{Friday Foto Friends} Changes, Flowers, and a Tune Up

I was planning on linking up with Deb at Breathing in Grace, but she's having some technical difficulties. I'm on my own for a recap of the week in pictures.

I don't know if I'll ever get used to seeing this logo on the tower. I thought I had a picture of the Aluminum Company Of America's logo on it, but I can't seem to find it. Anyway, this is a definite sign that the Small Town is changing.

Yes, I know these are weeds, but look how pretty those dainty little flowers are! So, they're staying in my little flower bed. 😁

I was sitting on my couch the other night, and I looked out of the window and thought how pretty the mountains are. Then I thought, "Wait a minute...I can't see the mountains from my living room window!" Those are actually clouds.

And here they are when I stepped out on the porch to snap a picture with my big girl camera. They do look like mountains, don't they?

I saw this little guy on the bird feeder when I took the girls out for a bathroom break. 

Lastly, here's "Eloise" getting tuned up. I had my first piano lesson Wednesday, and I loved it! I can't wait to be halfway proficient!

Hope everyone had a good week. Don't forget to go to Deb's to link up, or just see everyone else's pictures.

Baking & Slow-Cooking (+ A Couple of Recipes!)

I haven’t written a cooking post lately, so I thought I would take just a minute and share what is becoming a favorite at our house. I found a recipe for Chinese Pork Chops at Six Sisters' Stuff. 

In the crockpot, all ready to go!

The first time I made it, CH said the sauce tasted like Sweet Baby Ray's, so the next time I made it, that's what I used. I tweaked the recipe just a bit: I used 1 cup Sweet Baby Ray's, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 an onion, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Then, I put in the secret ingredient:

If you've never tried Chinese Five Spice, I would highly suggest it. I mentioned it in a post back in 2012 after I made Five-Spiced Steak Strips. I also use it to make Sweet, Sticky, Spicy Chicken; I just substitute the 5 spice blend for the spices in the recipe. Not only does it add a lot of flavor, but it smells pretty good, too. I don't measure it in the recipes; I just add as much as I want. 
For the pork chops, I put the chops in the bottom of the crockpot, spoon the sauce mixture on top, and set on low for 4 hours. CH splurged and bought a crockpot that will switch over to keep the food warm after the food has cooked. Well worth it!
I used to have a breadmaker, but I got rid of it because I didn't use it for many years. I had been thinking about getting another one, and I followed through a couple of weeks ago. I made rolls for Easter, pizza crust (that I left in the machine too long...now I know when the dough cycle is done!), and the other evening I made Dill Bread. I have to say, it was delicious! It doesn't have a strong dill taste, which is probably a good thing.

I can't wait to try Kolaches! I never know if my dough is going to rise like it should; with the breadmaker to make my dough, it should do just fine.

If you try the Chinese 5 Spice, let me know what meat you tried it with, and how you like it!

{Wednesday Hodgepodge} I've Got Nothing for the Title

1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Has your April been filled with showers? Do you carry an umbrella, wear a slicker, or make a run for it? Besides rain, what else has filled your April? 

Boy, has it ever! We had a "flood day" on Monday...too many flooded & blocked roads. We're in the middle of our state testing, so I'm sure the superintendent felt it was better to have everyone miss a day of testing than to try to get in all of the make-ups from those students who couldn't make it to school.
I usually make a run for it. Unless I actually remember my umbrella, which stays in my car.
Easter activities filled up the better part of my April, as well as helping to clear out my parents' house.

2. What's something you could you give a 30-minute presentation on at a moment's notice and with zero preparation?
I would say it would have to do with being an SLP in the schools.

3. Share with us a favorite food memory from childhood.
I don't know if it's a favorite, but it seems like we had roast a lot.

4. What's a song you thought you knew the lyrics to, but later discovered you were wrong?

I always thought he was singing "Do it like a lady"!

5. According to one travel website, the most overrated tourist attractions in America are-
Niagara Falls (NY), Hollywood Walk of Fame (California), Times Square (NYC), Epcot (FL), Seattle Space Needle (WA), and Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market (Boston). How many of these have you seen in person? Did you feel like a tourist? Did you care? Tell us about a place (not on the list) you've visited that might be considered a tourist trap, but you love it anyway.
I've been to Times Square and Epcot. Of course I felt like a tourist: at Times Square I was with a high school band!
Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It's free, so I don't know if it could technically be called a "tourist trap". It's my most favorite place in the mountains.

6. Your signature clothing item?
Jeans & t-shirts?  😁
I'm definitely not a fashionista!

7. What's an experience you've had you think everyone should experience at least once? Why?
 Visiting a foreign country. It gives you a deeper appreciation of being an American and living in the greatest country on earth. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.
The weirdest thing happened on Monday: I saw an armored sheriff's vehicle with sirens on. I saw it again just a bit later. This was after a police car when through an intersection with its lights & siren on. As I drove back from the vet, I saw a lot of police cars in a gas station parking lot, searching a car. I'm wondering if they thought there were explosives, but then realized there weren't. I didn't see anything in the paper about it this morning. Weird...just weird.

I'm linking up with Joyce at From This Side of the Pond. Go check it out!