So you think you can dance?!

Let's start the week off right, shall we?!

With a really fantastic, spitting my coffee out on the screen, tears running down my face, my kids think I'm hysterical because I can't even speak...cause I'm laughing so hard, kind of laugh!

I'm the Highest High Techie?!

What is wrong with you people? I am lame! I am lamer than lame! I'm old and lame. Computers were these huge machines that were housed in cold rooms to keep from catching fire when I was a kid. That and we made fire using flint...but I digress.

YOU, don't know the codes for the heart symbol...the copyright sign...the "dagger"...trademark...spade symbol...etc...???!!!

I'm scared, now! I am going to have nightmares that I live in a world of high techies and I'm the Highest High Techie in the land. This is not right, people!

At any rate...I'm happy...no make that overjoyed to be able to share how you make these little symbols.

When you are composing your blog post...go ahead and write it all in the regular compose area. Just use the word "heart" for where you'll want you're symbol to go. I also capitalize it...so when I look in that gobbledy gook html code I can find it a little easier. When you're ready to convert your word to symbols click onto the "edit html" tab, find your words, change them to the correct code, hit Preview to see if it worked and then sit back and admire you're new found knowledge. Watch the reflection of your head on the computer screen as it grows bigger. Knowledge is a wonderful thing.

So when you want to say I'm with stupid and have an arrow next to it. You would write "I'm with stupid and put in the code (& larr;) to show the arrow

The rest of the codes that I found are:

&; dagger; † dagger symbol
& spades; ♠ spade
& clubs; ♣ club
& hearts; ♥ heart
& copy; © copyright
& reg; ® registered
& trade; ™ trademark
& larr; ← left arrow
& uarr; ↑ up arrow
& rarr; → right arrow
& darr; ↓ down arrow

† ♠ ♣ ♥ © ® ™ ← ↑ → ↓

I hope this has made some sort of sense. Let me know if you have any questions. But, please don't ask...bc {short for because} I really don't know anything.

Updated: Amber has very wisely told us you don't even need to go into html. If you just type the code it will automatically convert into the symbol for you. Thanks Amber!!

trying out html

So I've decided to try out some new html that I've learned. Let's see...this should have a heart symbol ♥

OMG it worked!! ©...just did the copyright...woo hoo!! I'm feeling crazy here :)
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♠ ® © † ™

Hahahahahahahaha..I'm positively giddy. Please cry for me tonight, that this is what makes me happy. This and the fact that someone came up with menthol for a cough. It's way better than the habaneros I was going to have to eat to clear my sinuses.

xoxo

Building a kitchen

If you build it...she will come.

I am joining Jane from Out Of The Crayon Box and some of her followers to build a play kitchen just in time for Christmas, for my little darling Kell!! You can see some of Jane's beautiful and creative creations here and here.

I know!! She's amazing, isn't she?! I can only hope to come up with a decent copy. Luckily she is actually inviting you to copy her as well. Not only that, but she'll walk you thru it. Step by step. What could be more perfect?...besides flying her out to my house and having her actually do it?...nothing!!

I got my lovely little nightstand at Goodwill for 5 Dollah!! Did you hear me? 5 Dollah!! WooHoo!!

So it's not too late to get started. You can join us at flickr...or just watch me and be jealous when it's all said and done. And my response to your poor tortured soul {with no cute kitchen for your cutie patootie} will be "Ha, remember when I told you about it?" Cause I'm mean that way :)

Use me up!

If you're like me...you're Jack O Lanterns sit around after Halloween, until they start to have more wrinkles than the grandma from The Beverly Hillbillies.

Well not this year!! Dammit...Not this year. Growing up we always had fresh pumpkin bread and pies throughout the year. How? My dad would cook the pumpkins and then freeze the pulp to be used year round. I was never really interested in doing this, because I could always get a few quarts from him, when I wanted. But, I like the tradition that he started. I'm all about tradition.

So I asked him how he did it and it turns out that it's really pretty easy. The hardest part is that it takes some time. So plan for a few hours...but once you make pumpkin bread or pie with fresh {not canned} pumpkin you will never want to go back.

You will walk into grocery stores and laugh at the outrageous prices they charge for canned pumpkin pie. You will stroll your farmers market that has pumpkin butter and think, "Ha, I could do that." You will just shake your head while a sly smile spreads across your face as your neighbor compliments you on the most delicious pie she's ever had.

So, I'm going to share with you just how easy it is. Ready?!

Okay...first things first...Chop'er up!! Be careful. Pumpkin is thick and hard {hey, don't even go there, this isn't Top Chef} and doesn't slice easily, you will have to use some pressure. Please don't slice your finger off. I can't stand the sight of blood.

Put pieces onto a cookie sheet with a little water. Really only a little...it doesn't even need to cover the bottom. I'd say about 1 1/2 cups.

Cover with foil and bake for about 1 - 1 1/2 hours. You can pull out after an hour and poke it with a fork {just under the skin} to see if it's really soft. Once it's soft and I mean really soft, it's done. Pull out, uncover and let it cool.

Now comes the fun part. I tend to slice the pieces again, just so I can peel them a little easier. Just hold in your hand skin side down and using a paring knife slice as close to the skin as you can and put pumpkin into a large bowl or food processor. You just need to pulse this a few times...you'll see how quickly it breaks down.

Those of you without food processor's {like me}. I put the chunks into a bowl and use a hand blender. Then place into a colander and let it sit for at least 20 mins. {longer if you have the time} You need to let the water drain out.

Can you see the water collecting on the side? It will slowly make it's way out and into your sink.

Well, that's it. Put into jars, air tight plastic containers, whatever! I happen to use my plastic sandwich containers {also it perfectly holds 2 Cups of pumpkin, which most recipes will call for} of which I have many.

Then go ahead and make a pumpkin pie. I'll be back with a recipe. Just try and take a picture BEFORE your family eats it.

It really is easy. I may have made it sound a little more difficult than it actually is. I hope not :)

Mama loves me some fresh pumpkin pie :)

You'll notice that the color isn't that weird orangey {sp?} brown shade. Uh, that's cause you used real, not from the can pumpkin :)