Dear Issac...

 Issac - Welcome to Northwest Missouri!  We welcome your rain.  We need your rain.  We are glad we won't be getting LOTS of rain like you have dumped on other locations.  We are praying for those people.  But as you can see from our front lawn, we can really use the moisture and we are SO GRATEFUL for the cooler temperatures.  We hope you stay for a while and give the ground the moisture it needs - but please don't overstay your welcome.
Hugs,
NW Missouri!

Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole

Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole

4 c. cooked chicken, cubed            3 c. cooked ham, cubed
2 TBS butter                                   1 sm. onion, chopped
1 celery rib, finely chopped            3 TBS flour
1 1/2 -1 3/4 c. milk                         1/4-1/2 tsp. salt, to taste
1/4 tsp. pepper                                1/4 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. parsley                                2 c. shredded Swiss cheese
8 oz penne pasta - cooked according to pkg. directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray a 3 qt. casserole dish.  Place chicken & ham in a large bowl; set aside.  In a large saucepan on medium heat, melt butter.  Add onion & celery and saute 5-6 minutes or until soft.  In a small bowl, whisk together milk and flour until smooth; pour into saucepan.  Add seasonings, stir well and heat through.  Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in shredded cheese.  Stir continuously until cheese is melted.  Pour sauce mixture over meat and toss to coat.  Add pasta and stir lightly until coated with sauce and pour into the prepared casserole dish.  Bake uncovered  at 350 for 30-35 minutes or 'til bubbly and just beginning to brown on top.  May sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top and return to oven for an additional 10 minutes.

I did not have a nice thick piece of ham on hand tonight - so I substituted some bacon bits in for the ham.  I did NOT sprinkle with the mozzarella at the end.   So good - so yummy!

Baby - it's hot outside - and inside!

Whew!  Working in a school building that is 103 years old, with no AC and mid 90 degree days with a little humidity thrown in there = HOT!  It's ridiculous!  Seriously.  The classes are taking turns going to the library which is air conditioned just to give the kids (and the teacher) a cool break.  But really - how conducive is it to teaching/learning when you are sitting on the floor, trying not to listen to the other 1 or 2 classes that are also trying to cool off, knowing that your time there is short-lived?  Or - when you are sitting in a classroom with fans blowing all around you and it's still stifling? 

I guess our hope is knowing that these days won't last forever.  Cooler weather will come.  The building will cool down, and we'll continue to do our best to make it a good situation.  We have an awesome staff and I love working with them. 

Lately....

Lately we've been spending a LOT of time with family --- and I have loved every minute of it.  Granted - I enjoyed it all a little more after our responsibilities for the Yellowstone trip were taken care of and I could just ENJOY!  Life has been hectic since returning home.  So much so that I don't have time to add a lot of pictures.  So...... to get to Millie's blog to see more pictures, go here and here.  Millie is a better photographer than I am and has a fancy schmancy camera - so her pictures are awesome.  I'm waiting for some from Amanda - but here are some favorites from my camera.

Isn't she just a bug?!  Love her so much!

I could have sat on the edge of this bridge for a long time and just enjoyed
the scenery.... the sound of the water and the cool, crisp, mountain air.  I MISS IT!

At West Thumb --- almost always elk there in the evenings.

Four of my most favorite people.

'Almost' a True Aggie!

Yellowstone or Bust!

 I can hardly stand it!  Not only do we get to go to Yellowstone (or Jellystone as my sweet husband says) - but we get to go with my very most favorite people --- my family!  This has become somewhat of a family tradition.  My husband's family went every year after they were done harvesting beans.  I had never been until we got married.  I fell in love with the place.  The extended family has tried to go every three years for a number of years now - although the time between those trips is getting further apart it seems and the number of family that can attend is less and less.

And as a special treat this year, consider this: the temperatures in Missouri have been 99-103+ for weeks now.  The temperatures in Yellowstone are mid 70's in the day time and mid 40's over night!  I have the cozy sleeping bags packed and I'm ready to go!

Don't you just love these mountains?  My heart always leaps a little with that first glance at the Teton Range.








And these fun designs will be on our t-shirts this year thanks to Millie!

Yellowstone - Here We Come!