NEXT ODDS AND BODS - WITH A LITTLE AROUND AND ABOUT AND A BIT OF A RAMBLE

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.”

Groan if needed…or roar…

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 cheese

1 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:

Baby lemon impossible pies: Ingredients - 1 can sweetened 

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.

Demiurgic - someone or something that is highly creative, powerful or

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.”

“What is the true sign of strength?” Said the boy. “Gentleness” said the horse.

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.)

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - ONE DAY LATE - SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD BATH/FEEDER - TWO FINCHES DECIDING WHO IS STAYING AND WHO IS GOING.

 I'm afraid they weren't feeling very chatty this day, just a lot of bird noise and feather flapping, so I am guessing what they said. Sister finch wanted to have her turn in the bird bath. Brother finch said he wasn't getting out and kept it all to himself. Tsk!

He had been getting cold in the shade...

and decided to take an early bath. The water had been warmed by the sun, and he was finely getting nice and toasty.

Sister finch arrived but he tricked her and left for a minute or two to get his special shampoo. Just as she was about to take her dip, he brushed her aside and jumped in. She waited and waited and waited, eventually saying he was taking too long and now it was her turn. She had a date with a very charming young finch that night and she wanted to look pretty.

Brother finch said, "Nuh-uh, I don't think so." She tried to pull him out with her beak.

That didn't work. 

She got tired of waiting and he continued with his bath, but she reminded him to take the leaves out before he left and to hurry up, time was ticking.

When she returned, she noticed brother finch had not removed the biggest leaf. Did you know sister finches can roll their eyes up to the ceiling? I actually saw her do it! “Typical”, sister finch said, so she decided to use the leaf as a luffa and exfoliated her feathers (say that ten times fast). 

Good for you sister finch, you took the high road and made the best of it, but she would ask father finch to give her brother a talking to. She had four other sister finches and none of them were going to put up with his shenanigans. Father finch agreed, as after all, he wanted peace in the tree tops all night long, so the sister finches could happily sing their songs. Now where did he hear that before?

And that's how it goes on this Saturday Morning at the Bird Bath/Feeder.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a 

have a wonderful day happily singing your own songs.

🎵 🎶 🎵 🎶 🎵 

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD BATH/FEEDER - WHO’S A PRETTY BIRD.

 

That’s how it’s going on a

Saturday Morning at the Birdbath and…

thanks for putting up with these two while they are having their diva moment. 

Have a great weekend!

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER / BIRD BATH - ESME’S VISIT

It wasn't long before Esme disappeared into the distant blue of the sky. They noticed that a flock of three dozen geese appeared, honking their way south. Esme veered off on a slight detour, but still flying in that general direction. 

I came across the name Esme and thought it a very pretty name, a good fit for our little witch. I also found the following information. 

The name Esme (also spelled Esmé or Esmée) means "loved" or "esteemed.

Origin and History

French Origin: it derives from the past participle of the Old French verb 'esmer', meaning "to esteem" or "to love," traced back to the Latin word 'aestimare'.

Historical Usage: originally a masculine name - popularized in the 16th century by Esmé Stewart, 1st Duke of Lennox - it transitioned over time into a predominantly feminine name.

Alternative roots: it can also function as a short form of Esmeralda, a Spanish and Portuguese name meaning "emerald", or connect to the Persian word "esma" ("beloved").

This part is for our overseas friends to translate photos using my translation widget on the sidebar.

Photo 1:

House Finch on the right: "Hello, who are you? You are a lot friendlier looking than the other witches I have seen."

Photo 2: 

"Hello, my name is Esme. I am flying south to visit with my family. I am resting here."

Photo 3:

Finch on the left: "Flying south? Shouldn't you be traveling with the geese?

Esme: "Good heavens no! Have you heard the noise they make? I'd never get a moment's peace."

Photo 4:

House Finch on the left: "Where's your broomstick?"

Esme: "I parked it behind the bushes over there. I didn't want to frighten your neighbors."

Photo 5:

Esme: "Well my Lovelies, if I am to be with my family for Halloween, I must go now. It was very nice meeting you both."

Photo 6:

House Finch on the left: "That was a nice visit. 'She of the House' will be miffed she missed meeting Esme. I wonder if she has her own broomstick?"

House Finch on the right: "It's probably parked behind the other bush."

She of the House out of sight: "I heard that!"

House finch signature says: "And that's how it goes on a Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder. Thanks for flying in and wishing you all a great weekend. Hugs from Denise"

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - I CAN TRULY RELATE

The Red-bellied Woodpecker says, "It's windy today."

The male House Finch says, "No it's not, it's Thursday."

The Blue Jay says, "I am thirsty too. Let's have a cup of tea."

Having this kind of conversation with my dear other half on a few occasions, okay, maybe several, we have every sympathy with the hard-hearing birds. I can no longer say, "You need to enunciate", to which the reply is, “You need to go get your ears checked” (conversation not to be taken seriously - it's a running joke with us) and yes, the writing is on the wall, so to speak. I just showed this to my dear other half, and he actually laughed out loud. And then he said, "That's us!" I hope this bit of whimsy gives you a smile.

That’s how it goes at this week’s Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder. 

I hope everything is well in your part of the world.

Have a great weekend and 

thanks for flying in.