Different Sloppy Joe

Good Tuesday morning!

The last day of Christmas Break.

The last day before The Boy heads back to the good ol' United States of America.

The last day before "normal" returns to Faulkner Farms (circa 1842)... whatever "normal" is.

It is a bittersweet day.

Guess what? No new pictures to share in the Gallery, so I'm posting a few unseen Christmas pics.

Austin's Over-the-Pond Adventure

Austin is returning to Alabama tomorrow night a "new" man.

1. Flying didn't bother him a bit (even though he has always said he's afraid of heights).

2. Riding the Underground (subway) turns out to be "no big deal."

3. Understanding a new currency... piece of cake.

4. Trying to find comfort food in the UK... still looking.

5. Exploring a new city, in a new country, on a different continent (when you've never done ANYTHING like that before) isn't overwhelming. It's kind of fun.

6. Surviving eight days without television (because British television is certainly "not his cup of tea") is definitely doable.

7. Taking well over 100 pictures and still clicking away isn't as hard as he always thought it would be. His trip will be well-documented. (He even bought a ton of postcards to make up for any pictures he might have missed. Yes. I have taught him well, but Melia was smart enough to send "The Picture List.")

Yesterday, The Boy spent his day at Stonehenge and Bath. He has declared he would "love to live at Bath." He'll have to explain that one when he returns home.

This will be his last day in London, and it is a "free" day. He has a mile-long list of things he wants to do including riding The Eye. You know. The enormous Ferris-wheel-type-ride which enables you to see all (or most) of London from the sky. Seven days ago, this was NOT on his list.

Go, Austin. Go!

Come home, Austin. Come home!

Tomorrow's going to be a great day!

But I will not miss today waiting for tomorrow.

RANDOMNESS - Even though Roxie and Josh officially do not go back to school until tomorrow, Roxie has a basketball game this evening. We're jumping back into the "routine" with both feet, I tell you. BOTH feet!

Different Sloppy Joe

I posted a slow cooker Sloppy Joe recipe ages ago, but I tried this one last night, and it was a winner, too.

You will need the following:

1 pound ground chuck
1 small onion (chopped)
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large skillet, brown ground chick and onion.

2. Drain fat.

3. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer covered for 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally.

4. Cook until it is the consistency you like for serving on toasted buns... with pickles and cheese.

These were delicious, quick and easy.

Have a wonderful Tuesday. I'll be back tomorrow with Wednesday Wisdom, more of Austin's Over-the-Pond Adventure, a Seasonal Tradition, Randomness, pictures (I hope) and a little bit more.

Take care, and I'll talk to you in the morning.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda