black beans and rice

{this a an economical dish we just tried and really liked. we had it with rice which i cook with chicken broth to add flavor, and topped it with cilantro, tomato, lettuce, cheese and a dollop of sour cream. tortillas chips or warm tortillas on the side would be add to the wonderful deliciousness. this would also be awesome with our mexican crock-pot chicken and rolled up burrito style. thought i would share for anyone looking for a delicious, meatless dinner idea!}

1 TB olive oil

1 medium red onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 can (19 oz each) black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14.5 oz) vegetable broth

1 TB cider vinegar

1/2 tsp dried oregano

coarse salt and ground pepper

1. Prepare rice according to package instructions. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan over medium. Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 8-10 minutes.

2. Add beans, broth, vinegar, and oregano. Cook, mashing some beans with the back of a spoon, until slightly thickened, 6-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

see, easy peasy. :) oh, this dish is also low in fat (if you minus the sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips of course. but who wants to live like that?)

a good friend ordered a Mermaid for her daugther's 2nd birthday coming up in October. she order red hair and blue eyes and i think the combination is stunning.

do you like?

Preschool

today was Connor's first day of Preschool and it was so exciting!

he's been waiting for this day for a long time. he was asking about it way back in March and i told him when it was fall time, it'd be time to go to Preschool. today, when he woke up, he showed me out his window some of the leaves have started turning yellow. he was so excited to announce fall was here and even more excited to hear that yes, today is the day Preschool begins!

Connor wasn't in the picture taking mood this morning (bummer) so this was the best i could get while he was engrossed in the Backyardigans.

these are his new kicks for school. these were the ones Connor selected. pretty cool huh?

when Kylene and i dropped him off at his classroom, he didn't shed a tear and i left him playing with a boy and Lego's. below is his first project he completed with all the names of the children in his class. there are 12 children, 8 girls and 4 boys. they're in the Penguin class and their teachers are Miss Melanie and Miss Kelly.

i think this is going to be a great first year in Preschool.

reptile expo...yikes

yesterday we went to the State Fair Grounds to visit the Reptile, Unusual and Exotic animal show. I'm not a reptile person in the least, but the other 3 members of my family were fascinated so i was able to keep my squeamishness at bay and enjoy watching them enjoy watching the animals. let me also just throw out there that the animals were not the only unusual and exotic thing there. Let your imagination take you away with that statement and you probably won't be far off the mark. :)

i think the thing that REALLY made it a great day for Connor was getting a bag of Cotton Candy early on in our excursion.
Kylene was fascinated by it all but wanted to be kept safe distance from everything. Both she and Connor touched an alligator...shivers.

all three of them loves the Wallaby. i don't consider myself an animal lover but it made me sad to see these really beautiful and rare animals in cages on a cement floor.

here's Connor at the "fossil dig".

i was very impressed by Connor that he let the Camel lick him. Connor says the Camel gave him a kiss. I did think the camels were really cool. we all also really enjoyed seeing the kittens and birds, they were really beautiful.

the aftermath of the eaten cotton candy was a cotton candy beard.

as we walked back to the car we enjoyed perusing the flea market outside the fair grounds. connor got to see some swords that even i have to admit were really amazing and he got to sit on a 4-wheeler which i think between the cotton candy and that, made his entire week. :)

Teachers Pet Cardi, Simple Tee and Poppy Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

Teachers Pet Cardi, Simple Tee and Poppy Skirt GIVEAWAY!!!!

i've been sewing again...

i just finished these two rag quilts and am so in love. they're both backed with the softest most delicious white minky fabric and honestly, i don't know if i'll be able to part with them.

the pink turtles is in the shop and the rocket ship quilt will be up tomorrow.
i finished a Hoot Owl Family for a client before we left for vacation and i loved they baby in particular. isn't she sweet?

together at last

ever since Kylene was born, Connor's been DYING to take a bath with her. why? not quite sure, but a few nights ago he got his chance. she had already been in there a while having a great time by herself and Connor came into the bathroom, stripped down, and jumped in. the novelty soon wore off (for Kylene that is). Byron took a ton of pics, which non of them really turned out, but this one shows that aftermath of Connor bothering Kylene for the last time, him having his head down after a reprimand from his parents, and Kylene begging to be taken out. good times. i think we'll have another crack at it tonight.:)