ODDS AND BODS FOR 9-16-26 - STARTING OFF WITH AN OCEAN FEELING

Good Morning! How are you today?

I am starting off with an ocean feeling. I lived next to the sea for half of my married life, and also lived on the other side of the Atlantic a mile from the beaches from the time I was 15 years old, ten years before I met dear husband. I was always rock pool exploring and dipping my toes in the ocean. We moved inland when hubby retired from the navy in 1989 and he started his second career. In some ways it feels like yesterday, in others not so much. 

Here is pretty art for the kitty lovers. 

and one more.

Here is my imaginary home this week, which is still in the forest…

and here we are at the back with a lovely porch. Come on over and we can sit for a spell. Let’s wait for dark while we sip on a beverage and wait for the fireflies. 

I have been enjoying this planter box at the back of the cottage. I bet a very talented person could put this together, no problem, at least someone who knows one end of the screwdriver from another.

On my walk through that lovely forest, I have my very own bench to sit and take shelter when it rains. The trees are always welcoming. 

How about a recipe or two, starting off with something delicious to dip our bread?

Ingredients: 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil - 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard - 2 cloves garlic, minced - 1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried basil - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes - salt and pepper,

to taste - 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

(Optional) - 1 loaf of crusty bread, for dipping. 

Got any French Fries?

Much better birdie. It is a great recipe from our beloved Dolly Parton. I was delighted to come across this. Has anyone ever made it? I also love that it is another slow cooker/crockpot recipe. I will make this real soon. 

Dolly Parton’s Stampede Soup: 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of potato soup

1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes and green chilies - 1 can (15 ounces)

whole kernel corn - 1 pound ground beef - 2 cups milk - 2 cups shredded

Cheddar cheese. Directions: brown ground beef in a skillet and drain excess

grease. Dump beef, cream of potato soup, diced tomatoes, corn and milk 

into the slow cooker. Stir well to combine. Cover and cook on LOW 4 to 5 

hours, then mix in the cheddar cheese until melted. This would be great to

take along to a potluck.

Here is another recipe for the seafood lovers.

Baked White Fish with Panko Garlic Butter Crunch - Ingredients: 1.5 pounds 

white fish filets - 4 tablespoons butter - 4 cloves garlic, minced - 1.5 cups grated Parmesan 

cheese - salt and pepper to taste - fresh parsley, chopped - Lemon wedges for serving.

Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. (200 degrees C.)  2. Melt butter in a

small saucepan over medium high heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes,

Until fragrant. Remove from heat.  3. In a bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan 

cheese, salt and pepper. Stir in the garlic butter and mix well.  4. Place fish filets on a

lightly greased baking dish. Press the panko mixture evenly over the tops of the fish.

5. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and the topping 

is golden brown.  6. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges.

Our one and only dessert today is…

Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake Bars: 1 Strawberry Cake Mix (1 box)

1 unsalted Butter (1/2 cup, melted) - 1 Cream Cheese (16 ounces) - 1 Large Egg

1/2 cup Granulated Sugar - 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract - Fresh strawberries 

1/2 cup crushed golden Oreos (1/2 cup)  Instructions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 

Line a 9 x 13-inch dish with parchment paper. 2. Mix cake mix with melted butter 

and egg in a large bowl. 3. Press dough into the prepared baking pan.  4. Beat cream cheese 

and sugar for 1 minute in a separate bowl.  5. Spread cheesecake batter onto the strawberry 

crust.  6. Add strawberry pieces to the crust, pressing down slightly in.  7. Top with Oreo 

crumbs and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until set. Cool and Chill.

Hello, I am Denise and I am... 

Birdcrastinating: (verb) When you have a million things to do,

But stop everything just to watch birds, listen to their songs and

forget the world for a moment. 

I don’t think that’s an actual word, just someone with a good imagination and who knows, it might end up officially in the dictionary one day. There are a lot of us out there!

Must be nice! Ataraxia, a state of serene calm and freedom from worry. 

On the cup it says “Just breathe”.

Halcyon, calm, happy, peaceful moments in time. 

A little poetry. This one is appropriate considering that we are fast approaching the last day of Summer on September 21st.

Summer and Fall: Today it still is summer, tomorrow will

be Fall.I see the purple asters, I hear the Autumn call. I

feel the warm sun shining as a balmy south wind blows;

the goldenrod is waving, the bees are in the clover. I hear

a distant honking - the geese are flying over. The maple

leaves are golden; the pumpkins, round and yellow, the

apple cheeks are rosy, the pears are getting mellow. The

nuts are growing rounder, the cornstalks, brown and sear.

By twenty lovely tokens I know that Fall is near. Today I

still am barefoot - oh how I love it all. Nona Keen Duffy.

A few wise words.

There is beauty in the small things. 

And talking about small things …

Tkalla Creations - The Ant’s Secret - Small steps every

 day build great things. One, a tiny ant watched the big animals.

They were strong, fast, and mighty. But the ant knew it had

something too - a big heart and the power to never give up.

The ant worked hard every single day. It carried one leaf, then 

another, then another…it never stopped. One day the animals 

saw a beautiful nest the ant had built. They realized, great 

things come from small effort, every single day. The Lesson:

Little by little, you can achieve anything. “Don’t underestimate 

your small steps. They lead to s beautiful tomorrow.”

I thought this was cute. What do you think they are saying/thinking? She’s away with the fairies again?

Looks like a great place to be. It is magical and good for the soul, so they tell me.

And as we are at the end of today's Odds and Bods, time to send lots of hugs to someone special.  

You!

Have a great day my dear friends

and always remember you are loved.

(My thanks to Pinterest for today’s inspiration.)