ODDS AND BODS AND HELLO SUNSHINE, ARE YOU ENJOYING YOUR COFFEE THIS FINE MORNING?

Good Morning and how are you today?

We are currently discussing if my coffee and I want to participate in this day.

Let’s go!

It’s safe to say, I am not the cat,  I am, however, the slow starter but here we are at the…

Dog stick library - He once was a wolf. Now he is a golden boy with a stick library.

…meeting up with a friend and that’s okay, he is still a wolf at heart. Just try and take that stick away from him later. You will have a wrestling match on your hands. 

Cute art of kids going off to school above and one below reminding me of the rainy days we have been having lately. In this picture a sweet kitty gets wrapped up in a warm scarf and taken to a loving home. Kitty will have a warm bed to sleep in that night.

Interesting words.

Kindred Word #30 - Brumous - English - adjective - Foggy, misty or wintry. 

Kindred word #20 - Psithurism - English - noun - The sound of

the wind whispering through the leaves.

Fun with Food!

And here is my imaginary house. 

Just kidding, here it is…

Sorry, I can’t help myself. Here it is… 

 Isn’t it a beauty? Beautiful at night too.

Back to a couple of recipes as I had not quite finished with food. A slow cooker Turkey Breast recipe…and once again I haven’t tried any of these recipes I share. It will be an adventure to me as well as to you. I will have a practice run before Thanksgiving.

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 the 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 F.  5. Optional: broil for 3 to 5 minutes to crisp up the skin

before serving.  6. Slice and serve with juices from the slow cooker.

For dessert.

Knott’s Berry Farm Cookies - “Thumbprint Cookies”, Buena Park, California.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, softened - 1/3 cup sugar - 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup bread flour OR all-purpose flour works just as well. Bread flour will just make

your cookies more chewy 1/4 cup raspberry jam or other jam to your liking.

Instructions:  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  2. Combine butter, sugar, almond 

extract and flour in mixer bowl.  3. Mix until well blended and forms a ball. (Mine

was kind of dry and crumbly, so I added about 2 tablespoons of milk.)   4. Roll into

3/4 inch balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  5. Make an indentation on top of

each cookie and fill with 1/2 teaspoon of jam.  6. Bake 9 minutes.  7. Let cool and enjoy.

A few wise words.

Let your smile change the world but don’t let the world 

change your smile. 

Be who you are and say how you feel, because those who mind don’t 

matter, and those who matter don’t mind - Theodore Seuss Geisel

For those who need one and for those who don’t think they do.

Here’s a hug for the day. Carry it with you wherever you go.

Sometimes we forget to thank the people who make our lives better just by

being in it, so…thank you!

and always remember

You are worthy and you are loved!

Thanks for visiting and have 

a wonderful day! 

Peace and...

(With thanks to Pinterest for today's inspiration.)

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 and a nod to 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. Added note: since putting the one below on here, I have read this version is more like Dolly’s soup. Whichever one is true, they both sound delicious. I have added the link for you to see the other. 

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 

Note: Add the 2 cups cheddar cheese at the end of the cooking time, while the 

soup is still hot enough for the cheese to blend nicely. 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 Tuesday, September 22nd.

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.)

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - ODDS AND BODS FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2026

Good Morning! Denise’s Morning Brew.

Well, I have never appeared in my PJ’s, but today, in that imagination I am so fond of talking about, here I am. I also seem more wide awake than usual. Truthfully, I am not a morning person, but my other sleepy kitten personality below tells all, little blabber mouth! No worries, I am deep in the forest miles from anywhere, with no fear of any looky-loos walking by or unexpected drop-ins. Just me, the squirrels and birds and maybe a friendly rabbit, fox, raccoon and must not forget the family of deer. I could have Bigfoot stop by for a cup of tea. He would be welcome too, everyone is welcome. Hey, it’s my imagination, and here's me, moving on! 

My mind says “Get up!” My body says “Nope!” 

This week’s imaginary home in the middle of the forest.

I truly believe that...

The whole forest is my garden, how lucky am I?

Cute photo and…

pretty art.

I love this and in my world the cub's mama is okay with the little girl babysitting her little one. Mama Bear is happily foraging for berries and will be home soon. 

The cat had a good night casting shadows but...

 later returned home to its human.

Do you feel like a coffee smoothie? I would like to try this. My dear husband would rather have a coffee milkshake. I can see his point. Do you have a favorite smoothie you would like to share, and what is your favorite ice cream? Being nosy and curious seems to be going hand-in-hand with this one today.

Coffee Smoothie: 1 banana - 3/4 cup brewed coffee - 1/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons honey

Fun with Food

For the little kiddos and the big Kiddos.

Teddy Bear Toast

It is still too hot to put the oven on. I have another slow cooker pork dish for us to try. I don’t make these recipes before I publish them on here. It is always a culinary adventure.

Slow-cooker Pork Tenderloin: 2 pounds pork tenderloin - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

 1 tablespoon yellow mustard - 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup - 2 tablespoons olive oil - 2 tablespoons diced dried onions - 1-1/ 2 teaspoons garlic salt or powder. Place pork tenderloin in the slow cooker. Mix all ingredients together and pour over tenderloin. Cook on low for 6 hours. 

Dump-and-Bake Meatball Casserole: you will need - 1 bag (32 ounces) frozen meatballs 

1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce - 3 cups water - 1 box (16 ounces) uncooked rotini pasta

2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese - 1 teaspoon dried oregano - 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions: 1. preheat to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Grease a 9 x 13

inch baking dish. 2. Add the frozen meatballs to the baking dish. 3. Pour the marinara sauce

and water evenly over the meatballs. 4. Sprinkle the uncooked pasta evenly over the top.

Do not stir. 5. Sprinkle with oregano and garlic powder. 6. Cover the dish tightly with

aluminum foil. 7. Bake for 45 minutes. 8. Remove foil, stir gently to ensure pasta is

tender. Sprinkle with shredded Mozzarella cheese. 9. Bake uncovered for an additional 

10 to 15 minutes, or until pasta is tender. 10. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. 

Bake time - covered: 45 minutes - uncovered: 10 to 15 minutes - total time: 55 to 60

minutes. Serves: 6 to 8 servings. Tips: for extra flavor, stir in a handful of chopped

parsley. Nutritional information (approximately per serving) - Calories: 520 

Protein: 25g - Carbohydrates: 56g - Fat: 20g - Saturated Fat: 9g - Fiber: 3g 

Sugar: 7g - Sodium: 950g

No dessert today. I’ll be good and eat some of this fruit. 

 

Wise Words for anyone who needs them.

Well, keep moving….you’re doing a great job….just keep going….No matter what

One day at a time….You’ve got this….Keep going

May you always dance to your own song and let the world see you as we do.

Life is busy for everyone. There will always be work, long

days, unexpected plans and a hundred things competing for

someone’s time. But the people who truly care never make

you feel like you’re another task on their list. They don’t always 

have hours to give, but they always find a moment to remind

you that you matter. Because real care isn’t about having more

free time, it’s about making sure the people you love never

have to wonder if they’ve been forgotten. 

It is time for me to get going and start my day. The cottontails let me know they will be visiting, and they are already on their way. 

Time to put the kettle on for a cuppa.

Let us have a cup of tea and talk about happy things. 

Thanks for stopping by.

I hope your day is full of blessings, and...

always remember you are loved 

because you deserve to be.

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