Friday, October 21, 2005

Pigs, Longhorns, and Uncommon Objects

(click on the photo for a closer look)

YAY, it's Friday! So glad the weekend is here. Even though my *job* doesn't stop on Saturday and Sunday it's nice to have David home to fulfill 1/2 of Noah's requests and needs. :)

Saturday morning we are going to the Hogeye Festival in Elgin, TX! My Uncle has a champion BBQ-cookoff team and will be competing tomorrow, so we'll be eatin' some award winning pork ribs among other pig-alicious meats. Should be a fun day! The Texas Longhorns play at 2:30 p.m. so we'll be all decked out in our burnt orange/white. HOOK 'EM HORNS!!

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours browsing one of my favorite stores in Austin: Uncommon Objects. It's a funky junk store full of kitschy, unusual items that you won't find anywhere else. It's not like a thrift store. Everything in here is cool...and sometimes expensive. But it's fun to treasure hunt! The picture at the top shows my two purchases from yesterday. They had a bowl full of these heavy metal numbers with prongs on the back (from old signs) so I bought a 9 and a 6 to make a 96...the year we got married. The year our family was *established.* I have it on an old chipped antique-white shelf in the kitchen with other fun items. I also got a couple of yards of really old, delicate vintage lace ribbon. I'll keep that for scrapbooking. Yeah, I needed more ribbon, huh? They had this HUUUUGE metal lower case "d" painted bright blue with lots of paint chipped off. It was probably 2.5-3 feet tall. I SO wanted to get it and send it to Donna Downey. It's exactly something she would love. But I had NO idea how I would ship it to her, lol, so I left it. Well, I hid it and left it...ha. I'm secretly hoping she'll come to Austin to teach and I can show it to her in person. :) I saw lots of shabby pink metal boxes that would be SO cute for storage of scrapbooking supplies. Those made me think of Heidi Swapp.

The business card for Uncommon Objects is standing up behind my purchases. I just love it! This store is on South Congress, down the street from the state capitol building. I love this area of town - so full of history, art, and *Austin weird.* And it's just about 15 minutes from my front door! If you're ever in Austin and want to browse these funky stores, just let me know. I'll be your tour guide!

Since it's the weekend and it's usually busy, I'll share a great recipe for busy families. I like to make this when I don't have a lot of time to make dinner. David LOVES this.

Easy Skillet Mac
(from my church cookbook!)

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. elbow macaroni
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 c. water
1 (15 1/2-0z) can kidney beans
2 tsp. chili powder
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1 can Rotel tomatoes and chiles
Shredded cheddar cheese

In a large skillet, brown meat and onion. Drain off fat. Add kidney beans, tomato sauce, Rotel tomatoes, water, uncooked macaroni, chili powder, and garlic salt. Mix well and heat until boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer on med-low for 20 minutes. Top with cheese and cover for about 2 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
-------------
God bless you and your family this weekend! :)
- Jennifer

"Come work for the Lord. The work is hard, the hours are long, and the pay is low, but the retirement benefits are out of this world." - Anonymous

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those numbers are sooooo stinking cool! Have a great weekend, and thanks for the recipe!

Anonymous said...

I am still reading and loving your blog. :o) Just don't get a chance to post always. I love your "finds"....you are so neat that way. I often think of you when I see things like that. Wanna come help me with MINE??? hee hee
Hugs to you, friend!

Anonymous said...

Fun purchases...I think I'd love a fun shop like that!

Anonymous said...

Man, I want to go shopping with you! Very cool finds.
Have a wonderful weekend! I'll be dressed in Razorback RED even though the Hogs are horrible this year.
Teresa

Jana said...

What fun finds!! I drive right up I-35 past the Capitol building all the time heading up to DFW so I'll need to stop into that store sometime....it sounds like something right up my alley as well.

Anonymous said...

LOVE the uncommon objects you picked up! Sounds like an awesome store. I would love to check it out next time in Texas. Although, DH no longer has family there, so not sure when the next time will be. Last time we were there (East Texas), we visited a town FULL of antique stores. Chas' mom and Grandma were completely intrigued, but I must admit, antiques must not be my thing. I was more intrigued by the pop machines that had 8 different buttons for DR. PEPPER! LOL! Each one to his own! LOL! Definitely love the things you came back with from that store though....very cool!! As for the cook-off...wish DH and I could have been there...we are BIG ribs fans!!! Yummmmm!

Jennifer said...

I love your blog, saved it in my favourites. It has the right amount of personal stuff, recipes and scrapbook stuff. Just like Martha but with a scrapbook flair.

My name is Jennifer too and I use to live in McAllen...now back in Canada.

Anonymous said...

Jennifer, what cool finds! I love Uncommon Objects and all those funky stores on S. Congress. And thank you for this recipe. Looks like something I may need to add to my (rather small) repertoire.

Jenn said...

Jennifer,

If I get to come to Austin to teach again next year, I would love to have you be a tour guide to these stores! I loved Austin and all of its "weirdf" stuff. In fact, I fell in love with Chuys' queso and tres leche while I was there... let's do lunch too! :0)

Anonymous said...

i have an slightly simpler version of that recipe that I made for dinner tonight - the DH and the kids love it

such a cool fun store - wish we had stuff like that here!

Janet O. said...

Oh my GOSH, I love your blog! :)
Next time I'm in Arlington I want to see if I can finagle the time to drive to Austin just to go to that store. Sounds AWESOME! And I am going to stalk the mailman for the PB catalog...and make the banana crunch muffins...you are going to be solely responsible for my extra 10 lbs at this rate!

Anonymous said...

Awesome, as always, Jennifer! I make that skillet supper all the time, but add corn instead of chili because the babes don't like chili. Very good! SO easy! I'm loving the 96! Very unique! I'd love a virtual tour of your home! have a great day!

Sophia