Dusty's Chile Relleno

Dusty's Chili Rellenos

Preheat oven 350 Casserole 9 x 13

4 eggs, beaten

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tbsp generous flour

1 can evap. milk (soup can size)

Mix the above in a bowl

Layer in 9 x13

Flat chilies (clean and soaked)

1 lb jack cheese

Flat chilis

1 lb cheddar cheese

Pour egg mixture over dish

Bake 30-35 minutes

top with your favorite enchilada sauce

Bake 5 minutes or more until sauce is hot..

For a great homemade enchilada sauce recipe - click here

My Best Friend.... My Soul Mate

Many years ago - Dusty and I went on a seven day cruise to Mexico. We were celebrating our three year anniversary... We boarded the ship in San Diego - a cruise line named Commodore Cruises - I don't think they are around any longer... The ship was old and smelly... We drove through one of the worst rain storms in California history to get to the ship - we drove close to 100 miles.. When we arrived at the terminal - I noticed right away that everyone was old... When I say old - I mean going along in their walker and wheelchair old..... I wanted to cry.....

The first night - we sat at a table with four (4) senior citizens - Dusty and I were still in our twenties and had nothing in common with these very nice people... Later that evening - we went out onto the deck so I could smoke a cigarette ( I have since quit). As Dusty and I were chatting outside - we noticed another couple about 100 yards away from us - a couple with dark hair - a couple under the age of 40.... The other couple noticed us at almost the exact time as we did them... We walked towards each other.... The rest of the cruise was hilarious... We had the best time... We hired a taxi driver to give us a tour around Puerto Vallarta - somehow in our enthusiasm a few other young couples found and joined us... In the other ports of call - we found fun and adventure - memories that still make me smile and laugh out loud.....

That first night on deck - I met my best friend in the world.. My soul mate - Now 18 years later - she still is a major part of my life... She is the first person I call to share good and bad news... We started our families at the same time... We had our children around the same time.... We shared in the loss of parents.... We cried together in laughter and in pain.. She's my Vegas buddy... She gets me when few do....

A few years ago - she moved away to Colorado.... My kids and I visited her and the family summer before last - I fell in love with where she lives.. The wildlife, the seasons, the people, the majestic Rocky Mountains within a hours drive.... Since that summer I have dreamed of moving to CO.... Wouldn't it be nice to be neighbors? I miss my friend...

As you know - Dusty was laid off a couple of weeks... hmm - What a great idea to move, don't you think? I've been writing my list of reason on why we should move to CO.... Friends, lots of family, get a bigger house and pay cash - (of course, I've been showing him what we can get on realtor.com).. oh the possibilities..... and I think maybe.... just maybe he might be receptive to the thought.... a girl can dream....

Wondering When He'll Notice....

A while back my copier/fax/printer unit was acting up... basically it was not working. You see, I need my printer - I cannot do my job without my hefty laser jet printer... I had to use my ink jet printer and I went through 4 ink cartridges in one day - no kidding - over $25 each.... My husband had a lead on a laser jet printer/scanner - I would have it by the following week.. Okay that was 3 months ago... I had since fixed my laser-jet but not by very much... it still gets cranky...

In addition to a printer I use my scanner excessively... I had lucked out a while back and got a free 3 in 1 when I bought one of my old computers way back when... That thing has been a major power horse - it scans - it prints (the expensive ink cartridges) - it's reliable... until yesterday.... Now it has a huge line that goes through every scan... I called Canon and basically it would cost more to fix it than it's worth.... so in my immediate desperation - I went to Office Depot and bought a new 3 in 1 - this time I got a laser jet.. The scanner is fast and I hope reliable....

So my question is - how long till my husband notices it?

Before The New Printer - I know - it's messy - the nature of the business



After the New Printer

Dusty's Halloween Decorations

My husband is the son of a teacher - a home economics teacher... Growing up his home was decorated for every season... including President's Day.. seriously...

So last night before his poker buddies came over for their twice a year get together he decided to spruce up the house a little....

Frugal Family Target Shopping

I have learned in my "old" age the value of money... I have learned it does NOT grow on trees like I once believed.... I have also learned the importance of being prepared for that rainy day... that unexpected twist in our lives...

