Ready for Spring......

Autumn.......

I can't believe how long it has been since I have posted anything. Since I lost Bella Kitty, and that was many months ago..... though it doesn't seem that long. I miss her dearly. On with Autumn, and the Holiday Season approaching very soon. Just around the corner actually. And, the cooler weather is very nice (except today, we are supposed to have a high of 70).

For Bella.......

A basket of flowers for my Bella girl. Sweet kitty, best friend of many, many, years.

accompanied by a beautiful poem that my brother sent to me via e-mail. Bella loved 

when he would stop in for a visit and enjoyed his company very much.

 

 

SHADOW'S SONG

I'm not gone...not really.

I haven't gone away...I've only gotten bigger.

My eyes, so bright, now shine among the stars.

 

My voice sings with the wind in winter, as I leap

And dance among the tree tops.

I stalk the blown leaves in autumn, and brush the

flowers gently in the spring.

I come to you in dreaming, on feet grown dreamtime soft,

And lay my cheek against yours, and whisper:

"Peace be with you."

Someday we will play again together, you and I, among the stars.

'Til then, fear not to love, for your love gave my life meaning.

And I return that love to you...a hundredfold...a thousandfold...

Forever.

Copyright © 1996 by Audrey E. Nickel

Reading now........

I really love this book, it is so enchanting to read about Queen Elizabeth II as young child, into pre-teen and young woman.

 

 

One suitcase, two suitcase, three suitcase, four............

"Over the river and through the woods (o.m.g. the pavement turned into a pot marked swamp!) treasure hunting we will go"!!....(shift into 4-Wheel drive). What a "great" day..... cabin fever dusted off and hopefully not to return for another year! Don't get me wrong.... I love to spend a cozy day or two at home after Christmas, but umpteen.... No Thanks.

 

Treasures were found on Saturday, finally. After searching high and low locally the mother load was struck!!! Eureka. Nothing like a nice "hual" of vintage goodies!!!

 

Fairy Lights..........

 

I have been "fascinated" with fairy lights lately.....

I have seen blogs that have taken pic's of them hanging in an archway,

over a bed, or  throughout the hallway.

 Strung outside, or in.... they are a great replacement

 for when the Holiday's are over and your

ambient light from the tree is no longer.



You've come a long way baby!!!!.................

 Those words could not be more true when it comes to the Winter Olympic Games!!!

One for money, two for the show, three to get ready, GO CAT GO.....

The Games of 1924, the very first Winter Olympiad.... Look at the Pioneer's that

blazed the trail....

Future Rockette's????? Loving the Olympics as much as I can watch this week and next. Still

loving all of the snow that we have had this season here in Ohio. I really am a fan and we were

jipped the last couple of years so I guess we are making up for the lack of.

Santa stop here...............!

So happy the Holiday Season is upon us..... I have had luck lately "catching" some of my favorite Christmas Specials on t.v. Tonight I will watch the lighting of the tree at Rockefeller Center and wish that I could some day ice skate there.

 

I am looking forward to holiday shopping, snow, a little hibernation at home after the Holiday, and the up coming 2014 Winter Olympics.... (love the ice skating, and snowboarding).

A day..... Away......

Oh how I have missed the Country. It felt so good just to get out of the city

for a day... Into the rolling hills and.....

yes, into the "fragrance" of country living. It was nice to see a pen chock

full of chicken's (love the different variety). Reminiscent of my

Granddads farm.

I Love Saddle Shoes.............

 

I'm in love with Saddle Shoes, and always have been since the 7th grade. My mother used to cringe....because anything she "had" to wear growing up, she did not want to wear again in the 70's!!!

 

 

On occasion I have ran across these little gems at thrift stores, but never my size. Either they are way too small or too big. Would I wear them out and about now???

 

 

 I don't know, however I do believe if they were comfy I would wear them around my apartment!!! (and I would be very fashionable while taking out the rubbish)

My new favorite for summer......

This has been "at least", a once or twice a week favorite of mine. I have been making lettuce wraps with ground turkey, seasoned with just 1/4 packet of taco seasoning mix. Leaving the rice out and replacing with any veggies left in the fridge. Perfect for summer, light and crisp.

