GOT A MINUTE OR TWO

What better costume could I choose that "Cookie Lady".  I hung measuring spoons for earrings, a necklace of measuring cups, cookie cutters and measuring spoons. Added my cookie apron and topped it off with a cookie crown. The party at the Villa Clubhouse was fun for everyone and this  adorable little "Minnie Mouse" won first prize. A lot of the children came in costume and the little old man in the front row took 2nd prize.  Everyone was a winner as they all got really nice Gift bags full of goodies.  Pizza and cupcakes brought smiles too. Today we celebrate Matthew's 7th birthday with another Halloween Party...I'll go as "Cookie Lady" and my dearest is going as the "Lonely Ranger"....HaHa. Have a fun and safe Halloween.

How do you like your pomegranates?    I've always eaten them right out of the shell, or picked them out to put in salad but it's a messy process.   One of the residents here at the Villa said she loves them with lime and salt.  Gave it a try and wow, it was really good.   I think that's what a "Pomegranate Margarita" must taste like!! I looked up a YouTube on how re remove the seeds from a pomegranate and was surprised with the solution and the results. Fill a large bowl with cold water and after you have cut the pomegranate in half, break it apart under the water and the seeds float out very easy with a little prodding.  Then strain the seed out of the water.  It worked great.  I now have a large jar of seeds to use in recipes or salads. How do you use pomegranates?  Wonder if they work in scones or muffins??  

The theme for Creative Tuesday is "BLACK CATS".  With Halloween just around the corner, how timely! The Black Cat above, would scare me half to death if he met me in a dark alley and went HISSSS! Now I prefer this little black kitten sitting on a quilt with a bowl of yarn watching the birds out the window. It will be fun to see what all the other participants will do for "Black Cats".  Why don't you click on the CT badge see the for yourself.

To know our son Myk is to love him.  He is he family comedian and always keeps us laughing.   This time it was his new hat.   Those of you that know our son Myk know he is the owner and creator of a small business called "The Old Timer".  It's wooden rubberband guns, sling shots, and other toys like "Grandpa" used to make.  Individually made. The little boy in him still loves to play and his new hat couldn't be better for his "Cowboy" toys. His business has expanded to Knotts Berry Farm in So. CA and also ten large Buckee Stores in Texas along with smaller stores.  We are very proud of him.   He celebrated 50 this year, and his wife, Chelenne also had a October birthday, so we were celebrating both when we took these pictures.  My old man looks pretty good as a cowboy too, don't you think. Every family has it shares of trials and troubles, but days like this when those things can be put on hold ~~we can just laugh with Big hats...

When we were in Tahoe I sketched this in my art journal from a hanging on the wall at the cabin.    "We hope our ship comes in before the Dock Rots!" And this is the dock!! Please check out all the other Sunday Sketches by clicking on the Yellow Tree badge on my side bar.  Thanks Alexandra for a fun art challenge. Have a great Sunday.

When we were on our trip, our cousin, Lou had made these easy pumpkin cookies.  I had see the recipe on fb.  They turned out so good.  I added golden raisins and chopped pecans.  And of course, drizzle. 1 Box Betty Crocker Super Moist yellow cake mix (I used Pillsbury) 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 1 cup or one small can pumpkin (not the mix) 1/4 cup butter softened 1/2 cup raisins (optional) 1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecan or walnut) Mix well, drop by large tablespoons on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 for 11-14 minutes or until set and golden brown around the edges. Cool and add drizzle of desired. Remember the "Sharing Plate".  Well I decided to fill it with several fall goodies to pass on to my friend Linda on Sunday. What do you do if  you have ONE apple, and a little leftover pie crust?  Well you could eat the apple and put the pie crust in the freezer for later, or you could make an apple...

