Good Food, Good Friends and Hanging Baskets

I have a couple of good girlfriends that I get together with every so often. Sometimes it's just because Pioneer Woman posted a new recipe that we have to try, but we also get together to do crafty projects and figure out some tasty something or other to make for dinner.

About a month ago I had the brilliant idea of doing hanging baskets when the weather permitted. Well, the weather finally permitted yesterday and we had a blast. I grilled up some of my "Patchesburgers", my top secret recipe for the best burgers ever. Ok, totally kidding. It's super easy (bbq sauce, garlic powder, pepper, Johnnys) and they are tasty, but I'm not sure they are the best ever. I got a little creative this time around and tossed in some blue cheese (Mmmm...blue cheese!) and grilled some onions for the top. I also decided to give Pastor Ryan's Monkey Bread a try. Jrosie brought her now famous Stuffed 'Shrooms. Oh. My. Goodness. If you haven't tried them yet, go do it. NOW. Even if you don't like mushrooms. They are heaven in a baking dish. I stuffed myself on them. And then some more with my burgers and one of the super delicious 'Ritas that my bff Sarah brought over. I'll have to share that recipe with you guys some time. Hands down, best margaritas ever.

So after dinner, we rolled our stuffed selves out to the yard to play in the dirt for a bit. I had fun with two rounds at different stores picking out plants and I found some really cute, reasonably priced hanging pots at Home Depot. I ended up having way more of everything then I actually needed, but that's ok. I would always rather have too much stuff and have to return some then not have enough and not be able to finish. This is my mess...



Miss Sarah went to a nearby nursery and had a way better selection of plants and was Speedy Gonzales putting her hanging basket and box together. These are hers (minus the pink flower in the front, that's mine). See the box in the top left? Isn't it the cutest ever?! Both of her baskets turned out really nice!
On a side note: isn't that a cute shirt she has on?!? I love it. It has a bit of a yoke and snaps Henley style down the front. Very cute!

Jrosey was all ambitious and also made quick work of her FOUR baskets! She also was able to hit a nursery on the way over and got some very nice looking plants. She had a great variety and her baskets ended up really great! I can't wait to see them hanging around her house, I'm sure they'll look awesome!

Eventually I stopped taking pictures and got back to work. These are my pots hanging on my porch. I got some not so big and healthy, from the grocery store and Home Depot plants and am hoping they fill out quite a bit. There are a few trailing varieties in there that should grow and hang over the sides eventually, so hopefully it will look much more impressive before too long. I just have to remember to water them.

I only used about half of the plants that I purchased in those baskets so I decided to go find some big pots for the corners of the porch to plant the rest of them in. I have big, very fun plans for the porch, but it's another "Someday" project. It has nice lighting and a ceiling fan but I would like to get some nice patio furniture and an outdoor area rug and some more flowers and make it a great outdoor living space for summer. Someday. For now, I'll settle for a couple hanging baskets and pots in the corners.

I found pots tonight and put them together and I like the way they are looking so far, but I don't have pictures yet. I will get some of my much more homey looking porch when everything gets established and starts filling in and looking a bit better.

So it was a very fun night. The Monkey Bread was heavenly, everything else was super duper tasty. I love my hanging baskets and my perked up porch! It was a fabulous night with great friends! I can't wait to do it again.

What's next girls?!?

It's amazing...

...what a little time with my horse and a girlfriend, a couple glasses of wine and a good chick flick can do for my attitude! I suppose I should include the mostly decent weather (for this time of year) that I got to enjoy for a bit yesterday also.

I think my pony was enjoying some "mom time" too. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking. I swear she got a pretty good attitude adjustment out of it, though I suppose that could have been because she knew she was getting fed when we were done. :-)

I was a lazy bum and just threw her bridle on and jumped on her. I didn't have a lot of day light when I got home and I didn't want to waste it all dealing with her hairy, muddy self so I took the easy way out and just rode bareback. Probably not the most brilliant move, considering I hadn't ridden her in a week and a half and it was a sunny, cool day and I was home by myself. I figured I had my cell phone in my pocket and there are two neighbors who can see my round pen from their house. Besides, it's Midori. I trust her. Mostly.

It was so great being outside, getting some fresh air, not freezing my butt off and having only a few layers on. I'm sore from my ride today, which is always fun. Midori was totally in tune with me, even though she was feeling spicy and wanting to go-go-go. She was stopping and backing off my seat, she was moving her hip for me, which is my current project with her, she was having a blast rolling back and picking up her shoulders. It was great!

Then when I was done with that, I got to get out of the house for a change! I had date night with my best friend and we just relaxed in a boy-free house with wine and one of our favorite dinners and wine. Did I mention there was wine? I have only recently started enjoying wine, but it's really growing on me and it sure did treat me well last night. We watched Monster-In-Law, which is such a great chick flick, and had her dogs for our side show.

I think it was darn near a perfect night. I got all of my favorite therapies, which I think I needed. It's amazing how the short gray days, long dark evenings, gross rainy weather and being house bound can just get to you sometimes.