimate Twice Baked Potatoes

    
SUBMITTED BY: Debra Connors (sorry Debra, I changed your recipe a bit by decreasing the onion)

INGREDIENTS

• 4 large baking potatoes
• 8 slices bacon
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
• 4 green onions, sliced, divided  (original recipe called for 8 green onions but I liked it better with half the onion)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Bake potatoes in preheated oven for 1 hour.
3. Meanwhile, place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
4. When potatoes are done allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop the flesh into a large bowl; save skins. Mash potatoes and to the potatoes add sour cream, milk, butter, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 the green onions. Mix with a hand mixer until well blended and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the potato skins. Top each with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.

Bake for another 15 minutes

feelin' the blues...and the reds

captured this morning on an early outing photo safari
A study in neutrals but I was needing a dose of color so I drove on..

and if color is lacking there is always Photoshop
"closed"
sums it all up as I sit playing with the computer surrounded by boxes, packed and ready to move.

"Just the facts, ma'am."

"Case #8- The Disappearing Water" - another case solved
the facts:
1. missing water from a glass that was left half full on desk
2. within an hour the water is noted to be missing
3. suspicious paw prints left on papers
4. suspects were interrogated, one suspect was found to have wet whiskers
5. no concrete evidence found to hold suspect for further questioning
6. hidden camera sting operation finally netted the criminal

"My name is Patty Friday—I'm a detective, I solve the cases that no one else will take"

Shop Update

The ancestry tag pad and embossed frames sold out the first week. So many of you have been asking and they have just arrived.
Ancestry Tag Pad
  I LOVE this tag pad and just so you could get an idea how cool they are, I have pictured a few of the tags. These tags are some of the recipe tags used in the Martini book.
There are 24 tags in this pad, 2 each of the 12 great designs. (only 9 of the designs are shown)  
Embossed Frames
the embossed die cut paper frames have all kinds of creative uses. I use the frames in my journal pages and they are also perfect for card making.
One example of the frames is shown on the left. There are 48 pieces in total. Easy to use as they die cut.
So go check the tags and frames out.
Did I mention that the tag pads are only $2.00 each!!!!
available at the Tuscan Rose web site

much ado about packing

  while Ralph the dog is dreaming of a back yard full of pecan trees (this dog loves his pecans), I am dreaming of everything neatly tucked into boxes ready for the move to the new house.
  there has been lots of neighborly peering through fences as curiosity has been roused by the appearance of shipping boxes and flurry of activity.
  Time is still found to whip out tiny little projects. Shells added to yet another old bottle that was sealed with the last bit of remaining beeswax in the melting pot.
  Hachinohe Bart the cat is not amused with all the packing activity as he has been in on this moving game a few too many times for his likes. Mr. Bart is nearing 15 years old and has traveled with me from his original home in Japan. Though he has patiently suffered through 7 relocations, his tolerance of this moving game has his temper flaring. Of course a dog tossing toys in his proximity does not help in this stressful feline situation.

Note the huge white china cabinet in the background. Lucky for me that will not be part of this move. I woke up with the hair brain idea to put it on Craig's List, something I had never checked out before. I was pleasantly surprised to have it sell within a hour of listing it to a very sweet elderly couple who were as thrilled with their purchase as I was thrilled not to have to move it. Now I am wishing I had thought of Craig's List a month earlier as there would certainly be a lot less heavy furniture to move.