One of our little friends, actually we have several of these bushy friends that we enjoy watching. The best part is we do not need to feed them as our neighbor Dee takes care of that. They bring their nuts to our fence or deck and eat or bury them in my flower pots and garden.....laugh. They are so humerous though running the lattice railings and scampering across the deck.
I am on the top of the world today as it is another sunny day. It was gorgeous yesterday also. There is not a cloud to be seen. It is cold and clear. I like that. Everything had a thick coating of frost this morning. Now the sun has everything a sparkle.
I did not post yesterday as I had such a busy non-stop day. I was so tired last night.
I went on a shopping spree two grocery stores and Walmart and banking and picked up supplies for my husband. I did not get through putting all I purchased away until mid afternoon. I then still had other chores to do plus make dinner. I did find time to sit in my chair and put my nose in a book for a hour. This book is a hoot and I shall always keep it. The name of the book is "Big Stone Gap" by Adriana Trigiani. There is a review by Whoppi Goldberg on the back cover where she quips this is her favorite book of all time. I have to concur. It makes me laugh out loud in places and other places it hits home like a stone in my heart. The type of writing this woman puts out there is so true to how one actually feels when certain circumstances arrive in our lives. The story line is so well written with it's many crazy characters that the author brings to you bigger than life. Such a joy to read and I am almost finished with this superb book and that is not a good thing.
So what is going on in my kitchen today? Well very little actually. I made a delicious chicken pot pie from scratch last night. This is the third meal I made from the roasted chicken. See how far it goes? So tonight we will finish the pot pie with a green salad to the side. I am going to make lemon cookies however this afternoon if I feel in the mood.
I want to restock the travel trailer this afternoon with staples that I picked up yesterday. Also I need to work in the office and catch up on our business files and such. When my husband is busy I am busy in here. Also if it warms some this afternoon I am going to take a walk. I have not walked in the fog for it has been just brittle outdoors. So those are today's plans.
Either tomorrow afternoon or Sunday afternoon depending on when hubby has his half day we are going for a late lunch early dinner to the Steelhead Brewery. My husband loves their micro brews so I told him I would drive and forgo having anything alcoholic for lunch. The food at this brewery is quality and we both know all ready what we are having. Besides they also make yummy homemade root beer just like my mama did when I was a youngster. I remember her bottling it and it was such a tasty ice cold treat that we always looked forward to having.
As it is after nine AM I must get on with my day. I have much more energy when the sun is out it really does make a difference in ones mood.
Have a great day!
My mamma and me. I was a but a few days old. my mother was thirty years old when she birthed me. My older brother Jack was twelve when I was born. So he was a really big brother who got so annoyed with me, a pain he says now. If I was fussy Mother would have him rock my cradle. He said if he stopped when I went to sleep it woke me and I would start crying. Hmmm is there something wrong with the picture? Is it called spoiled?
So now you have an idea with these scanned photo's what is going to be showing up on this blog. I just cannot help myself, I love looking at the oldies and I love to remember as I do have quite an exceptional memory when it comes to the past. Of course now I cannot remember why I left the living room and went to the kitchen. However I have heard that doorways remove your memory.
I have come to the conclusion I am going to quit clipping recipes and filing them. My lord I would have to live to 200 years of age to make all the recipes I have collected. So enough.........unless of course something is really outstanding, laugh. It is time to par down when you get older not the other way around. I really must go through recipe tins and my cookbooks as well. I seem to cook quite a few of our favorites frequently.
I usually do try to include one new recipe a week. This week it will be dessert. I am not sure but I am wanting something in chocolate. So I will go through my clipped recipes and see what stands out.
Our potato chowder was very good. I call it chowder as it was thick with cheese and chopped baked potatoes and country sausage and onions. Of course the cheesy biscuits were divine. I actually had one for my breakfast cold. Even cold they melt in your mouth. I gave the recipe to my daughter, I wonder if she has made them yet. If not they are missing out.
Well I am putting off my grocery shopping for another day. I pulled my shoulder yesterday reaching deep into the back of a closet and lifting something heavy out. So now it is sore. So lifting grocery bags into the car would not do it good.
So I am going to rest it a day. I need to quit doing everything so fast. Seems I am always pulling a muscle or something anymore. I whiz through my housework like the white tornado. Time to slow down Zo at least a little.
So tonight it is chicken taco's as we had our yummy roasted chicken last night. We decided on Spanish rice instead of beans and rice for a side. The way I make this rice is so simple and tasty.
