SOUTHERN BBQ POTATOES

1Pack of Bacon Bits or 5 Slices Bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 Unpeeled Large Potatoes, washed good
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
1/4 Cup Barbecue Sauce
1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 Sour Cream  Or Ranch Dressing for Dipping

I like to use the real bacon pieces that is found at Walmart next to the salad dressings that is in the bottle. These bacon pieces are real and are the Great -Value Brand in a small bag. If you have any left over make sure you put them in the ref. as they will mold in no time at all. Pre- heat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with foil and then spray lightly with cooking spray. Cut the potatoes into 1/4 inch slices and then tossin a large ziplock bag with the olive oil, garlic powder ,salt and pepper so all the potatoes will be coated. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet. Let bake until lightly browned around 15-20 minutes. Brush with barbecue sauce, then top with the shredded cheese and bacon bits. Put back in oven and let bake until the cheese melts.  Can put sour cream or ranch dressing on top of them or on the side to dip in.

NASHVILLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Well there was no snow this year in Nashville for Christmas but it sure was cold.
 We all decided to go out and eat and go look at the Christmas lights. Don't know if you have ever heard of Lipton Lights (liptonlights.com)but it is a sight to go see. I think they have some over in Gatlinburg, Tn.
 These lights go on and off to the music which you listen to in the car on your radio. I have never saw anything come up with this. There are around 8,500 lights and one house down in Franklin, Tn. had them on display.
 You could sit half the night and just watch them. It is free but you can leave a donation in the box.
We also went to a display that a man had been doing this coming year will make 30 years. His son got killed in a car wreck and his son always loved to decorate with lights so his dad kept up the tradition and has added to it each year.
There is ever type of scenes that you can think of. Santa playing ball. Kids swinging. Kids seesawing. Kids going up ladders. Helicopters flying.So many that I can't remember them all. I have never saw so many different lights along with the scenes. There were car loads of people getting out and looking at all of it and even limo's coming in to look at this. The man that owned the house was out directing the traffic. That takes love to stay there 7 days of the week for around 6 hours each night for around 4 weeks doing this.
We then went and saw the house that won it for the best Christmas lights and it was something else also. Then we went on to another house that was lit up with more scenes then the one that won it.
I wish every child could just go see this. It is what Christmas is all about in a child's eyes. Of course we don't wont to forget the real meaning of Christmas but this is just something that is breath taking to see and you ohh and ahh all the time while looking at all of it. No matter how many times you go back and see it you will find something different to look at each time. So make plans if  you can to go check out the lights in the Nashville, Smyrna area next year. They are all close together and do not take a lot of driving to go see them.

CRAZY ME- Car with no driver

I was stopped at a red light down in Franklin, Tn. and just happened to look back in my mirror. The car behind me had no one in the driver's seat.

Now is this my eyes playing a trick on me or are they really no one back there. It was at a large intersection and it took a while for the light to change. So I kept looking back and no one was there. I thought, have they passed out or are they sick and laying down. What will happen when this light changes.

Is the car going to roll and hit me in the backend and cause me to hit the car in front of me. All these things was going thru my mind as it was Christmas time and the traffic was bumper to bumper.

I just happened to glance out of my passenger mirror and low and behold there was a man sitting on that side of the car. I looked again and there he was. Now this was a older type Honda and just why was he sitting on the wrong side. I guess he must have got the car from someone who delivered mail. lol.

But boy it sure had me fooled for a spell. I thought for a time that there really are ghosts. lol.

SEND YOUR USED CHRISTMAS CARDS TO ST. JUDE'S

Don't know what to do with all the Christmas Cards that you receive each year. They are all so pretty that you hate to throw them in the garbage. Don't throw them away.
Instead send them to St. Jude's so the children can keep the fronts and put new backs on them and help with the sick children.
 They cannot except cards from Disney or Hallmark or American Greetings.

 Should be the size of 5 x 7 or smaller. They can take Birthday or any type of Card including Christmas cards. Here is the address to send them to:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street – Boulder City, NV 89005
877-977-SJRC (7572)

All types of greeting cards, including Christmas are used.
Only the card front can be used (please check to be sure the back side is clear of any writing, etc.)
They can not accept Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards.

CLEANING A SHOWER HEAD

If you are like me and always forgetting to clean the shower head then here is a quick tip to clean it. Take it off and get a ziplock bag and pour 1/2 cup warm white vinegar in it and put the shower head down in it making sure the holes are down in the vinegar. Let set for 1 hour. Rinse and then put back on. May need to take a brush and scrub it before putting back on. May also need some of the white plastic tape to make sure it don't leak.

CLEANING OUT THAT VACUUM CLEANER

Do you have a vacuum that just is not picking up good. Maybe it is time for a good brush cleanout. Make sure the vacuum is not pluged in. Don't be like me I forgot to unplug mine and about got my hand caught trying to pull all that hair out of it. No, we do not have no dog's in our home but just human hair and you would really be surprised at how much hair gets wound around a vac. brush. I just learned that a seam ripper is better than trying to use scissors to get all this junk out. If you have a up-right one, mine gets cloged up at the plastic neck. I take a wire hanger and bend it, the part where it hangs and make a hook and use this to get down in there and get stuff out of it. Just make sure you don't punch a hole in the plastic hose. If you have a vac. and the long hose is stuck tight I take a 1/2 inch pvc pipe and put a drill bit on the end of it and stick it down in my vac. That is where the good ole gray tape comes in handy. I tape the drill bit on real tight. You just take and twist the pipe around and it will catch some of the stuff on the bit and then you can pull it out. You can just use the 1/2 inch pvc pipe to reach all the way to the other end of it without the drill bit. Would not wont anyone to have a bit come off in the vac. and not be able to get it out.  I keep a pvc piece handy to use for this all the time. Nothing makes me more upset than to have a stopped up vac.

HOW TO DRIVE A NAIL AND NOT HIT YOUR FINGER

If you are like me and always have bigger fingers than the nail when trying to hang a picture. Take a comb and put the nail in the teeth of it. They have different size teeth so match up with the nail which everone that will hold the nail. Then you don't have to worry about hitting your finger when trying to drive it. Good for using when putting those small nails in the hanger for a picture or mirror or even on a wall.