Bedtime

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Mr and Mrs Bluebird are snuggled down for the night!

This is what came to my mind when Mr. Toast announced

that the Creative Tuesday theme was "bedtime".

I used regular and metallic colored pencils

on black construction paper.

Looks like Mr. Moon is sleepy, too!

Get out your crayons and come join our little

co-op! It's fun! We only meet twice a month

and there are even quarterly prizes!

Click here to go to Mr. Toast's blog.

The new header is in honor

of bedtime, too! :)

♥

How To Eat Your Chips...

...Spencer Style.

Pour chips onto counter.

Divide in neat little stacks.

Eat crumbs first.

Continue on to the row of little stacks. Stuff each stack in your mouth to get maximum crunch! Let mom know when you've had enough of the camera!

♥

Hidden In Plain Sight

Bacon Wrapped Asparagus

We have a new favorite way to eat asparagus at our house.

I originally saw this recipe at Anna's blog.

I adapted it just a bit and we've been enjoying it

ever since. And it's very easy...

Wrap 5-6 stalks of fresh asparagus in thin sliced bacon.

Lay on foil covered jelly roll pan. Generously

drizzle with paste made from equal parts soy sauce

and brown sugar. Drizzle tips with olive oil.

Sprinkle with kosher salt.

Bake 375 for 30-40 minutes until spears are tender-crisp

and bacon is done.

Enjoy. I had seconds. Mmmm.

♥

Guess What?

Isn't this just the sweetest lil' bird?

He came in the mail and was such a welcome gift!

You know how much I love birds!

Doesn't he look beautiful on my desk?

Remember Mr. Toast's 2nd Annual Christmas Tea?

Well, I was the lucky winner of the prize drawing!

Mr. Toast's gifts are known for their lovely British goodies and extra special touches since he customizes each box to fit the recipient! Aww...I love that! Just look at all the goodies that came this week! I finally got to taste Yorkshire Tea and those famous Digestives! And I enjoyed them just like I was instructed... dunking the biscuits in the tea before eating. Yum! Not to mention an authentic Christmas pudding, 2 beautiful checked dish towels, a three volume journal and sketch set, scented pear-shaped candles, and... ... a Yorkie, "It's Not For Girls" Candy Bar! Hm. I guess he thought this chocolate-loving repo girl could handle it? lol. And yes I could, thank you very much! This British chocolate bar has an interesting history that deserves it's own post. I'll share the story so watch for it here in the near future!

Um...and did I mention that I love the bird?

Thanks so much, Mr. Toast! Your Christmas Tea was delightful and I feel so honored that I got to receive one of your famous prize boxes!

xo

♥

*****

And speaking of Mr. Toast...he has just announced the launching of a new adventure which involves the opportunity to buy some of his art and adorable drawings. Click HERE to visit his blog!

♥♥♥

A Skunk and Raccoon Mirage

I took a quick glance outside my kitchen window today at the

sleet and rain. I thought I saw a couple of animals taking shelter

under the neighbor's car. A skunk and a raccoon!? Really?

well, no maybe that isn't a skunk after all... and this isn't a raccoon...

just a reflection of the wheels in the water!

♥

Spencer's Homework

Spencer's assignment for school was to make

a pitcher of kool-ade from a powdered mix. First you add water...

then you open the mix package...

then you add it to the water... then you stir it....be sure and make a face

so everyone knows you don't like drink mixes!

And pour a glassful! As I put the camera down, he took one sip and

poured the rest in the sink! lol.

Thanks for the effort anyway, Spence.

♥

Tearoom Peaches

These beautiful cookies always get attention on a dessert buffet.

They look complicated but are easy to make

and delicious, too.

cookies are baked... two are held together with frosting... after quickly running under tap water, they are rolled in orange and then red colored sugars. Peaches certainly are a *a-hem* sexy looking fruit, wouldn't you say? lol. RECIPE 1/2 c sugar 1/3 c butter, soft 1 egg 1/4 c lemon juice 1 t lemon extract 1/2 t baking powder 2 c flour In mixer, cream sugar and butter. Add egg. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients. Mix until just combined. Shape into balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheets. Bake 325 degrees for 15 minutes or until bottoms are barely golden and tops have not colored. FROSTING lemon icing...I just mixed a little soft butter, lemon extract and powdered sugar with a whisk. You don't need much...just about 1/2 c total. SUGARS 1 1/2 c orange sugar (add 2 drops red and 3 drops yellow coloring) mix and stir with back of a spoon until evenly combined. 1/2 c red sugar (2 drops red coloring) Hold cookies very briefly under tap water. Roll in orange, then red sugars.