I cook my long grain rice with the same ratio for rice and water in the directions but instead of water put in a combo of three-quarters jarred salsa what ever heat level you prefer and a quarter chicken broth. I chop some sweet onion and add to that mixture. Cook as directed. Then take a small casserole dish and spray with cooking oil and spread the rice in the bottom till all is even. Then top with a generous portion of grated mexican blend cheese or grated cheddar or pepperjack and scatter a few sliced pickled jalapeno's over the top and finish off by sprinkling the top with paprika. Doing this makes it very pretty.
Now pop into in a 350 oven uncovered until cheese has melted. This is good and so simple. Tonight I will shred the chicken and put into a skillet with a little chicken broth, cumin, salt and pepper and a hot sauce of your choice and how much depends on the amount of heat you want. I like mild chicken as I put taco sauce on my taco's and hubby puts hot salsa on his. Then I fry corn shells till crispy and sprinkle with parmesan cheese this absorbs any extra grease.
So then we load our shells, chicken, cheese, onions, lettuce or cilantro or both and diced tomatoes, your salsa or taco sauce and finally a dab of sour cream. It is a mouthful but a tasty mouthful. Sometimes we add avocado slices.
Well as I am home today I am going to learn about Cover Oregon. My husbands insurance is going to be almost double what we are paying now. Makes me upset. So we will see if we can qualify for a tax credit at the end of the year off what we pay in health insurance. This is one thing I wish Obama would not have messed with. Yes it is great every american will have health insurance but a who's expense? Middle america of course. We struggle too and I do not like paying for others insurance. Not fair! So now we must scramble and shop for a cheaper insurance and hope for a tax credit. So I had better get to that task.
Have a nice Wednesday. We are in fog still. It never lifts! It is our gray winter blanket forever it seems. Truthfully I would be happy to see a patch work blanket, blue, yellow and gray would be nice for a change.
Here I am with my girl friend Betty Kimberling on the swing set at our farm.
Betty and I were best friends all through grade school and then she moved away to Drain in our seventh grade year. I so missed her and we wrote one another until I started high school and then we drifted apart. I believe I was ten in this photo. I know it was summer and I was brown as a berry as they say. I love this photo as reminds me of those carefree days of childhood and playing games, riding our huge horse, playing in the hay in the barn, just being a kid. I look happy because I was happy.
I feel so fortunate that I grew up in the times that I did. The kids of today have so much pressure it seems. So much homework it astounds me. When I went to grammar school we did our work at school. That was what school was for. The teacher gave us a lesson to do and we did it there. No big packs with books hanging on our backs like now days. If I recall the only time I took work home was when I had lessons to catch up on if I had fallen behind from missing school days. Of course once I started high school there was homework required but nothing like now. Usually you were done with your homework in less than a hour.
And summer was for carefree days. I did not have to be at this event and that, summer camps, soccer games(now they play at three years old). I stayed home as my Mother did not work out of the home until I was older. She stayed home and took care of her children and home. Summers gave me time to spend with grandparents and cousins there were picnic's and family gatherings. It was a time for long drives with my family or a vacation to the other side of the united states to visit my Mother's family on the east coast. It was a good childhood and one I so appreciate all these years later when I reflect back.
We are still in fog and will be for days it seems. It is dismal but I try not to let it get to me. That gray blanket spreads out above us daily. Yesterday afternoon it pulled back it's edges for a moment or two to reveal blue patches.
I will admit I am lazy today. Yes I am. Yesterday was such a busy day for me and I never accomplished what was needed in the house as I was tied up in the office playing catch up. My husband has been busy scheduling jobs and going on bids since we returned from Newport. So that creates much paper work for me to attend to. I had planned on going shopping today but had no time to make a list or make the weekly menu.
So I must attend to that today as well as house chores and finishing the laundry.
I will close now and get to my chores or they will never get done.
See ya.
This is a few photo's our fun getaway to Newport.From left clockwise, Zo standing on the dock with someone's sailing vessel, an awesome sailboat. Hubby strolling down the path by the Yaquina Bay bridge, our little nest in it's RV space with the full moon shining on, my husband strolling along the jetty trail to the ocean and Zo sitting in front of the trailer enjoying the sun and lastly a lone seagull watching over to the bay front at the end of the wooden walking pier
Now on to other subjects. As I was glancing at FB earlier one of my friends had posted yet another something about dogs that was over the top. There are photo's all over FB with dogs kissing their owners faces or worse yet their mouth. Pictures of dogs sleeping under the sheets with their owners and on and on. These are dogs imitating humans and they do a darn good job.
I had pets for the first forty years of my life, yes forty years I was never without a pet. That included dogs and cats both or one or the other. I was a good mommy to my pets but they never once sleep on or in my bed though the cats always tried to jump aboard but were tossed back off. I am not one to have pet hair and other items that may dislodge from furry friends in my bed sheets with me. I enjoy my clean sheets and bedding. No greasy stained bedspreads please. My dogs were not allowed on the furniture for that matter furniture is for people to sit on.