Reading now........(and have watched on dvd)

 

Love this movie, best when re-visited 20 years later!!!

 

 

Looking forward to a reading a newly found author. Dorthea Benton Frank.

I am always ready for a "beach" author.

 

 

Reading now.... I never "tire" of Luanne Rice. 

Not so new concept, but ready to give it a try.......

Prepping lunch for the week ahead on Sunday evening..... Ready to give this a try since viewing an episode of America Now on T.V. late the other night. The concept is to get a plastic bin to keep in the refrigerator filled with various items that can be tossed into a lunch bag the night before.

Preparing little baggies of fruits and veggies ahead of time will make it much easier than the dread of doing this task every evening. I'm no stranger to cutting one whole bunch of celery into little sticks for the week, but the best tip was to get little containers and fill them ahead of time with peanut butter, salad dressing, or hummus. String cheese or cubes of brick cheese will be added along with individual containers of vanilla yogurt. 

I'm also a fan of olives, almond butter, cheese and crackers, granola, the possibilities are endless.

A must see........

Hillarious.....loved the cast, love Meryl Streep, who doesn't love Steve Martin? This movie is so funny with some unexpected suprises, (that cracked me up) from the ordinary. Now added to my collection that I will watch again, and again.

All I want for Christmas.....

All I want for Christmas this year, is some snow. Last year we only got a "smidge".... so sad. I found this cozy picture on the web last night and fell in love with it. So charming... I don't know where it was taken , but I have to say... I am just a little bit jealous! Christmas shopping in this town would be ideal.

Cuppa and a good book......

Dodie Smith has written a "gem". The young girl in this book is a very intriguing,and entertaining story teller. The book is about an extended family and how they triumph over hardships while living in part of a 300 year old Castle during the early to mid part of the 20th Century. I have noticed this is also out on DVD and may watch it after reading the book. I think the scenery would be enchanting.

Starbucks Cheese Danish with a Cuppa!!!! And, my $8.00 (not so thrifted in my opinion) bread box...that I would still rather see painted with a cute little glass knob someday. It has came in quite handy though. At first I placed the normal, bread, english muffins, etc. packaged in there and one day a light bulb went off!!! It is the purrrrrfect size to hold my many little cans of "fancy feast". So now, they have their own home and frankly, I actually use it and I'm in and out of it more often and isn't that the point!

Reading now.....

I am hoping to finish this book sometime this weekend. What a perfect day for a mystery!!! (rainy and damp, a little gray outside).  I found a new Author, Victoria Thompson and her "Murder on..... books are from a series that dubs a "Gaslight Mystery". Very good, fast reading and they all have two main characters, Detective Malloy and his side-kick Sarah whom is a Midwife. I admit that I have not had much time for reading lately, but slowly in the evening I try to fit one in here and there. After this, the next is "Murder on Lexington Avenue".

Mainstay's...............

I grew up watching Julia, and am a long, long, time fan of Jacques. So happy they paired up together. Many hours of enjoyable, cooking entertainment. I was ever so humbled the other night when watching an episode of Jacques latest season called "Essential Pepin". A series where each episode he has a theme and makes 3 to 4 different dishes from easy to elegant. What humbled me, was when he was making dishes using left over bread, and in the middle of the show he stated how his father would NEVER throw out a piece of bread. He touched his chest and said ( with a teeeeny bit of quiver in his face), that it hurts his heart to throw bread away. He continued to make some tasty little vegetable croquettes using left over bread. Bon Apatite and Happy Cooking.

The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they make the best of everthing they have.

Heirloom goodness....

It's surely tomato season....I was able to make two batches of "freezer pickles" this summer, and now have been turned onto making "freezer tomato sauce". I have enough of these freezer bags to last me through the winter. Such a good feeling knowing they are in the freezer to be taken out at anytime for chili, spaghetti, goulash, or casseroles. Made with a hint of onion ( not a fan, but I agree they add flavor ), celery and green pepper. I am really looking forward to the natural wholesomeness of fresh and not canned.