Good Morning!
“Some people wake up cheerful. I wake up…eventually.” and “My coffee said I could do
anything today. We both laughed.”
However you wake up, I wish you all a peaceful and very blessed day. Ours started early as we got our Covid Booster. We saw the same pharmacist as last time. Hardly felt a thing. Such a lovely young lady. So warm and friendly. We are all up to date now. Fall colors are still around.
Afterwards we grabbed a breakfast bagel from a place closer to this supermarket, and had our ‘this week’s car picnic’. We drove to a quieter spot in the parking lot to enjoy them - very good. You can see today’s 'doggy fix' with the pup sticking head out the window on the right of the picture below.
Halloween decorations are being taken down in the neighborhood…
but there are still a few.
Beautiful art to share…
and these, happy geese going for a walk…
and a beautiful owl.
Today I thought I would show you two paintings we have had for 40 plus years. I vividly remember the day I bought them. Gregg was on an eight-month deployment, and I visited my family for a few weeks while he was away. My sister and brother-in-law lived in a small village in Worcestershire, a few miles from the city of Worcester. My parents and I lived a couple of hundred miles south and every few weeks would visit. These trips began when I was in my late teens. Worcester was a favorite place to shop. Moving forward several years, to this visit when Gregg was away, my sister and I were walking down a familiar road past one of the many Tudor homes. I have always had a great interest looking at these old historical houses.
There were a lot of shops on the other side of the road, one of which sold art. In their window I noticed a watercolor of the same Tudor home (the one above). My sister and I stepped inside and were immediately greeted by the owner. When I asked about it, he took the painting out of the window and told me he was the artist. At the same time, the three geese - or the Three Graces as I called them from that day forth - were added to my other purchase. The artist mentioned his partner painted the geese. The Tudor house is in our dining room and The Three Graces are in another prominent place.
Anyhow, here is this week’s imaginary home…
plus the downstairs…
and the upstairs.
This would be an awesome gate to the secret garden in the back of the house.
Let’s walk through. Isn’t imagination a fun thing?
Now for something that will hopefully tickle your funny bone. I chuckled at the illustrations first.
I’m sorry, did I roll my eyes out loud? I want you to know
someone cares, not me but someone. In my defense I was left unsupervised.
Look, I’m not saying you’re old but if you were milk, I’d sniff you first.
I know right from wrong. Wrong is the first one. If ever you need a
slightly distracted, unsympathetic friend, I’m here for you. At times
I’m grateful that thoughts don’t actually appear in bubbles over our
heads. Don’t judge me. Hey, train wreck, this isn’t your station.
My quirky sense of humor chuckled at this one too.
“I’ve been dieting all year so people can admire my body this summer.”
“I haven’t. I like food way more than I like people.”
At any given time, the urge to sing “The Lion sleeps tonight” is just a whim away,
a whim away, a whim away, a whim away.
A few recipes.
Baked Cinnamon Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls: 13g protein per serving
220 calories per serving. Ingredients: 1 apple, chopped - 1 cup cottage cheese1 egg - 1 to 2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey - 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract - Pinch of salt - Optional:
nuts - raisins - granola for topping. Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Fahrenheit (175 degrees Centigrade). Lightly grease two small ramekins
(about 8 ounces each). 2. In a bowl combine cottage cheese, egg, maple syrup
(or honey), cinnamon, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. 3. Gently stir in the
chopped apple. 4. Divide the mixture between the ramekins. 5. Bake for 25 to
to 30 minutes, or until golden brown on the top. 6. Let cool for a few minutes.
Top with nuts, raisins or granola if desired and enjoy.
Classic Stuffed Mushrooms - creamy, savory and so irresistible!
Ingredients: 12 large button or cremini mushrooms, stems removed
4 ounces cream cheese, softened - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste: Optional - breadcrumbs for topping. How
to make them: Prep your oven - preheat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
(190 degrees Centigrade) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make the filling - in a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese,
grated Parmesan, salt and pepper. Mix until smooth and well blended.
Stuff the mushrooms - Using a spoon, generously fill the mushroom
caps with the creamy cheese mixture. Don’t be shy, pile it on! If you
want extra texture, sprinkle breadcrumbs on top. Bake to perfection -
Arrange the stuffed mushrooms on your prepared baking sheet and bake
for 15 to 20 minutes. You will know they are done when the mushrooms
are tender and the tops turn golden brown. Serve and savor: Let them
cool for just a minute or two, then serve them warm. Watch them disappear.
A slow-cooker recipe, a repeat of one I shared before but I loved the recipe card, so I hope you don’t mind if I share it again.
Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast: Ingredients - 1 (4 to 6 pound
turkey breast - 3 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
1 tablespoon garlic powder - 1 tablespoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika - 1 teaspoon dried thyme - salt and
pepper to taste - 1 cup chicken broth. Instructions: 1. Pat turkey
breast dry and rub with olive oil or butter. 2. Mix garlic
powder, onion powder, paprika, thyme, salt and pepper. Rub
all over the turkey. 3. Place turkey breast in slow cooker,
Pour chicken broth around (not on) the meat. 4. Cover and
cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or until internal temperature
reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 5. Optional: broil for 3 to 5
minutes to crisp up the skin before serving. 6. Slice and
serve juices from the slow cooker.
Dessert:
condensed milk - 1/2 cup lemon juice - 2 eggs - 1/4 cup melted
melted butter- 1/2 self-rising flour - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon - powdered sugar for dusting.
Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit /
180 degrees Celsius and grease a muffin tin. 2. In a bowl, whisk
together condensed milk, lemon juice, eggs, melted butter,
flour, vanilla and lemon zest until smooth. 3. Pour the
mixture evenly into the muffin tin. 4. Bake for 18 to 20
minutes until golden on top and set in the center. 5. Let cool,
then dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Words.
Inoubliable - something or someone that leaves a lasting emotional impact -
so powerful, moving or beautiful, that it stays etched in your memory.
imaginative in shaping or crafting something significant, like an artist,
thinker or innovator.
Ipseity - (English) - (noun) the quality of being oneself;
embracing our individuality - what makes us unique.
Wise words…
because we all need them at some
point in our lives.
“When someone asks me if my cup is half full or half empty, I tell them I am glad I have a cup.”
You Are Enough - When you look in the mirror, I hope you see gold. I hope you see bravery, courage
and strength. I hope you see an effortless glow that changes the lives of everyone it comes in
contact with. I hope you see you. I hope you know you are enough. More than pretty enough, and
more than smart enough and more than enough to stand confidently in who you are. No matter
the thoughts in your head, please know you are more than enough for me. You are more than
enough for them, and you are more than enough for the world. You are enough.
Time to wind this down but here’s another reminder to…
In the middle message reads Choose Joy Everyday. From top going clockwise, messages
read: Be kind to yourself - Stay positive - Believe in yourself - Take it one day at a time
Make today amazing - Never stop growing - You are enough - Think happy thoughts - Do
what you love - Good things take time - Enjoy the little things - Be grateful.
Thanks for visiting and
I hope your day is a great one.
(With thanks to Pinterest for today’s inspiration.)