Yum

♥

I've joined Sweets For A Saturday.

Click HERE for more recipes!

Sunrise

Sunrise, 8:00 A.M. EST 2-17-11. Looking east and straight up.

• Snow melts quickly,
• Providing
• Robins a look into the soggy grass.
• Irresistible temperatures
• Nudging me to open the window a crack.
• Gusts of warmth merrily tinkle the wind chime outside.

• Tempting as it feels, I'm no fool.
• Easy come - easy go, this joke from Mother Nature!
• Another snow will come.
• Spring has not begun,
• Even though the sun kissed my face today!

I'm joining Sky Watch Friday!

Click HERE to see gorgeous skies from all over the world.

See anything in the clouds? I see a pelican and a skateboarder!

♥

Harry's Homework

The boys have had some projects to do at home to complete

their school work for the year. They were simple household

chores and they were fairly simple for them to do.

Here's Harry sorting silverware. going... going... gone!

I think Harry should do this every day!

Great job, Harry!

♥

Milestones and Memories

We had a quiet Valentine's Day dinner at home.

Me and my five men. :)

Grilled steak dinner and peanut butter cupcakes for dessert.

*****

The Mister and I actually celebrate on the 15th of February.

That's because I gave him a Valentine on 2-15-76.

We were 13 and 14 years old.

So today was the 35th anniversary

of that first gesture that started 'us'.

We went out to lunch today to celebrate.

Cheesecake Factory.

Yum.

♥

Lucky

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A beautiful garden comes from sunshine, rain, love and luck!

*****

The theme for this Creative Tuesday is luck!

This little wren is looking forward to spring and

a beautiful garden full of veggies and flowers.

Planting a garden in Ohio is a good 10 weeks away,

but the seed catalogs have already arrived!

I will feel very lucky if the stray cat I've watched for

months decides to hang around the yard during the

summer. Maybe she'll keep the raccoons out

of the strawberry patch!

Colored pencils on printer paper.

If you like to sketch, draw or doodle come and join us!

Click HERE to visit Mr. Toast's blog.

♥

Happy Thoughts

Some happy thoughts that filled last week...

1. Robins. They're in my yard, eating the crab apples and looking at the snow! ha. Are they lost or are they here to proclaim that spring will be here soon? I was amused at this one in particular who wedged her large body into a tiny sparrow's nest. Kind of reminded me of the ugly step sisters wedging their big toe into Cinderella's glass slipper! lol. Not that robins are ugly, but it was just a funny sight.
2. We had a whole week without snow days or delays.
3. I'm working on a big project for the triplets that involves their bedroom with some fresh ideas and upgrades. More to come later in a "before-and-after" post. I'm excited and they will be thrilled! :)
4. When I picked up the triplets from their special needs class at church Sunday morning, I said "Hi" to a little 13 year old girl with Down's Syndrome. She looked at me and said, "Hello, Gorgeous!" ha ha. Now that made my day! What a sweetheart she is.
5. Cookie and gift basket orders just when I needed a little extra money for something special.
6. I saw the bottom of the hamper twice, if only briefly!
7. The smell of cinnamon-raisin bagels in the toaster.
8. The NASCAR season has begun. :)
9. Temperatures are 50 degrees warmer than just 7 days ago!
10. Friends that text and say "want to have lunch?" :)

In a weird kind of coincidence, last week I had 3 people email me about my "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" posts. Two people said that they loved them and wanted me to post one soon. The third person said they liked these "Happy Thoughts" better because the other kind was "whiny". I didn't actually replace one with the other but had intended on doing each as a running series off and on.

