Looking back . . .

Source: the50s.tumblr.com via Evelyn on Pinterest

I got a new music cd this week called Be My Baby, The Girls of the Sixties. Oh, it's just lovely, filled with songs like "I Only Want To Be With You" (Dusty Springfield), "Be My Baby" (The Ronettes), "Just One Look" (Doris Troy) and many, many others, some 70 songs in all. Oh how I have been enjoying listening to it as I putter away here at home. Todd's been enjoying it as well. Although in truth I was not a teenager when most of these songs came out, I was old enough to enjoy them anyways and listening to them brought back some lovely memories of my pre-teen years . . . click to play the following video and read on . . .



I can remember seeing the older kids getting off their bus from high school and admiring all the girls with their twin sweater sets, pony tails, bobbie sox and saddle shoes. Oh my how sophisticated they looked to me . . . and the boys with their comb backs and loafers. I could hardly wait to be a teenager . . .

On Saturday afternoons I used to watch a show on the telly called Bob and the Hits. I suppose this was the Canadian version of American Bandstand. All the latest pop tunes would be played and there would be dancing as well. There was also a Canadian Bandstand and on Friday Nights, when I got a bit older . . . It's Happening with Robbie Lane and The Disciples. Oh how I loved watching those shows and dreaming . . .

Of going to dances and wearing clothes like that and maybe even snogging a boy, one day . . . maybe even Robbie Lane!!

Source: adore-vintage.tumblr.com via Evelyn on Pinterest

I already had a pretty sizeable crush on Wally Cleaver . . . and spent many an hour wishing I was someone cool and pretty . . . someone like Annette Funicello or Sandra Dee, who always got their man . . . and who had fun times in the local soda shop, at the beach, or even slumber parties . . .

I had never been to a slumber party . . . but I had a pretty good idea of what was involved. Listening to all the latest 45 record hits on the Hi Fi and playing with each other's hair . . . trying on makeup and talking about boys, boys, boys . . . laughing a lot, dancing a little and eating cool food like Jiffy Pop Popcorn and maybe even ice cream soda's. I had never had one . . . but I knew they must be wonderful!

Source: weheartit.com via Sydney on Pinterest

I wanted a little pink Princess phone and a home permanent . . . I wanted to go to the Prom and dances at the Country Club. I wanted to dance on the beach and go surfing like Gidget . . . I wanted a friend with a cool name like Moon Doggie, and a place to hang out with all my friends . . . I wanted to baby sit. Oh to be old enough to baby sit . . . sigh . . . I wanted to be Haley Mills and go to summer camp.

Most of my experience in the world came from what I saw on the television or from what I read in books or saw at the movies. I expect it was the same with most girls my age way back then.

Source: google.com via Sydney on Pinterest

The early sixties was a special time . . . a time of innocence and hope . . . and looking forward instead of backward . . . if that makes any sense. I remember thinking I could be anyone, and do anything . . . and go anywhere . . . one day.

And then . . . I grew up, and realized that . . . life is not all fun and games, pin curls and bobby sox . . . you couldn't sort all of your problems out in 30 minutes, and that boy next door . . . he probably didn't exist . . . and if he did . . . he wasn't all that cute or all that interested! Oh, I got to do the slumber party thing . . . and Jiffy Pop . . . I went to Friday Lunch Sock Hops at school . . . and experienced my first kiss and holding hands . . . but it all passed by in a seeming flash, and here I am . . . some 50 odd years later . . . looking back at it all, listening to the Ronettes and thinking to myself . . . was it only a dream?

Source: howtobearetronaut.com via Sydney on Pinterest

Thanks for indulging me this morning. I thought in the spirit of the sixties and things in the past I would show you a recipe for a real teen treat this morning! I remember going to my first pre-teen mixed boy/girl party when I was 10. It was held in a neighbor's garage and there was Japanese Lanterns strung across the ceiling and all the latest tunes playing on the record player and dancing and lots of soda pop and things to eat just like this . . .


*Fish Stick Taco Dogs*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Something a little bit different to please the teens in your life.

