Friday's Fences

Friday''s fences is a weekly meme hosted by Life according to Jan and Jer. 

Southern Sweet Tea- In The Microwave

If you're southern, you get it. If you aren't...you might not. Sweet Tea is a staple of the southern table. No  woman would dare think of serving dinner without it. It is a must-have on hot summer days...and cold winter days, too.
 I've been making tea this way over 20 years and you couldn't pay me to go back to that boiling-on-the-stove method again. (Honestly, I doubt I'd remember how....) (Sorry, Mom.)

All you need are the following:

• 1 microwavable glass container. (I use a Pampered Chef Mix & Pour, but I have also used a plain Pyrex bowl.)
• 1 gallon pitcher
• Family size tea bags. (I use 2, my hubby uses 3 or 4. He likes his tea to be strong enough to get up and walk out of the microwave on it's own.)
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups sugar
• water
• wooden spoon

Fill the microwave dish until almost full. (You don't have to measure anything at this point. Trust me on this.)

Add the tea bags.

Microwave on high 9 minutes. 

*The dish will be HOTTTT when you remove it from the microwave. Use mitts!

Meanwhile, pour the sugar into the pitcher.

Pour the tea over the sugar but DO NOT squeeze out the bags! (This makes dark, cloudy tea.)

Stir with the wooden spoon until the sugar is dissolved.

Fill the pitcher the to the top with cold water.

Stir again.

It's ready!

No steeping, no waiting...just add a slice of lemon or lime

As always, I love your comments. Ilook forward to hearing from you!

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos with Chipotle Sour Cream

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

4 chicken breasts (thawed)

1 24oz. jar your favorite Salsa

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

juice of one lime

Place chicken in crock pot. top with the salsa, seasoning, cilantro, and lime. Cook on low about 6 hours.

Remove from pot and pull (my fave) or cut into chunks (My hubby's fave)

Serve on flour tortillas with lettuce, tomato, chopped avocado, shredded cheese and adobo sour cream (recipe below).

Chipotle Sour Cream

1/2 c sour cream

1 tsp to 2 TBSP (your preference) adobo sauce (from a jar of chipotle chiles in adobo sauce)

Combine the above. I use 1 to 1 1/2 TBSP sauce. If you aren't familiar with the sauce start with a teaspoon and add a little at a time. It adds a smoky heat.

Our World Tuesday

This is my first time joining in on Our World Tuesday. I think it's a lovely idea- to see what is going on in various places on a Tuesday, of all days.

Considering that I am off work this last day of 2013, I didn't think I'd have much to add. Not much happening on Devil's Hollow today.

Still, I grabbed the camera and took a quick walk. This is what I saw....

I love this old tree!

 These two are always up for a photo op!

I can't wait to see what is going on around the world on this last Tuesday of 2013! What;s going on in your world?

A Photo Tribute to Belle

Our sweet Belle has been missing since Christmas. She just disappeared. Out here off the main road, on the back side of the mountain, it is rare (but not unheard of) for dogs to be stolen. We really think she fell victim to a hunter or a trapper, if not a wild animal.
Our hearts are broken. We have searched high and low. I really am thankful for neighbors and friends who have helped us search. One minute she was here, and the next she was gone...just gone.

She was a mix breed- we never were really sure what kind of dog she was. But here is what we did know-

She was faithful and brave. When we came home at night, she wanted to go in the house first and check things out. 

She loved kids, food (ALL FOOD), chasing rabbits, going for walks..and lying on furniture when no one was looking.

She hated coyotes- all coyotes. She didn't even watch Roadunner. She HATED coyotes.

She loved giving kisses and getting loving from everyone.

She ws a great family pet and we sure do miss her.

She always ran to meet us when she heard us coming up the driveway. She did her wagging "hello family" dance and checked everyone out to make sue we were ok.

She was extremely protective of my daughter.

Here she is doing what she loved best- running and exploring!

 She was a good friend and faithful companion. I'd give anything to walk outside and see her running out of the woods. I sure wish she would come home.

We miss you Belle Belle.

Blue Monday

Rohododendron Festival 2012, Mentone Alabama

Monday Mellow Yellows

Taken last month on our mountain road. Thought it would make a great addition to Monday Mellow Yellows.