Tuesday's This &That

I spent the weekend away from the computer and enjoyed a few days off with Vern. We hadn't had a day off together in almost a month because my hard working man was working 7 days a week. I was happy to see him get some R&R! So here are a few updates on things that happen around here..

• Harvey passed the night I brought him home, RIP Harvey 0:)

•   There is one last beer sign hanging in my kitchen. Heineken. The rest have all been moved up to Del's new "bar" area upstairs.The kitchen walls are looking empty and begging for some new paint. New paint is coming as soon as I have the time and money...October would be wishful thinking.

• The first batch of agates made it through the rock tumbler! They look great! I will have to get better at capturing their beauty with my camera though.The pictures don't begin to show the color and clarity of these "new" gems!

I'm sure you can now understand why I am so anxious to go back to the beach and drag home all  sorts of cool rocks! I am also collecting shells to harvest little succulents (Hens and Chicks) in for my garden and to donate to the Garden Club plant sale next summer. Oh and the driftwood,the piles and piles of the coolest twisted and worn driftwood you have ever seen...the craft projects are spinning in my head! (as I stop blogging for a moment to add "big buckets for beach stuff" to my "Stuff To Remember" list)

• That dang boat. Vern and I set out for a date on the lake Friday evening and it was spoiled by bad gas in the boat. Apparently 3 year old gas (that my Dad left in there) lacks the octane to make an engine run properly. So at 5 mph we circled back to the dock and went home. Vern spent the rest of his weekend draining the bad gas and replacing it with new and some new spark plugs. Seems like it's running great but we'd have to get it in the water again to really tell. We are glad it happen before we pulled it out to Sekiu next week but we are a little worried about the lack of time to test it again before we do..

• I think my parents will be here Friday and my brother flies in Saturday or Sunday. We are all leaving for Sekiu together Monday night when I get off work. I am so excited that my brother is able to join us this year! I hope my sister and her family can make it out too,camp would be the fullest I have ever seen it!

• I spent today de-cluttering and cleaning our house. I also started packing for vacation and I am 80% done! Yes, it is very premature but the weekend will be too busy! I have grocery shopping,cooking,entertaining and a few days of work to finish before we can go! I should be in bed...haha

• I made one of my favorite dishes tonight and I thought I'd share for those of you having fun with my food blogging. My Mom always made this casserole of leftovers the day after a holiday and it is always amazing to see how quickly it disappears!

Get our your favorite casserole dish and start your layers with mashed potatoes.( I insert little bits of butter into them before adding the next layer)
The next layer can be almost any veggie like green beans,broccoli,corn etc. Remember to smooth each layer evenly so each bite is full of goodness :)
The last layer is stuffing.Spread evenly and heat  uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 30 min to an hour depending on size of casserole.
Tonight I made mine with instant potatoes,broccoli, Stove Top stuffing and bacon bits. I cooked,assembled and baked it to comfort food perfection. I served it with turkey tenderloins,brown gravy and crispy Parmesan baguette slices. Here it is before it went in the oven.

 I call it Holiday Leftover Casserole. So simple. So yummy.Bye bye leftovers!