GOT A MINUTE OR TWO

  We said good bye this morning to our dear friends Sue and Dave and headed for our last stop before getting to Oregon and seeing Tristan.     The sky as we neared Yreka was just layers and layers of clouds.  My little camera can't begin to capture the beauty and awesomeness of the sky. You always know you are just a few miles away from Yreka when you see this cow and calf along side the road.  Thy are sculptured from scrap metal and look so real.  The cow has been there for years, but the calf is a new addition.  Wonder if the artist is working on a herd..HaHa. Tomorrow morning the last leg of the trip and will arrive at Jills in the afternoon.  It's been a great trip so far and looking forward to being to our destination tomorrow.

Today we visiting the Apple Hill Farms in Placerville, CA.  Our first taste of a Apple Donut.  You can tell by my dearest's face it was a wonderful experience.  They were still warm and melted in your mouth.   We ended up buying several to bring with us, and a pint of Apple Cider. Here are a couple for you to try.  You won't be disappointed.! We've had a great time with Dave and Sue.  She has been a dear blog friend for several years, and we have spent time with then in Rocklin each time we've traveled to OR to see Jill, Jaya and Tristan. Leaving in the morning for Yreka and one more stop before getting to Oregon and loving on Tristan.

When we get ready for a trip, there is a certain ritual we go through.  As soon as I put my suitcase on the bed to begin packing, Molly get's a little anxiety look on her face.   But as soon as I put her suitcase down, and put her bed by the door.  She a happy camper and takes a nap knowing she's going too. We haven't seen Tristan since Monique's wedding in June and can't wait to get to Oregon to see him walking and talking.  We will make a couple of stops on the way, and be there next week. Taking Don's lap top, and since I'm getting familiar with using it, will be posting some pictures of the trip.  Looking forward to being by the Ocean again.  

The theme for Creative Tuesday is "Apple".  A favorite fruit of almost everyone.  Apples growing on a tree, plump, crisp and ready to bite into. But there is another way to enjoy apples.  A pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a jar of applesauce.  You choose.  As for me and my house...we'll take the pie.  HaHa. To feast on apples, just click on the CT badge on my sidebar and see what all the other artists have shared.

One of Don's nephews lives in Sweden.  This week his daughter and her boyfriend, Johan, were in California to celebrate her 30th birthday.  Between to two of us we were able to pull off a SURPRISE Birthday Party with the family here in USA. We had it at our son's home and she was really surprised.  Mky lives walking distance to Knotts Berry Farm Amusement Park so that was where she thought she was going...and parking on a side street so they wouldn't have to pay for parking.  It worked and she was one surprised gal. We planned a full Mexican Dinner, since this is something they don't have in Sweden.  It was delicious and the fun of catching up with her life and sharing ours was great. Happy Birthday dear Kajsa.

  Friday evening we went to a street fair in Monrovia, a cute town near us.  The "kids" were all eating, so all I got was their cute little butts.   These little girls were sure having fun on the pony rides. This is the closest I've ever been to a SHARK.  Martha and I were brave to get a picture next to those teeth.   Bet you didn't know I can play a "Spanish Harp".   HaHa I can't but this delightful musician let me give it a try.  We added to his donation basket for the picture and fun. After roaming up and down the street seeing the vendors we decided on "Rudy's Mexican Food" cafe on the strip.  This was my combination plate and it wad delicious last night, the the leftovers were still good today. Suitcases in the trunk, and one more hug before leaving for the airport.  Special memories.

  Yes she can!  I've admired Martha's pie crust and pies for years on her blog, and today, I ask her to make an Apple Pie with me being the spectator.  I'm a visual learner and I wanted to see how she make her homemade crust and crimped the edges.  It was so fun, and the result....a grand Apple Pie for us enjoy with ice cream tonight.  What a win~win. This week has gone so fast.  Tomorrow morning we have to take Martha back to LAX for her trip back home.  She has one more stop so her vacation is not completely over. I will miss her.

  LAX TUESDAY MORNING ~ MEETING MARTHA FACE TO FACE.    I always knew I loved that face. Today my dearest was the driver and took us to a couple of Thrift Stores.  This was the best of the two, and we both found a few items, including some children's books. This one was a big disappointment ~ NO Air Conditioning *103 outside, and it felt that hot inside...Needless to say we didn't stay long enough to find anything. Then off to a A/C Mall and lunch at Red Robin.  This is the one our granddaughter manages, but it was her day off, so we missed her, but we didn't miss a great lunch.  Our attempt at a "selfie" didn't quite get it. This dear man was our driver, and enjoyed a Red Robin Special. Tomorrow we're on our own, as I plan to take Martha to see our old home, check out my favorite Thrift Store "Sun Thrift" and visit Elizabeth.  I know she will be delighted to meet Martha. What a joy to be with Martha and share our lives face...

