“You know you’ve read a good book…
when you turn the last page…
and feel a little as if…
you have lost a friend.”
Paul Sweeney
This is not a post about dogs.
See the good birdy. See her eat the seeds that we scatter for her. See her sit there pretty and let me take her picture.
Good, good birdy.
See the naughty birdy. See the fake picture of the naughty birdy. She won’t sit still for me to take a picture.
Oh, no–she’s too busy…
EATING MY STRAWBERRIES!! Apparently this birdy doesn’t know with whom she plays.
I have friends you know…
Just perfect individually or by the fistful–so, if you go about it daintily you could nibble on them for a few days. But if your house is full of big burly brutes then….well then–expect them to disappear a bit more quickly.
Either way–everyone’s happy.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups water
3 tablespoons butter
1-1/4 cups mashed potato flakes
1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
1 batch Bisquick biscuit dough
1 cup shredded cheese
Directions:
In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat til meat is browned. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute or until tender; drain. Stir in the ketchup, vinegar and salt; set aside.
Make the biscuit dough and shape into tablespoon sized blobs.
Press 1 dough ball onto the bottom and up the sides of each of 10 greased muffin cups.
Fill with beef mixture.
In a small saucepan, bring water and butter to a boil. Pour into a small bowl. Whisk in potato flakes until blended. Beat in cream cheese until smooth.
Spread potato mixture over beef. Sprinkle with cheese; press down lightly.
Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Serve to the dudes.
When somebody is gone for two whole years–it’s hard to say what you’ve missed the most–about them–in that time. Was it their smile?
Their laughter at the dinner table?
Their love for all the babies?
Their happy attitude?
Or just their sweet face?
Sure…sure…it’s all of that and a hundred times more, but this afternoon, I do believe I’ve found one thing pretty darn close to the top of that list.
Welcome back boys playing football in the backyard.
It’s been far too long.
Welcome back…indeed.
I can’t actually tell you why we do it.
Throwing blankets out along the curb on Center Street—days before the Summerfest even begins–
to save OUR spot along the parade route…
as though our lives depended on us keeping our yearly place…
does seem kinda nuts sometimes…
especially when you think…
heck–it’s only a parade…
with the regular horses…
decorated floats…
silly clown cars…
pretty girls…
and smiling babies.
But there seems to be more to this silly thing we do than just the carnival food…
and the lovely men in kilts.
I think it’s the warm, cozy, playing, laughing, eating, gathering family sort of thing, that makes us all feel so happy, so contented…
so very blessed…
that the only appropriate ending to such a day…
would be fireworks.