Another Chance Ranch

Blogging Chicks Carnival

Check out the Blogging Chicks Carnival maybe you will find a new read.  Our numbers are increasing...are you a chick?  (Okay, WT we know, we know.) 

Then come join me tomorrow as I turn another year older!  YEAH!!

Come Join the Fun!

There is a carnival today, so head on over to join us.

Blogging Chicks Carnival #28

It's time for the fun to begin!!  Today is the 28th Blogging Chicks Carnival!  Come join us!  Arm bands are free today!

The Wedding of the Year

The wedding of the year was sent to me in an email.  I get a lot of emails that have been forwarded and I rarely read them.  Mainly because, who has time and also because they are normally the same thing over and over.  This one I opened because my best friend is a wedding photographer and I had to check this out before I shared it with her.  It happened to make a great practical joke too!  Hope you enjoy it as much as we have.  You have to read the story with it, to fully appreciate these photos.

Introducing the wedding party:

First, the handsome groomsmen and the fine looking groom (in red):

Red ties, black ties, no tie. Mass confusion.     "Alright, everyone . let's line up for the picture. Let's see ..... hmmm, where shall we .... oh, yes! Perfect! Everyone, please move quickly! Right over there, in front of the garage. Yes, that will be just smashing!"   I guess a jacket at a wedding would just be too citified, so let's just pin these boutonniere's right on the white shirts. Bubba, put down that cigarette!  And no smoking during the ceremony!   I told him it's tacky to light up during the sermon.  If we could have put the wedding off for two more months, the groom would have saved enough money for a pair of black shoes. I told him his tennis shoes have black trim....that's good enough.

Next, the lovely bridesmaids and the blushing bride:

Not everyone can pull off such a vibrant red, but I think this group does it.. Sassy, I tell you, just sassy.

Last, the cute couple:

Those Wal-Mart slides really enhance her ankles.   Too bad they didn't come in white.    Note how their "outdoor backdrop" is a clearing probably behind the All-Sups where the weeds actually got mowed just for this occasion.

At least his head is somewhat proportionate. To her left boob.

What's she showing us here? A severe case of knee gout?? Apparently, whatever it is has her husband in more of a stupor than usual - How bout those teeth?

"You SO crazy, honey ."

"Here baby, let me help you up here ....."

You can almost hear the banjo music.

Blogging Chicks Carnival

                                                                     

Hey gang!  The Blogging Chicks are having another carnival today.  So head over there and check it out!!

Carnival of Laughter

Rebecca over at Of Making Many Books is hosting our Blogging Chicks Carnival this week and she has chosen laughter as the theme.  It could be Christmas laughter or just plain ol' laughter.  I have to say, my posts that I linked to the carnival are pretty funny.  When I tell the golfing story McD laughs everytime. 

Blogging Chicks Favorite Recipes

Welcome to the Blogging Chicks Holiday Recipe Carnival!

Swampwitch, aka Kathy, is sharing a recipe for a traditional fruitcake with a twist.  This one is a must have.

Julie, here at Another Chance Ranch is sharing one of her Mom's recipes. They are the Best Caramel Popcorn Balls Ever! Enjoy!

At Dreaming What Ifs....Karmyn R offers up the recipe of a traditional pie that has been passed-down through 4 generations and is baked every year for her family.  It just wouldn't be the holidays without a piece of Sour Cream and Raisin Pie!

Real men DO eat fluff, Cranberry Fluff. Find the recipe and many more at Of Making Many Books.

In her first Bloggin' Chicks Carnival, LeftCoastOnlooker  shares the recipe for a dish she's required to bring to holiday meals.

The Hodgepodger wants to share a recipe for a Jello Christmas Cake.

T.Bird's kids love both of these recipes.  She always has to double the recipes!  ;o)

Vicki at Catching Light is in the full swing of the Christmas Spirit and is giving away Misteltoe, and a delicious Apple Cake Recipe.

Traditions are a big part of what makes the holidays special.  From special outings and the people we do these things with, to the foods and gifts we make or buy ... it's what makes Christmas so special, and for Rach at Dutch Femka, a holiday meal would be incomplete without this to die for dessert salad.

Melt-in-your-mouth peppermint meringue recipe from Mama Duck at Lil Duck Duck.

Laurel Wreath shares her family's secret Christmas cookie recipe.

Soups on at The Dust Will Wait.  Pamela says come on over for a yummy bowl of a fairly new Christmas Eve Tradition.

Lindsey at Suspension of Disbelief has a recipe that will keep your home smelling yummy all Christmas long!

CyberCelt shares two of her favorite holiday recipes on Texas RV Travel blog.

JenLo at Thinks By Me, submits this recipe for a cranberry cheese spread that always gets lots of raves.

Malissa at Malissa's Merry Go Round is sharing Grandma's Sweet Potato Casserole recipe with everyone.  She also has a great recipe for Cinnamon Ornaments, check it out!

Barb at Skittles' Place has a fruit fluff recipe to share.

updated to add:
Gattina at Writers Cramps isn't much on collecting recipes but she was kind enough to share a link to a great German Christmas recipe.

This is AJ's favorite recipe for spicy pumpkin cookies! She loves them soo much she can't just eat one! Yummy, made by good ol' Betty Crocker herself. Its a favorite at all Christmas parties!!

The BEST Popcorn Balls Ever

My Mom has made these popcorn balls ever since I can remember.  She makes them for easter and shapes them like eggs.  Sometimes for Halloween, but always for Christmas. 

Caramel Popcorn Balls

8 cups popped popcorn (approx. 1/2 cup unpopped)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
1 tsp. white vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter

Measure popped corn into a large bowl. 

Combine sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, water, vinegar, and salt in 2 quart saucepan.  Heat to boiling over medium high heat, stirring frequently. 

After coming to a boil stir constantly until temperature is 255º on your candy thermometer, or until a small amount of mixture forms a hard ball when dropped into very cold water.  Reduce heat to low. Stir in butter until melted.

Pour syrup over popcorn in a thin stream; stirring until popcorn is well coated.  Cool slightly. 

Butter your hands, begin shaping popcorn into balls and place them on wax paper. 

Optional: To add a bit of color to the popcorn balls put food coloring in syrup.

Last year my Mom made these smaller than usual and made a Christmas tree out of them.  They were mostly green with red ones making the garland and tree topper.

It's a Christmas Carnival

The Carnival's Coming!!  Coming to Another Chance Ranch!  YEAH!

The Blogging Chicks Carnival has made it's way to the Ranch.  The theme for this carnival is going to make your mouth water.  As you might have noticed, I love to cook.  So I am hoping you will all join me in sharing our favorite Christmas recipes.  They could be goodies or even a main dish, share whatever you wish!   

Be here Sunday, December 3rd.

Blogging Chicks - Email me your links and I will get cookin' on the Carnival!

A Mistake

"A" mistake?  Just one?  Okay, I have so many, but for some reason this is the only one I can think of that is worthy of writing about.

I ran into an old friend, that I hadn't seen in years, while visiting my Grandparents.  When I saw her, she was waddling down the aisle at Kmart.  My first thought was that I couldn't believe she hadn't called to tell me she was pregnant. 

"When are you due?" I asked.

The look on her face should have answered my question, but apparently it didn't because I kept on prodding. 

She said, "What?" 

I must have thought that didn't hear me, or I didn't speak clearly the first time. So my second question was straight to the point.

I asked, "When is your baby due?" 

Um, yeah, you guessed it.  She wasn't pregnant.  I just wanted to disappear, but I couldn't.  How do you recover from that?  I have no idea.  I don't remember the rest of our meeting.  Thank goodness we were at Kmart and were both able to go our separate ways.  I haven't seen or heard from her since.

These days I don't assume anyone is pregnant.  I guess I learned my lesson.