What big hearts you all have. Thank you so much for your support and encouragement, through the “upset and mad people”. From now on when I get one of those emails, I’m coming back to this post and re-reading your sweet comments. I know that will take care of any cranky feelings that the email might start to foster in me. (And just to clarify – I totally understand “disappointed” and “sad” – and do feel free to vent that to me any time. It’s the mad and nasty that I’d prefer to avoid.)

Yesterday was WH’s birthday! Yay! We celebrated with take-out on the back porch – and it was a beautiful night, so that was fun. I can’t say that he took the day off to do something fun, but dinner was nice. He has been so supportive of the endeavors that I have gotten us into over the years (and, as he likes to point out, most of them have been my “fault” – although I think he means that in the nicest of ways. I think.) I couldn’t do any of this without him and am so lucky to have him here. (Thanks, Honey!) He will love seeing himself in an apron. This is probably the only time I’ve ever seen him in an apron, and we’ve been married for 23 years! But it’s a cute picture of him and his mom, and she gets credit on his birthday, too. (Thanks, Mumbee!)

College Guy comes home tonight – woohoo! I think he’s mostly coming home to see Zoe, but I’m pretending that he wants to see us, too. I did promise him I would keep him out of the Loopy room and he could just relax and enjoy the weekend without any work. (I want him to come back, you know?) So we’ll have a great weekend.

Here’s a quick and easy “throw it in the crockpot and knit your afternoon away” recipe for you. The only drawback is that it smells way too good cooking away during the day, and your stomach will rumble with hunger. But that’s a small price to pay, I’m thinkin’.

Italian Shredded Beef

3 lb. rump roast
2 pcks. Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
1 pck. brown gravy mix
1 cup water
BBQ sauce (optional)

Put 1 package Good Seasons mix, gravy mix, and water in crockpot. Add roast.

Cook on low for 8 hours or longer.

Remove meat from cooker and shred (I use 2 forks to pull the meat apart.) Return meat to cooker and add second package of Good Seasons, plus barbeque sauce, if desired. Cook another 1/2 hour. Serves 8-10. Great with Frito-Pea Salad!

Have a wonderful weekend – and thank you again for all of the Loopy love. We love you right back.

Sheri Iamtotallygrossedout-Zoejustcaughtandateaflyrightinfrontofme.FPS.