Dear Sunday Letter friends,
Today is Super Bowl Sunday, and tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Will you watch the Super Bowl and/or celebrate Valentine’s Day?
One is an excellent excuse to eat an entire bowl of cheese dip; the other, a pound of chocolate. (Two of the best food groups!) But may I remind you—you don’t need an excuse to enjoy either food. You may, however, need cheese and chocolate to fully enjoy the festivities associated with each—ha.
Bob Armstrong Dip
Speaking of cheese dip…
The Bob Armstrong Dip at Matt’s in Lakewood is one of the things I miss most about living in Dallas. I found the recipe online (which could be a very, very dangerous thing).
Photo Source: Homesick Texas
No, there’s nothing wrong with basic queso made with Velveeta and Rotel. In fact, it’s quite delicious. But Bob Armstrong Dip takes queso to a completely different level of slap-yo-momma-wonderfulness.
Thank you Homesick Texan for posting this recipe.
I’m linking to it HERE in case you need a star appetizer for tonight’s Super Bowl party. Later, I’ll be able to find it whenever I want.
I dare say, Bob Armstrong Dip will make you homesick for Texas even if you’ve never lived in the Lone Star State.
Gracie’s Doggie Delights
You know when I find a fun product or delicious recipe, I always want to share my find with you. Today, I want to tell you about Gracie’s Doggie Delights.
Photo source: Facebook
First of all, I was immediately intrigued by the company name. How could I not be?
Secondly, when I saw a schnauzer on the company logo—a schnauzer that looked like Lucy!—I was all in.
And the cherry on top? The owner of the company, Gracie, has rescued three schnauzers.
Well, consider me a new favorite customer.
Gracie’s Doggie Delights is owned by an enterprising young women with Down Syndrome. From the website: Gracie’s Doggie Delights are made with just ONE ingredient. Freeze dried USDA inspected meat. No additives. No chemicals.
Yay! For Valentine’s Day, I ordered Annabelle and Gracie a package of freeze-dried training treats.
Some things are just meant to be. I truly believe this.
Visit Gracie’s Doggie Delights HERE and snag your pup and well-deserved treat while supporting this sweet small business.
Snow Melt and Microclimates
Even with temperatures in the 60s, it has taken some time to melt 8 inches of snow. Today, over ten days since our snowstorm, we still have a few patches of ice in shady areas.
For a while after the big snow, we all had cabin fever. Gracie took her babydoll out to get a little Vitamin D.
Reminder: One of the best times to study your yard is after a snow or rain when the sun starts drying up the ground. Even on a small property, you’ll find several microclimates such as: shady spots that remain cooler year around; hot spots where the sunlight reflects off a structure keeping the bed warmer no matter the season; areas that hold moisture and stay damp; raised places that drain well and dry out.
Noticing and understanding these microclimates can help you select and grow plants in the right areas.
Have you ever had a plant that looked oh so pitiful, but just before you gave up on it, you relocated it to a different area. Then, it grew as though living in a greenhouse? It may be that you moved the plant to better suited microclimate.
As spring approaches, begin to notice the changing angle of the sun and the way trees leaf out and alter the conditions of your garden. Often, successful gardening is about noticing.
Actually, life is about noticing.
Six Years Later
Can you believe it has been six years since Gracie Lee rode her bicycle across the bumpy turnrow and into your hearts? (At least I hope she occupies a teeny tiny space in your heart.)
So much has happened in six years, hasn’t it? Yet, in many ways it seems no time has passed.
If you do the math, Gracie is sixteen now! Mercy, you know that girl is probably getting into some kind of trouble.
In my Sunday Letter two weeks ago, I introduced you to my Gracie Notecards. The notecards are available for purchase now. Click HERE for all the details.
Things Momma Says:
I did everything I could for the Arkansas basketball team yesterday. Ate all the chip and dip, and they still lost!
Update: Momma graduated from splint and wheelchair to a walking boot which is much better! She isn’t letting a small broken bone get her down.
***
Thanks for spending a little time with me and my Sunday Letter. May your football team win tonight, and may your Valentine’s Day be yummy and cozy and filled with good things.
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
Hard to believe that Gracie Lee is sixteen now. I bet she’s driving a yellow Corvette. Lol. Looking forward to the Super Bowl, even though I don’t have a “dog in this fight”. I don’t dare look at Bob Armstrong Dip; I just can’t go there. I had a wonderful visit with my sweet Tate last night. He is headed back to Denver today. Three of my four grands live in Colorado. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I look forward to your Sunday Letter every Sunday morning. Now I must get up, put on my boot, and ride.
Have a nice ride LOL.
I’m sure the game will be on at our house but no special treats planned. As far as I know Valentine’s Day will come and go without any fanfare. Now the 16th May call for something special for our 59th Anniversary. 😮 Talk about time flying!
I’m glad to hear that Barbara is coming along with healing and mobility.
Gracie at Doggie Delights is surely your kindred sister. So many similarities!
Now I want some chocolate. I might have to bake a cake. Better not though.
59 years definitely calls for a celebration—and chocolate cake!
That was a great find: Doggie Delights! Hoping you become one of her regular customers! I am going to check them out too. We have jumped into the world of fostering dogs. Our first foster was what they term “foster failure” as we adopted her. Our first ever female. But we know better than to permanently have three dogs in our home, two is just right as our dog Kimber was never quite himself after his grumpy older dog brother passed away this winter. Now he’s met his match in his “sister”. And today we are picking up another little girl…I’ve never had a small dog, she’s a chihuahua terrier mix. She’ll get adopted very soon I’m sure, but in the meantime we can get her out of the dog pound kennel.
I grew up an hour from Cincinnati so I was hoping the Bengals would win. And till the end, it looked like they might. Snacks were made, leftovers are still here!
The girls love their Doggie Delights and I will definitely be ordering more from Gracie. What a good thing you are doing, fostering pups. Sorry your team didn’t win. I was rooting for the Bengals too.
I copied that recipe to try for our next gathering. Thanks. It took our small amount of icy snow a long time to melt in the shady area of our back yard even with those warm temperatures. Gracie Lee and your puppies are always in my heart, as are you.
Thanks friend. And thanks for the Snoopy Valentine card! Love you.