I also feel the country is where pets belong. I see no need for each household in the city to harbor one, two or three dogs. All of our neighbors have dogs. I see them a couple times a day walking their pets down the sidewalks or streets with their little plastic poop bag in their hand. I would not like to be a mommy that had to pick up my darling doggies poop two or three times a day and dispose of it. And worse yet is all those plastic bags winding up in the dump where it takes years and years for them to break down, that is just sad for the earth. Also I do not enjoy going on my walk and stepping into do-do because someone was not tending to the poop scooping task. We always we have dog poop in our yard, oh what fun when hubby mows the lawn and comes in with poop shoes.......not!
This is where I stand. A dog is a dog, a human is a human. We are not the same. Give a pooch an inch and they will take a mile. My dogs when in the house went directly to their blanket or bed and were not allowed to wander the house, under the table begging for scraps, wagging large tails about knocking objects off tables, or worse yet giving you kisses with their tongues on you face or mouth every time they came near. All I can say this dog worshiping has gotten out of hand. It goes well beyond being a good caregiver for your pet. My hubby and I have seen many times strollers with small doggies dressed in clothing with their little toys tucked in with them. These sights just blow me away! It is crazy! Are these folks insane?
Where we were camped at Newport in a splendid RV park there were bags right by the garbage bins for dog owners to use and then dispose of in the trash. Every RV that pulled in someone was immediately out the door with dogs on leashes heading for the bags. Most had two dogs a couple folks had three and some had one. Off they would go on the walk so the dogs could do their thing. Do you ever wonder how much poop is scooped in a day in America? How much waste in plastic bags goes in the refuse pits? How many turds are left on the ground to dissolve into the surface or be washed away into rivers, ponds, oceans causing contamination?
Folks take their pets to the vet, for vitamin care, to have their teeth brushed and cleaned and dental work done, to have their nails trimmed as well as medical care which cost a fortune anymore as the veterinary world knows they can play on your emotions when it comes to your pet. Then there all of the pet stores. Selling, clothing, toys, beds, blankets, movies and treats for dogs. Now there is doggie TV also. I am saying this whole craze is out of hand. I am thinking that it is better to be a dog than a human. At least that is the way it would appear if someone were looking at our earth from another planet. They would certainly think the dog was the top species on this planet.
In my estimation you are good dog owner if you give your pet attention and love and make sure it gets exercise. Take it for medical care when needed, give it a good diet(not people food) a warm place to sleep either a dog house shelter or a spot in your home that is designated for your pet to sleep. That's it folks there is no need for more.
Tonight in my kitchen a big fat chicken will be roasted in my oven on a bed of veggies. I like to put lemons inside my chicken when I roast it and I make a rub for the skin and do not cover it in the oven so the skin gets crispy. Tomorrow we will have chicken taco's with beans and rice and whatever chicken remains will be made into chicken salad for my husbands lunch. I love a plump juicy roasted chicken. There is just something so homey and comforting about it. Also it is a good meal to make if you are on a budget as it can be extended into other meals or will feed a number of folks.
I must now get on with my day there is much to do.
Have a good one.
Yes this was a very good pizza last night. All made from scratch. The dough was made with my mixer and the sauce made with last summers tomato sauce. Toppings were what I had in the fridge that would work. Mozzarella cheese, and shredded italian mix, chopped onions and pineapple tidbits then topped with thinly sliced pepperoni and canadian bacon. It was very yummy with the crispy crust the cheese a little to the brunt side(just as we like it) and the right amount of sauce not to overwhelm the ingredients.
It has taken four tries at this crust to get it perfect but now I have it down. There are notes all over my pizza crust recipe. It seems I have changed most of the original recipe found on line for dough made with my kitchenaid mixer.
Next time I will make two smaller crusts and hubby and I will create our own pizza's. I like a simple pizza, sauce, cheese and fresh basil. Hubby thinks he needs meat so we are different in that respect.
So I have found a way to get the photo's to the blog. Not as easy as before but at least it is working. So no more chatter about it from me. I promise.
My husband is off on a bid this morning and then picking up supplies for a new round of jobs.
I am finishing up the laundry I started yesterday and cleaning house. A typical Monday I suppose if there is anything typical in our household, don't think so.
The little munchkin trailer is spotless, I just need to restock a few things which I will pick up at the store tomorrow. It will be waiting for it's next trip and that cannot come soon enough for me.
I must now throw some clothes on and get on with my daily tasks.
