However, they could not resist bringing a little something to the celebration. As soon as I tore the paper away, I had tears in my eyes. This, for me, is really a perfect reminder of a love that has been with me for all of my days -
Sunday, December 29, 2013
However, they could not resist bringing a little something to the celebration. As soon as I tore the paper away, I had tears in my eyes. This, for me, is really a perfect reminder of a love that has been with me for all of my days -
Thursday, December 26, 2013
I wish I could remember each and every little step in the candy making process. There was a fudge/nougat that was made and formed into logs. Then sheets of a buttery caramel were made. When the caramel was cooled, the sheets were cut to the proper size for the logs. We then buttered our hands and covered the logs in those thick caramel sheets before covering the caramel with the best pecan halves from the shipment. The rolls were then wrapped in waxed paper and ready for giving as gifts. It was fun, smelled wonderful and was VERY hard for a little girl to not sneak a taste every now and again during the process.
Those days are now long gone, Mrs. Neff and her parents are reunited in heaven. I think of them often and miss them every day. I'm lucky to have those memories. Luckier still to have Hubby who listens to my stories and for more than 30 years now has made sure that Santa tucks a pecan roll into my stocking when I wake up on Christmas morning.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Christmas Baking
Cookies just taste better when I use Mom's utensils (measuring spoons and cookie sheets) Makes it feel like she's in the kitchen with me.
Friday, December 13, 2013
Tuesday, December 03, 2013
Decking the halls
I am SO thrilled to be putting up Christmas decorations. Circumstances last year made it that we only pulled out a couple of holiday quilts that happened to be handy. Going through the boxes of decorations is like visiting with old friends. This tree is in our bedroom. All of the ornaments are animals including special ones that represent each of our pets. Hoping to find the tree topper in the next box. Fa la la la la la la la!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
The time is: NOW!
In the last year, I have been asking myself, "If not now, when?" Our life here is fleeting, so it is a good question to ask. Since I was a girl, I thought it would be fun to be 'the house' that passes out full-sized candy bars to trick-or-treaters. Happy Halloween everyone. Only take treats, no tricks.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Monday, October 14, 2013
Maple vinegar, ever heard of it? I had not. Even with the great popularity in the last few years, balsamic vinegar is not a flavor I clamor after. But I've given up creamy dressings like blue cheese and ranch to make way for healthier vinaigrettes.
I stumbled on the maple vinegar by accident just a couple of weeks ago. You can see from the photo how much I have enjoyed using it.
My new, go to dressing that adds the flavor of fall to a green salad or a quinoa salad is equal parts good olive oil, maple syrup and maple vinegar. Bon appetite!
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Last November, Hubby was released from the hospital on Thanksgiving day. By the time we got home and got settled there was no time or energy left for getting a turkey dinner with the trimmings on the table. I punted with a few Thanksgiving-like items that we had on hand. We enjoyed brown rice, roasted butternut squash, cranberry sauce and we were THANKFUL for so many things. It has become a favorite meal, making several appearances in the months following.
Now fall is upon us and the time seems right to bring it back. A year ago I would have never believed the 'Convenience-Food-Eating-Little-Girl' in me would ever be ready to let go of the canned, jelly cranberry sauce that I love SO much. But I am.
I stopped at the grocery store today and picked up a bag of fresh cranberries and this is what happened next . . . .
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Using some 'sign language', he let me know his intention. I let him know I understood and handed my camera phone to Hubby as a back up....in case I had a problem working one totally foreign to me. The fireworks started going off, he got on one knee. She was a little confused, but quickly caught on and said, 'Yes,' through her smiles and tears. Everyone around us *cheered* The fireworks ended, I handed his camera back, offered congratulations, and we all disbursed into the crowd. This must be what being part of a flash mob feels like.
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Monday, September 30, 2013
With that out in the open, let me tell you about a unique Etsy shop that you might just want to check out. One of the Quilt Pals has been making these bird houses that she consigns and now also sells on Etsy with the proceeds going to an organization that rescues, fosters, and finds loving forever homes for animals in need. From her bio:
She makes these one-of-a-kind bird houses using bits and bobs of things that most folks would consider trash. Several of the Quilt Pals regularly bring her rusty crusty castoffs, knowing she will not only receive them with great delight but turn them into something fun and useful. I keep (and really do need to turn over to her SOON) a box in the of scrap hardware in the garage.
I know they are great because I am the proud owner of one! |
So go visit her shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/BirdHouses4theDogs?ref=search_shop_redirect
buy a little something and tell her Libby sent you!
Thursday, September 26, 2013
I don't remember much about my day at the rodeo, but I've never forgotten just how very badly I wanted those cowboy boots. The good news is that my feet grew and grew. They didn't stop until they reached a very healthy and non-deformed size 11 (which for most of my teens and 20's was a VERY difficult size to find).
Today my longing ended, at the ripe old age of 53, I am sporting my very first pair of cowboy boots. Just so Mom wouldn't worry too much (or maybe she was guiding my purchase from heaven) I chose a style with a slightly rounded toe. They are everything I have dreamed they would be!
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Today I had an epic FAIL in preparing dinner. My plan had been to make a mushroom barley risotto from the AHA cookbook. I planned to use broccoli instead of asparagus because that's what I had on hand. I've made the recipe before, with success. Today that barley was just NOT absorbing the stock. That's when I discovered I had used wheatberries instead of barley *ooops* So I turned the whole thing into a wheatberry/mushroom/broccoli soup. Please tell me this is how the great chefs come up with their recipes.
Also on hand I had some grapefruit gifted from a friend's tree. Enter the Eat Clean Cookbook and a citrus salad recipe.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Monday, September 09, 2013
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
If you have been a reader of my blog for any amount of time, you well know that I LOVE Disneyland. Hubby and I have had annual passes for nearly 15 years. We use them regularly and we use them often. Beyond rides, there is an abundance of live entertainment to be enjoyed not to mention good, old-fashioned people watching. Earlier this month, did something we have never tried before and took a guided tour.
Sunday, August 04, 2013
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Hubby and I took the Amtrak train north to Paso Robles, CA in hopes of a little R&R and to fulfill a long held 'bucket list' item for me to ride the train over Cuesta Grade. There are series of tunnels that the train travels through. As a little girl, I was awed by the long long freight trains that worked their way over the grade stretched out so far that the cars were going through multiple tunnels all at the same time. I would think, 'Someday, I'm going to ride a train up there to see what that is like.' Sadly, that 'someday' may never come.
Our original train was on time leaving the station. We changed trains in Los Angeles and that train was just over an hour late leaving the depot. About an hour into the trip, the unthinkable happened - our train hit a pedestrian! A teenager who was walking too close to the track and did not respond to the warning horns. Luck was on his/her side though and the accident was not a fatality. (We found a newspaper article that stated the victim was still hospitalized in serious condition) But the accident further delayed our journey by more than an hour an a half making it impossible for us to stay on the train to Paso Robles.
You see we had planned on renting a car to then drive to a neighboring city for our accommodations, but the late arrival meant that we could not get their before (or anywhere near) closing of the rental office. Instead we just hopped off in the city we were staying in and made arrangements to pick up a car in that city the next day.
No worries - the chance to ride over that grade would still be possible on the return trip. I did get a couple of nice photos of coastline that are only seen via the train.