8 frozen breaded or battered fish sticks
1 (8 ounce) can of refrigerated crescent rolls
(8 rolls in the tin)
1 TBS Taco seasoning mix (from a packet)
4 slices of cheese, each cut into 4 strips
3 TBS chunky tomato salsa

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the fish sticks onto the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, turning once during the baking time.

Separate the crescent dough into 8 triangles. Lightly sprinkle the surface of each with the taco seasoning, pressing it lightly to make it adhere. Turn over so that the taco seasoning is on the bottom and lay them out onto your work surface, seasoning side down.

Place one cooked fish stick on the shortest side of each triangle. Top each with 2 strips of the cheese and 1 tsp of the tomato salsa. Starting with the shortest side of the triangle, roll up the dough around the fish stick. Place cheese side up onto the same baking sheet that you have already used.

Return to the oven and bake for an additional 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through. Serve hot.

Note: A bowl of tomato soup on the side goes very well.

You have choice in The English Kitchen today!



Frozen Lemon Souffle



or Sauteed Potato Gnocchi with Egg

Embracing the "you" in You . . .

Source: tabithaemma.com via Marie on Pinterest

“Conformity is one of the most fundamental dishonesties of all. When we reject our specialness, water down our God-given individuality and uniqueness, we begin to lose our freedom. The conformist is in no way a free man. He has to follow the herd.”
~Norman Vincent Peale

It seems I’ve always walked a few steps out of beat with those around me. I suppose I have been a bit of a rebel . . . but not in a bad way. Some might think me a bit odd. I have come to realize that it’s that "oddness" which opened my heart to this weird and wonderful church which I belong to. When I am at church and I reflect on those around me . . . pondering their unique ways and personalities . . . I can see that we are all a little bit odd, but in a very beautiful way. I’m really quite glad that we are. We are known to be a "peculiar" people . . . and I, for one, am quite happy to embrace that peculiarity!

When I was 14 and 15 years of age, I went through a very difficult time at school. I was bullied mercilessly . . . so much so that at one point during those two years, I was actually physically ill because of it and stayed at home for several weeks with the "mumps!" How I managed to every make my mother think I had mumps remains a great mystery to me, but I did. I think the main reason that I was bullied was because I was "different" . . . because I didn’t fit in the same as the rest of them did. It was the wolf pack mentality of the others, the law of the herd, that made them feel the need to weed out all that were different, or that they deemed as weaker. Quiet and sensitive, I was probably a sitting duck for all their slings and arrows.

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

Looking back . . . I am glad I was different . . . and I’m glad I was strong enough to withstand their aggressiveness and cruelty. They say that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and I truly believe that through those difficult two years I learned a lot about compassion and forgiveness . . . and tolerance and endurance. Thankfully, we moved after a few years, and so the teasing stopped, but I do still carry some of the scars on my heart and in my mind. You never really forget, even if you do forgive.

In my later teen years, I'm ashamed to say that I did follow the crowd a bit, . . . whilst trying to maintain as much of my uniqueness and individuality as I could. I was everyone’s friend, even those that nobody wanted to be a friend to. I always had great compassion for those sorts of people . . . for the underdog . . . having once been ostracized in much the same way. Besides, secretly . . . deep down . . . I knew I was still one of them. I had just not been found out yet. As we got older too, the bullies were fewer and far-er between, and most of the people I knew were starting to strike out a bit more as individuals anyways.

Source: sundayinbed.tumblr.com via Marie on Pinterest

I guess I’ve always known that I was special, even if I didn’t always act like it. I did have to endure a lot of bullying in my last marriage . . . and perhaps I even felt for a time like I wasn’t worth not taking it . . . but deep down something inside whispered to me every once in a while that I was special and unique. For the most part, I allowed him to squelch it through the years. Occasionally though . . . this unique and peculiar person that I was would stick her head up above the mire and wave her arms, trying to be heard. When you are busy raising a family and taking care of a home you hardly have time to think about your own needs and wants, your days are so full of taking care of others. It's quite easy to get lost in the business of the needs and wants of others for a time. And as a mother, how can you do anything but?