So what do you think? The purpose of the good/bad/ugly is to be transparent about the crazy and even bad things that happen here. Many things have to do with autism and some just have to do with the ups and downs of life in a large family. I certainly don't want to give the impression that everything is always wonderful. I like to share the craziness, see the humor in it, and invite you to laugh with me! Let me know your thoughts! If you think they are whiny and like the 'happy thoughts' better, I want to know! LOL.

And Happy Valentine's Day!

You know I love you all, right? :)

♥

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

2 c sugar

4 eggs

1/2 c vegetable oil

4 T butter, melted

2 t vanilla

1 c cocoa

2 c flour

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

In mixer, combine sugar and eggs. Add remaining wet

ingredients. Mix well. Sift dry ingredients and add, mixing well.

Dough will be wet and sticky. Chill several hours or overnight.

Roll balls of dough in 1 c powdered sugar.

Bake at 350 on parchment lined baking sheets for 8-12 minutes.

Cookies will flatten, get crackly and cracks will look dry.

Yum.

♥

I'm joining Sweets for a Saturday hosted by Lisa from

Sweet As Sugar Cookies.

Click HERE to see more sweet recipes!

Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?

1. PLATO ~ For the greater good of man.
2. ARISTOTLE ~ It is the nature of chickens to cross roads.
3. KARL MARX ~ It was a historical inevitability.
4. CAPTAIN JAMES T. KIRK ~ To boldly go where no chicken has gone before.
5. MOSES ~ And God came down from the heavens, and he said unto the chicken, "Thou shalt cross the road." And the chicken crossed the road, and there was much rejoicing.
6. JERRY SEINFELD ~ Why does anyone cross a road? I mean, why doesn't anyone ever think to ask, "What the heck was this chicken doing walking around all over the place, anyway?"
7. FREUD ~ The fact that you are at all concerned that the chicken crossed the road reveals your underlying sexual insecurity.
8. BILL GATES ~ I have just released the new Chicken Office 2000, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents, and balance your checkbook.
9. BUDDHA ~ Asking this question denies your own chicken nature.
10. RALPH WALDO EMERSON ~ The chicken did not cross the road..it transcended it.
11. ERNEST HEMINGWAY ~ To die. In the rain.
12. DR. SEUSS ~ Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes! The chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed, I've not been told!
13. GRANDPA ~ In my day, we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Someone told us that the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.
14. BILL CLINTON ~ I did not cross the road with THAT chicken. However, I did ask Vernon Jordan to find the chicken a job in New York.
15. COLONEL SANDERS ~ I missed one?

picture from googleimages.com

info from lifesajoke.com

♥

My Little Lady Friend

"Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath

her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings!"

Victor Hugo

Oh now, I couldn't have written that quote! Well, maybe not

as eloquently...but I love the philosophy just the same!

This little lady cardinal sits in the tree here and looks at me

as I sit at my desk. I hope she makes her nest there this

coming spring. How lovely that would be!

♥

A Blustery Day Today

coming home from the grocery 2-8-11

Oh the wind is lashing lustily

And the trees are thrashing thrustily

And the leaves are rustling gustily

So it's rather safe to say

That it seems that it may turn out to be

It feels that it will undoubtedly

It looks like a rather blustery day, today

It sounds that it may turn out to be

Feels that it will undoubtedly

Looks like a rather blusterly day today

from ~Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day

Richard Sherman and Robert Sherman

♥

Dessert

Like cherries sprinkled with confectioner's sugar, right? From my desk I watched half a dozen Robins swooped in to eat some crab apples. This one had a hard time navigating around the stems! He wrestled with those things for the longest time!

Robins don't eat seed, so I'm glad we had all that fruit on the trees!

But it made me hungry for cherry pie!

Had to settle for blackberry crisp. Yum.

~Recipe~

1.5 c sugar, 1.25 c flour and 10 T cold butter.

Pulse in food processor until it resembles crumbs.

In greased 8x8 pan, spread 4 cups of fruit and sprinkle with

2 T Minute Tapioca and 1/2 t cinnamon.

Sprinkle topping over and bake 350 for 40 minutes

or until golden and bubbly.

***

And yes, I had a serving for breakfast, too! ;)

♥