Yet another Internet Superstar!

We have yet another world-wide web appearance by a member of our family! Ron (Ryan's dad) along with his doggies, Sam and Gunner, have popped up on the pages of the Genesee Sportsman's Club. Please click on the following link and it is the first photo.

http://www.geneseesportsmansclub.com/Club_Photo_s.php

WARNING: Pheasants were definitely injured in the production of this photo.

Media Frenzy

"Do you know who I am ??? I'm kind of a big deal around here..."

Bill Burch of Saginaw Township, left, watches as his dog, Kanzie, a tan Rhodesian ridgeback, plays with Clark, left, a basset hound, and Martini, a Boston terrier, during the Dog Days Winter Romp at Imerman Memorial Park in Saginaw Township. The other dogs' owners are, from left, Jim Mandell, 37, of Thomas Township; Ryan Hammond, 29, of Saginaw Township; and Kristina Rease, 31, of Thomas Township. Mandell and Rease own Martini, and Hammond owns Clark.

It also should be known that is my (Amanda's) toe and gloved hand in the very left of the picture and my mom (Sandra) is standing next to me. Apparently we were just in the photo for atmosphere, not worthy of a mention. Also, it's Mundell, not Mandell. Get it right, Media.

(Click on the picture to see it bigger).

Internet Superstars

So, I was surfing the web, minding my own business, looking busy at work, when what do I come across?? But a photo of Ryan and I TOTALLY making-out! I was slightly embarrassed that this photo was on our photogs site after our wedding, but I figured only family and friends would be viewing it. Now, it is posted on the Temple Theatre's site for all eternity (well, maybe not eternity, but a long time, I'm sure). I feel the need to explain. In this photo it appears that we really are making out, really in a moment. But, we really weren't. I think we were just caught in an awkward moment, in awkward seating, after a couple of glasses of champagne. If you were to see the frame a half a second later it would have been more decent, I swear. I just can't believe that they would want this photo of two crazy people making out in the back of the theatre promoting their establishment. Can't you get kicked out for that???

For all of you that want to see the uncensored version, please visit the following link and scroll to the right:
http://www.templetheatre.com/Pages/web%20gallery/index.html

I must also point out that the next photo in line on this site is also us - with a group of rowdy party-goers cheering the camera with Bud Light cans. Brilliant.

Stay classy, Saginaw.

Recipe Yum.

For all of you that are looking for new, easy, delicious, family friendly recipes, this is a good one. This is an easily altered recipe. We used asparagus in place of broccoli. You could omit the chicken and vegetable to have a simple mac n cheese. Delicious.

____________________________________

Mac and Cheddar Cheese with Chicken and Broccoli
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray


2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound chicken breast tenders, chopped
Salt and pepper
1 small onion, chopped (you really don't need or probably want an entire onion)
1 pound macaroni elbows or cavatappi corkscrew shaped pasta twists
2 1/2 cups raw broccoli florets, available packaged in produce department
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (don't be afraid of this, it doesn't end up spicy at all)
1 teaspoon paprika
3 cups whole milk
1 cup chicken stock
3 cups yellow sharp Cheddar (I used 2 cups sharp chedder, and then cleaned out the cheese drawer in my fridge)
1 tablespoon prepared Dijon mustard


Place a pot of water on to boil for macaroni. (Use your big soup pot)

Heat a medium pan over medium to medium-high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and chicken and season with salt and pepper. Saute a couple of minutes then add onion and cook another 5 to 7 minutes until onions are tender and chicken is cooked through. Turn off heat and reserve.

To boiling pasta water, add pasta and salt to season the cooking water. Cook 5 minutes, then add broccoli and cook 3 minutes more or until pasta is cooked to al dente and florets are just tender.

While pasta cooks, heat a medium sauce pot over medium heat. Add butter and melt, then add flour, cayenne and paprika and whisk together over heat until roux bubbles then cook a minute more. Whisk in milk and stock and raise heat to bring the sauce to a quick boil. Simmer until the sauce thickens about 5 minutes.

Drain macaroni or pasta and broccoli florets. Add back to the pot and add chicken to the pasta and broccoli.

Add cheese to milk sauce and stir to melt it in, a minute or so. Stir in mustard and season sauce with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken and broccoli and cooked pasta and stir to combine. Adjust seasonings and transfer to a large serving platter and serve. (or not)

Closed for Construction

As the construction continues....

Our carpet in the snow, aka - the front yard.

And, yes, it's still there.

After the ceiling came down.

And, magically, a new ceiling appears - with lights!

Critter Chronicles

"Please just put the camera down and snuggle with me. I have had a very rough day of eating, napping, barking, playing with Pepper, napping, eating, playing in the backyard, digging through the snow with my nose - as you can see from this picture I lost some fuzz from working so hard at this, walking through the neighborhood, barking some more, napping again, wrestling with that darn Chicken, and now you want me to pose for a picture. I'm sorry, but I just can't do everything. You really need to start pulling your share of the household duties. I mean, c'mon - all I am asking is for you to lay down and cuddle. How hard is that?! Seriously!! ...please... "

Polish women are tough

My thanks to Jim for this wonderful, heart-felt story....


An elderly Polish man lay dying in his bed. While suffering the agonies of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite pierogi with fried onions wafting up the stairs. He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Gripping the railing with both hands, he crawled downstairs. Downstairs, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen, where if not for death's agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven, for there, spread out upon waxed paper on the kitchen table were hundreds of his favorite pierogi.


Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of love from his wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

He threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in a crumpled posture. His parched lips parted, the wondrous taste of the pierogi was already in his mouth. With a trembling hand he reached up to th! e edge of the table, when suddenly he was smacked with a wooden spoon by his wife.







"Back off!" she said. "Those are for the funeral. "


Miłego dnia! (Have a good day!)

Closed for Construction

We started construction on our living room earlier this week and have worked a little each night. We hope to be done with demolition this weekend and possibly begin the drywall.
This has been a long awaited project and we are both very excited to see progress in this area of our house.
I will post more pictures as we move ahead.

Before

Just starting

After

Another after