I have had a wonderful few days with my precious friend Susan who came down from Big D for a visit. We have eaten a lot, laughed a lot and talked about old times. We checked out all the art stuff, loved the Estelle Stair where Lisa has done a wonderful job restoring the old building and art gallery. Love her paintings and she is such fun to talk to. We also discovered a great bead store and Susan helped me make a beautiful bracelet (at least I think it's beautiful). I'll post a photo so you can see. I LOVE it!

Feeling Creative

I have been thinking a lot lately about old friends and shared memories. I fondly remember a dear friend who was very "crafty". She always had some cute thing in the works, from knitting to crochet. I remember how much I loved to watch her making granny squares. The bright colors spoke to my gypsy heart. They also reminded me of a era I loved......hippie clothes, good music, love beads and lava lamps (the free love and drugs I could do without). I never dressed that way but always wanted to.  Now they call it boho and it is the rage among young Hollywood. Now that I am an old lady I think I shall grow my hair out long, wear feathers in it and be the (drug free) hippie I always wanted to be. You know us old folks can get away with anything. People just say "look at that poor old thing." Not many good things come with old age but at least you can do whatever the heck you want to do! Right now I want to make more granny's!

A Sad Day For Me.....

I am near tears. I had to watch my hubby take down two huge Ficus trees.....that's right.......the kind you grow in the house, that were killed by the freeze we had here. These beautiful things were right out side the bedroom windows. They were about 30 feet tall and about 4 foot around, with multi trunks. I loved looking out at them every morning and the doves and other birds perched in them too. The birds were my alarm clock. About 7a.m. they would get started cooing and chirping. I will miss their sweet sound so much. I have had the blinds closed all day.....I can't stand to see the poor stumps that are left.

Bounty From Our Garden

Even with all this DRY, DRY weather we are getting green beans, corn and yellow squash from our garden. Don't know how much longer it will last even with hubby watering it when he can. With the water prices here these are some pricey veggies, but SOOOO worth it. The tomatoes are looking good too. I also have a patio tomato in a pot on our deck, along with my herbs, and YEAH......I just picked three beautiful red maters! Thought I would give you a look at what I have been putting in the freezer and also a really good recipe for Squash Casserole. Enjoy!

Squash Stuffing Casserole

6 cups sliced yellow squash, cooked
1 small onion diced
1 can (10-3/4 oz.) cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
8 oz. can of chopped green chilies
1 (6 oz.) pkg. Stovetop stuffimg mix
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Mix well and bake uncovered, in a shallow greased 2 quart baking dish, for about 30 minutes.

Hope you enjoy this easy, tasty dish as much as we did!

Tonights Dinner.......Yummy

Hey.....I just made the BEST chicken!!!!! Here is what you do

Cut your chicken in half (or in pieces, what ever you like, I like it in half). Rub with salt and pepper. Brown in a little oil in your cast iron skillet (hope you have your Mama's like I do). Drain off fat, put back in cast iron skillet and bake for about 45 min to 1 hour, uncovered,  depending how it's cut. Needs to be at 165 on your meat thermometer. When it's almost done make the baste by doing the following:

3 tablespoons butter melted in saucepan and add the following:

2 tablespoons grated onion
2 cloves garlic, grated
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon stone ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce ( I used 1/2 teaspoon of Louisiana Red Hot Sauce)
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

Cook for about 5 or 6 minutes then spread on chicken. Cook about 20 more minutes or until 165 on your thermometer. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. YUMMY!!!

Moon Ilusion

What a beautiful sight! The "super perigee" moon tonight is the largest in 20 years. It is 15 to 30% larger than normal. It's known as the "moon illusion". It appears so large because it's at the "perigee" point in it's orbit around the earth, the closest point in the orbits ellipses. It will be a long time before it happens again. I tried in vein to get some good photos but no luck. Will post what I got anyway. Moon photos are HARD!

Butterflies, Hummingbirds and Bees

The mountain laurel is in full bloom and boy do the butterflies, bees and hummingbirds love it! The beautiful purple color and sweet smell is wonderful. I enjoy sitting on the deck with my cup of coffee (in my Elvis mug ya know) watching them suck up the tasty nectar. When you were a kid did you ever pull the stamen out of a honeysuckle bloom and suck on it? I wonder if the hummers, butterflies and bees find the taste as sweet as we did........

Spring Fever

Now that the cold weather has left South Texas (for good I hope) I find myself daydreaming of spring, my favorite time of the year. I'm wishing for the Hill Country and the wonderful display of wild flowers. My dear friend Martha and I try to meet there for a "photo shoot" and just plain fun at least once a year. I was looking at my photos this afternoon and thought I would share some with you all. Most of them are made in and around Fredericksburg. Maybe you will look at these and get "spring fever" too.

What's For Dinner?

Finally able to walk without my crutches! Foot almost well. What a great feeling to be able to get back in my kitchen. I have a big chicken cooking in the oven, potatoes baking and zucchini, onion, red peppers and mushrooms tossed with olive oil and spices baking too. And for dessert.............

the rest of my Valentines cake the kids brought (I know....sugar, sugar sugar but to good to resist).  Sounds yummy to me.......

Fancy New Printer------and they said it would be easy!

Hey! I am so excited! I have a new eprinter. Sat down to get it all installed today. I was so excited to know I would soon be able to print from my wonderful iPad (if you don't have one yet get one....it's great). The set up went well, hooked up to my wireless network with ease and printed from the iPad and my Windows laptop without a hitch. Will NOT work with my 8 year old Mac desktop which is where I get my wireless connect. Apple says I need to upgrade to a higher OS system or get a new computer. Now I have to decide if I want to spend the money for an iMac or just get a Windows desktop for half the price......BUT IT WOULDN'T BE MAC!!!! If it's not one thing it's another........

Sea Turtle Rescue

The cold here in Texas has been hard on our sea life. More than 400 endangered green sea turtles have been rescued from the cold waters. They will be released to warmer waters offshore. We are so thankful for all the wonderful people trying to save these beautiful creatures.

My Yummy WW Breakfast

Just had to share my favorite Weight Watcher breakfast,,,,,,,,two fat free whole wheat waffles, 1/4 cup fat free ricotta cheese, some fresh blackberries, a little cinnamon and 1/8 cup sugar free maple flavored syrup. Yummy good and only 4.5 points. It's a struggle but I'm hanging in!

Salsa time

Today would be a good day to make my yummy salsa. If only I wasn't to lazy to get dressed in warm clothes and venture out to the store. It's much easier to stay under my quilt with a cup of tea and a good book. Our little island store was just remodeled (it was much needed) and the produce section is so nice. Lot's of new stuff to pick from.

Winter is here

Well, winter has finally made it's way south. I know our "Winter Texans" must be laughing at us but it's COLD here! My poor fruit and palm trees are looking sad. Hope the ice doesn't kill them.