When we were at my cousins, he fixed a dish of fried okra and butternut squash. (some garlic, salt and pepper.)  It was so delicious and brought back memories of my mom's cooking. I had a package of the okra he had grown and given me in the freezer so today I made my own version.  I baked the butternut squash in the oven until tender, cooled and cut into cubes.  Dredged the okra in flour, salt, pepper and panko crumbs.  Cooked several slices of bacon and saved the drippings. Fried the okra in the hot bacon drippings, added the squash and bacon pieces.  When okra was nice and crisp and squash was heated through it was ready to put on the place next to a chicken breast that had been cooking in the crock pot all afternoon. It was a tasty dinner and a trip down memory lane.  What food takes you back to childhood?

Had the first Cooking Class today in the Clubhouse.  Banana Bread.  Wasn't sure in the morning how many would be able to come and since we were gone so long on our trip, there wasn't must time to advertise. Table all set and waiting to see who would show up.  We ended up with ten including me. We made 10 mini loaves so each could take on home. The pool made a nice backdrop for the class. We added chocolate chips to some, walnuts to others and left some plain.   But everyone wanted drizzle. Corina, the Manager's daughter made the second batch.  She is the one I've been mentoring in cooking in our apartment.   I made two loaves at home last night, so while we waited for the mini loaves to bake, we had Banana Bread and Coffee and a fellowship time. We had all ages, and one man.  You can see he has his hand raised.   He had several questions...HaHa. So life at the Villa continues to be interesting.  It ...

We got home and I had Women's Bible Study, and looked at the calendar and remembered we had scheduled my first "Cooking Class" at the Clubhouse for tomorrow morning.  Banana Bread is the topic of the day....with drizzle of course. We hadn't been home a hour when a group of children told me how much they missed me....*the cookies ~ haha)  So today I make a batch and hung out the sign. We had a visitor....I think he heard it was cookie day at #35. At the pumpkin patch on our way home, I found some very interesting gourds.  I thought of Betsy, when I began to see animals.   A yellow swan for Fall Bought a white pumpkin, and a dark green one to make soup and a few more gourds for color. My friend Karen gave me a "Sharing Plate".  You make some goodies and give them to someone on the plate and put your name on the back of the plate.  That person makes some goodies and passes them on to the next person, and adds their ...

We are home...."home sweet home".  It was a wonderful trip, pack full of visiting friends and family and then a week at Tahoe.  Some days the lake looked like glass. One day we had boats and white caps and a Triathlon.  The car is unpacked, the bed is changed with clean sheets, and ready to crawl into tonight.   No cooking tonight as our cousin sent home casserole, salad and cookies.   One night we had a spectacular sunset. Of course my little computer is home and working like a charm, but I'm still taking it to see why I can't connect to wifi in other places. When I get my pictures and head organized, I'll share some more of the trip.  For now, it's just good to be home. PS....Freddie was alive and well, but started swimming around very happy when he heard our voice. Have a wonderful Sunday.

I can't believe how stubborn a computer can be.  My dearest can get on the Internet everywhere we've stayed.  But my little Apple is giving me fits.  We went to an Apple Store in the mall in Rocklin and they said I needed an appointment and would probably have to leave it overnight...  Well we are heading on the last leg of our trip home tomorrow, so will just wait until we get home and make an appointment. Of course, like a toothache that stops when you get to the dentist, it will surely work like a charm at home.   But I do need to find out why it won't connect to other peoples wifi even though we enter all the right names and passwords. The trip has been absolutely wonderful.  On the way to Tahoe we were able to make two stops and visit fiends in Santa Barbara and Lompoc.  (friends we known for years)  Then a quick stop in Pismo Beach to drop off Molly at my cousins.  (Lucky dog) Then a week in God's magnificent ...

I received a email wondering if I was alive and well because I had not been on my blogs for days. We are at Lake Tahoe, and my computer is not cooperating with the wifi here.  Can't upload pictures either.  This message is from Don's computer. I am well, and when I could not get my computer working, I took it as a sign that I was to take a complete computer break for a couple weeks. When we get back I will have a ton of things to share.  For those of you that missed me....Thank you.  Love you all.