The scones are out of the oven ~ drizzle on top and the count down till tomorrow when my dear blog friend Martha will fly from NY to CA.  We've been blog friends for years, and shared our laughs, tears, our ups and downs and now, we get to do it, face to face. The tree house is ready and I can't wait to make memories.  I had to laugh as Martha called it the "Sleepover of a Lifetime".  She right about that...I'm sure we'll have pictures to share and stories to tell. How many blog friends have you met in person.  This is only my second.

My dearest washed my car so I could make a Costco Run. Love getting fresh veggies and fruit. Sliced some of those fresh strawberries, and added a few little cinnamon rolls made from left over pie crust.  What a nice little treat. We were able to get a direct feed on the computer and watched our grandson, Kaleb's college football game back east.   As you can see Kaleb's team, the Panthers, won their game.   Back on the home front, I put the groceries away, got on my swimsuit, my book and heading for the pool.   I'm reading the newest book in the Mitford Series by Jan Karon.  Wonderful series if you haven't read any of them. I love it when I'm the only one at the pool.  I swim a while, get some sun and read, back in the pool ~ a few more laps, some more reading, one more dip in the pool and back home to take a shower and have a glass of ice tea.   The laptop is becoming more comfortable for me and I'm beginning to d...

Today, of all days 9/11 my computer crashed.  I'm using Don's laptop, but don't have any of my pictures stored here, so this is just a message to let you all know I won't be on the computer very much until we decide what we're going to do.  See if mine is fixable, or maybe I'll take the plunge and get a laptop and learn to use it.  Had my old "desk top" forever, and so maybe it's time for a change. Hope you all have a great weekend, and I'll be checking in on you.  Not as often as my dearest and I will be sharing a computer. HaHa.

Jill just sent me a couple new pictures of Tristan.  Sept. 12th he'll be 15 months.  Walking everywhere!!  He truly is amazing.  But then aren't all grandchildren?? I had to laugh out loud when I saw this one.  I see a comedian in our future. It also made me think of the little rhyme my dad taught me when I was a little girl, and I've passed on to our kids. "I'm sleepy, sleepy, sleepy And I want to go to bed. Had turkey for my dinner and 'lasses On my bread. My hands are sticky, sticky My face is dirty too ~ Here comes momma with a washrag Boo Hoo Hoo!!   A gift from above ~ grandchildren 

I didn't plan this Saturday Saga, but it was a first!  I wanted to make some Banana Muffins, and realized I didn't bring my muffin tins when we moved.  Must have given them to my daughter or sold them at the yard sale...but No muffin tins.  I needed some paper products from a well known store (I won't mention) but it starts with a "T".  I got to the store, got my cart and started filling it up.  Paper towel (hum ~ they seem higher than last trip) napkins, dishwasher packets, Swifters, (hum ~ these sure seem higher in price than I remember last time)  Oh yes, muffin tin ~ Yikes $18.99 ~ and nothing cheaper...Never!!  For the first time in my life ~ I retraced my steps and put everything back on the shelves, parked my empty cart at the door and left!!!  The security cameras, I'm sure wondered what I was doing. Stopped at Food-4-Less and got everything for 1/2 the price.  In fact the muffin tin was less than $4.00.  (my o...

It's very different decorating in a new place.  Same decorations but now I have to find different places to put them.  I now have my "Coffee Center" on the tea cart which Jill gave us.  Decided to use my pumpkin jar for the coffee container.  Used the coffee table for some of my favorite pumpkins, including my soup tureen.  Set the table with my fall dishes and my pumpkin pie dish. My mirror picks up some reflections of the dinning room.  I love my wooden Pilgrims that I found a couple of years ago in McCall, Idaho.  A Harvest Coffee candle sure gives out an inviting smell. Molly has some allergies to wheat and corn and most dog treats and biscuits have both.  I went on line and found a recipe for "Pumpkin" dog treats.  Made with canned pumpkin, cream of rice cereal and powder milk.  They are small and chewy.  She approves.  Now she taking a nap on the balcony.  Hope you have a great week.

  "This Old Barn" is the theme for Creative Tuesday.  I chose to give my watercolor impression of a photograph of a barn my friend, Martha from NY put her blog a long time ago.  I loved the picture and save it, and it was the perfect subject for this theme.   I love the softness of the watercolors in this one.  Gives me a feeling of joy and peace.   To see all the other "Old Barns" just click on the CT badge on my side bar.