The Grass is Always Greener

We have been working really hard to get the grass in the backyard to grow and green up. And I am amazed at how much better it looks in just a short amount of time. This is a pic of what our grass looked like a few weeks ago when we pulled the bushes.

And this is what the grass looks like now! It's amazing what a little fertalizer, water and TLC will do. I think that it looks so much better than before. There are still a few spots that we are trying to kill weeds and trying to get the grass to fill in. Now all we have to do is wait for the rain to quit long enough so we can fertalize and mow again. And then I will start on getting the garden beds ready (:

My version of Steak Tampiquena

The past few times we have gone out to eat Michael has gotten the Steak Tampiquena. I wanted to make it for him at home and didn't even know where to start. So this is what I came up with...

(My Version of) Steak Tampiquena

Ingrediants:

2 sirloin
Jalapenos
Roma Tomatoes
Red Onion
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Cast Iron Skillet
Vegetable Oil

Start by seasoning the sirloin with the salt, pepper and garlic powder. Set aside and let the seasoning marinade with the meat. Thinly slice about 4 jalapenos, you can remove seeds if you would like to cut down on the heat. Then dice 2 to 4 roma tomatoes, they reduce down to pretty much nothing so I would go with more. Then I sliced a small red onion. In my cast iron skillet I heat up a few tablespoons of vegetable and add my red onion because they take the longest to cook. Once they have cooked for a few minutes I add my jalepenos and let them cook a few minutes then add my sirloin. I leave it to cook on one side for about 3 minutes and then flip it and cook the other side for 3 minutes. Once the meat is almost done I add my tomatoes and turn the heat down and let it finish cooking together while the tomatoes reduce down. Once the tomatoes have reduced down I transfer to a plate and pour the veggie mix on top and searve with warm flour tortillas. Yummy!

And the meal would not be complete without a fresh batch of Sweet Tea

A look at our day...

Here is what my kitchen window seal looks like right now. On the right side is Jacob's banana plant... I am really hoping that it grows.

I thought it would add a cute 'country' touch to put my flowers and herbs in mason jars.

Here in West Texas we are always excited to see the wet stuff called RAIN!

And only in West Texas will it be just as sunny during a downpour (:

Pulling Bushes... Tonne Style

Michael made a deal with me that if I found a home for the dog he disliked we would make the backyard a happy place to be again. So, I packed up my puppy for my parents house. Trust me she is better there than in our backyard. With us both working we hardly had time for her and there she has 5 other dogs to play with. My #1 project was pulling these annoying bushes that just took up space.

And this is how we did it... with Michael's 6K lb auto crane :D

Boy did it work like a charm!

And then there were no more bushes... YAY!

Here is Michael hauling them to the dumpster. I cannot imagine having to do that the old fashioned way with a shovel and all... I have to say... a crane is the only way to go.

Now I just have to figure out what I want to do with that side of the yard. I think I want to plant green beans and black eyed peas. Maybe I will just put down sod... I don't know yet. But I will have to post pics when the backyard is cleaned up and the grass starts getting green. It's so beautiful then! And thank you again Michael for all your hard work on pulling the bushes for me (: <3>

Michael's Helper for a Day

Today they sent me home from work because I was 'sick'. So I decided to suprise Michael at work in Pyote and be his helper for the day. He was definatly shocked to see me! I had a blast helping out all day, even though it was over a 100* and there was hardly any shade and suprisingly he enjoyed it too (:

Here he is next to the backhoe...on the phone as usual :P

Getting it ready to replace the window

Making sure we get all the old glass and lining out.

Here is what he sees everyday...

Michael's work truck. It may not be super pretty but it has been an AWSOME truck!

P.F. Changs Anyone?

I was uber excited when that when I was in OKC this last weekend I got to eat at P.F. Changs! I had never eaten there before and never even thought I would get the chance to eat there. So when my in-laws let me decide that's where I wanted to go (:

The spring rolls were very scrumptious! I had never ate them before and now I think I like them better than I like eggrolls.

Tyler thought he was a big man eating with the chopstick like things. He was happy and content eating one grain of rice at a time.


I thought that this was a cute picture of him shoveling his grain of rice down like it was a huge piece of food.

And here is what I had to eat... the Combo Double Pan Fried Noodles and the Shrimp Sichuan from the Sea. It was freaking good! I have to say that I would not pay those prices for myself... but I will let someone take me there anytime ;)

It was time for a change...

... my hair that is! I needed a new do! I loved my hair don't get me wrong, but living here in West Texas it gets pretty hot and long hair is not your friend. I thought maybe somthing a little shorter would be perfect.....

Here is me with my long-ish hair...

The new had to have a few things... I had to still be able to pull it back into a ponytail (I am like the ponytail queen), and it had to be able to be worn several different ways. I think I did pretty good. The stylist at the salon was excited she got to cut off so much hair.

And here is the new do...