Have a nice MLK day. A lot of folks will not work today in his remembrance. My daughter being one of the lucky ones working for the school district. She gets a lot of breaks with the holidays and furlough days it seems. Plus the summer off so I am thinking not a bad place to work and her benefits cannot be beat.
I am off now.
Here is a photo of the bridge in Newport taken at sunset from our RV spot. Quite a nice view indeed.
I managed to upload this photo through a back door so to speak. This is not the normal way of doing it however it worked but it is a hassle. I still do not know what to do to resolve my problem.
I have pizza dough raising and soon it will be baking in the oven with simple toppings and our good homemade pizza sauce. I thought it was a good day to make pizza with hubby being the couch spud today watching football.
The Seahawk/forty-niners game is on now and you see where I am at lol. I am not a NFL fan never have been. Just love the college football. Of course I would like Seattle to win as they are here in our vicinity but I really do not care.
I cleaned the trailer this afternoon it is easy to do as it is so small. I am dutiful when we camp and stay on top things as there is no room for clutter or mess. So it is not bad when we return home. Now it is ready and waiting for it's next little adventure.
In fact we already have that trip planned. Back to the coast but closer this next trip it is off to Florence again an hour away. We will spend the first night taking opportunity of a free-bee camping night in the Three Rivers Casino. Then it is off to the KOA campground.It is two blocks from the beach and it is such a lovely long wide beach. So we will take a small cooler for drinks and a pack with our snacks and a blanket and walk and settle into the dunes for the day. We have done this before and it is always fun. I take a book and enjoy just laying in the warm sand out of the wind and reading and sipping wine and munching on cheese and crackers or whatever. So we will spend three nights at the KOA. Hubby will work a few weeks now and then a break. I love having something to look forward to and buying that little munchkin trailer has put is back in a world we have missed.
The fog gets to me. Today was bitter cold. We woke to 32 degree's and it only got to 34 today. Too cold to walk or clean the sidewalk of debris or wash a rig or even step outdoors really. I made sure it was warm in the trailer before going out to clean.
Tomorrow my hubby has a bid and needs to go to the supply house etc. So I am staying home to clean house and catch up on laundry and make a list for things I need to pick up Tuesday. I must run to Trader's Joe's and then over to TJ Max home store. I am looking for dark sage green plush throw rugs for the trailer. And also a couple of rusty orange throw pillows. So I will go out an about and pick up a few groceries and go banking. I surely need to run my rig through the car wash. It is dreadful and the inside is no better. I always keep it very nice but this winter it has been so cold even in the garage I have neglected to keep it up.
I am off now to slice up my ingredients for the pizza.
Enjoy the game and whoever you are rooting for I hope they win!
Later.
We just returned from Newport. We were there six days. Went a day earlier than planned and then extended for two more days. We could not come back to the fog and cold. All days there were sun filled, bright blue skies and the ocean the color of the Mediterranean sea and the frothy waves were crisp white. It was warm into the sixties and yesterday was so mild and warm it truly felt like spring. We were in shirt sleeves and comfortably warm sitting outdoors in our camp chairs with a view of Yaquina Bay and the marina.
As we have the truck now to tour around in we were all over than that sweet beautiful coastal town. We loved Nye beach and went several times as well along the jetty road and south beach and also Agate beach. We strolled the Bay Front and bought fresh seafood and smoked salmon. We ate at Georgie's a restaurant in the Hallmark Inn on Elizabeth St. and overlooked the ocean while eating a seafood lunch.
We made two runs to the grocery stores for extra food items as I only packed food and wine for three days. What was I thinking? We usually always extend unless we have a job scheduled.
As we were fifty feet from the marina in Yaquina Bay we strolled the docks daily. There were lots of huge fishing boats, yachts and smaller pleasure craft. The large marina was basically full. We are attracted to boats and took our time exclaiming over this one and that. We walked a lot out on the long walking dock that stretches into the bay and across the way is the Bay Front. And of course we walked the beaches. So even though we did not particularly eat healthy and we consumed more wine than usual I doubt I gained weight as we were so mobile.
I so wish I could download photo's to this blog. I took probably fifty plus photo's. I will truly work on getting my photo's to publish on this blog even if I need to get a nerd to come take care of the problem. I am going to post a collage of photo's on FB soon.
We left at nine-thirty this morning under sunny skies and the drive home continued in the same manner until we left Pholomath and then the fog settled in thick, heavy and damp. Same when we pulled up in front of our house. Brrr cold 36 degree's and fog, fog, fog. So nasty.
I just came from helping hubby back the trailer into it's spot beside the garage. It is so frigid outdoors, my hands feel numb. I absolutely despise this freezing ugly fog and that is all the paper shows for the next six days. Bah-humbug! Well we can be thankful we were able to escape it for a few days.