Almost two (2) years ago I had a major wake up call. After 23 years of working his way up the corporate ladder and achieving much success as a VP of Sales - my husband's company was bought out by another company and all the VP's were terminated...... I remember the morning that my husband walked in the door and told me he had been fired like it was yesterday.... I seriously thought he was joking.... No one with his track record gets fired.... not possible - especially after he landed the largest contract the company had ever negotiated a few weeks prior... ..

I think the four months that my husband was unemployed - I was in a bubble.. I was neither afraid or sad.. I just was... there... I did learn that he depended a lot more on me than I realized.. I learned that I was the rock in our marriage... our life.... in that season of our marriage.

I know that Dusty (my husband) was in a state of shock.... bad things never happen to him... He had always been blessed with the golden touch.. This upset in his life made him question his worth.. His normal very self assured personality had diminished... He was for the first time in his entire life scared..... What I find amazing is that I was not scared... I knew that we would be okay.. I also believed that Dusty would get a job very soon.. I did not think about our friends who had lost jobs and a year had gone by with no prospects.... I did not fear.... I did have peace... and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt the peace did not come from me...

We have always been a frugal family - always paying off our credit cards each month, paying cash for cars and such, and paying extra on our mortgage payment. I thought I was doing all that I could do to save money..... until I discovered coupons and Target grocery shopping.. In my quest to stretch our dollars - I have had great time saving money with coupons....

Today shopping at Target - I saved$15.75 with normal groceries I purchase.... I love to take my kids shopping - I sent them on a scavenger hunt looking for the items that I have coupons for... I don't do it every time.. Just often enough for it to be fun every time.. The shoppers get a kick out of watching my kids pose with their coupons and found items... Today was fun.... After the shopping - I received a coupon to buy one pizza get the 2nd free... So guess what my kids had for lunch???

Today my husband is working - I am working from home... We have a learned not to take our careers for granted... we have learned to live more modestly... We have learned that God will Always provide.. We have learned that there is a time for each of us to be the strong one in the marriage... and we have learned that Target's prices beat out most super market prices...

Dusty's 47th Birthday

What do you do for the guy that says he has everything he wants and does not need a gift except maybe a few days of golfing with friends..

You get him 47 balloons, a great Filet Mignon, and an Oreo cookie cake..

Happy Birthday, Baby... I love you... and I am glad you are mine.

My April Fool's Prank..

I became the victim once again this morning..... to my forty-six year old husband's sense of humor... He literally becomes joyful this time of year trying to think up original pranks to pull on his loved ones. He is so well known for his April Fool's style that friends call him on March 31st for ideas.. This time of year I get a glimpse of how my husband must have been at ten years old!

A couple of years ago...he set every single clock in the house and in my car one hour ahead. I woke up and looked at the clock...oh NO....jumped out of bed , woke up the kids with a we are really late "let's GO", gave them a pop tart to eat in the car, money for lunch. a robe over my pajamas, and out the door we ran.... I arrived at their school and no one was there except the morning daycare. I walked into the daycare and look around and asked the worker where was everyone...She knew my husband..she started to laugh and she said oh noooo, Dusty got you good today...It's 7:15 am....April Foolsssss!!!!

Last year, I caught him trying to sneak my car out of the garage to hide it around the corner, another year a fake spider fell on me when I put down the visor in my car..and the pranks go on....You would think the practical jokes would only stay confined to April 1st...But oh nooo...., my life is filled with unexpected joys and jumps at every turn...

This year he out did himself....This morning after I got dressed I went to my closet to find a pair of shoes to wear. Granted my shoes are not neatly arranged.. I kind of throw them in the closet and there's a big old mess... but usually I can find one pair on top. This morning I could not find one single pair..man, I have to organize this closet. I sit on my bottom and start pulling out my shoes...I own about fifty pairs.. still looking for a pair. Now every shoe is out..Not one pair to be found!!! HE STOLE ALL MY RIGHT SHOES!!!!! I had only had left shoes in my closet!

Here's hoping your April Fool's is a good one!