In my later years, I have come to realize just who I am as an individual . . . and to embrace that unique and wonderful person. Yes, I DO celebrate her for who she is and for all of her differences. I am a special individual, unique in all ways, and I love who I am and who I’ve allowed myself to become. I still walk a few beats out of step from everyone else, but I am quite proud that I do. I love that I stand out in a crowd. I am still a bit of an odd duck, but I love my oddness. It works for me. I have come to recognize my God-given talents and embrace them . . . explore them . . . use them . . . I relish every opportunity which comes my way to share them with others and to help my fellow beings in some way and in any way that I can . . .

Source: kiwicarole.blogspot.com via Marie on Pinterest

I look at my life as being a huge piece of embroidery that I have been working on for years . . . quite different than anyone else’s, perhaps a bit unusual . . . but every bit as beautiful and even more so in some ways for it’s individuality. I have stitches here and stitches there . . . it’s randomness creating something quite wonderful and unique and special, this tapestry of my life. I suppose when it’s finally finished I will be able to look back and count all the stitches and be quite proud of my accomplishments, but in the meantime I’m just enjoying creating it, in my unique and sometimes beautiful way.

Just my thoughts this morning . . .



Here's my latest piece that I worked on yesterday afternoon. I had ever so much fun doing this and trying to make it look like she is standing in a field of dandelion fluff at the end of a golden day. I had paint all over me by the time I was finished . . .

I am never quite sure when I finish something if I really like it or not. I have to step away from it for several hours and then go back and look at it again. I am always pleasantly surprised when I do, which is a good thing!

I am a real pizza lover. I could eat pizza three times a day every day . . . cold, warm, hot . . . it doesn't matter to me. I just love pizza. Todd now . . . he is not so fond. It doesn't matter how many times I tell him it is just a sandwich with the filling on the outside . . . he's not quite buying that idea! This is one of my favourite versions. I also love Chicken Caesar Salad . . . combine the two and you have a heavenly pizza . . . A Chicken Ceasar Salad Pizza! Voila! It's fabulous! (Trust me!)



*Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza*
Serves4
Printable Recipe

Don’t you love it when you are able to bring together two of the things you love and they work in such a delicious way as this wonderful pizza does? Try it, I think you’ll really like it!

1 12-inch thin pizza crust (purchased or make your own, see below)
1 cup of cooked chicken, cut into cubes
2 ounces thinly sliced proscuitto ham
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded havarti cheese
¼ cup shredded Parmesan Cheese
½ cup good quality Caesar Salad dressing (I used Hellman’s)
A handful of dry cured pitted black olives

Salad Topping:
1/2 head of shredded Cos (Romaine) lettuce
A handful of rocket leaves
2 green spring onions thinly sliced, using all the white and a bit of the geen
1 TBS fresh lemon juice
¼ cup good quality Caesar Salad Dressing
¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 cup good quality garlic croutons (make your own, see below)

Pre-heat the oven to 220*C/425*F/ gas mark 7. If you are using your own homemade crust take out a large baking tray and lightly grease it. Spread the crust out onto the tray into a large thin rectangle, about 9 inches by 15 inches in size. Prick it all over with a fork and then bang it into the heated oven for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.

If you are using a purchased ready made crust place it onto a large baking sheet.

Take the first quantity of salad dressing and spread it evenly over the top of the partially baked crust. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese evenly over top as well as the havarti cheese. Scatter the cooked chicken and the black olives over top. Tear up the proscuitto and scatter it over top as well. Sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese.

Return to the heated oven and bake for a further 10 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is nicely browned and the cheese is bubbling.

Ten minutes before you are ready to take the pizza from the oven toss the lettuce , rocket and green onion with the lemon juice. Add the ¼ cup of salad dressing. Toss well together and set aside.

Once the pizza is done, remove from the oven. Scatter the prepared salad over top and sprinkle with the ¼ cup of Parmesan Cheese. Sprinkle on the croutons and serve immediately.

*Thin Crust Pizza Dough*
Makes 2 twelve-inch crusts

I love a thin crust on a pizza, slightly crispy and not too doughy. This fits the bill on all counts.


2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (may substitute whole wheat flour for 1 cup of the all-purpose)
1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm water, with 1 tsp sugar dissolved into it
1 tablespoon olive oil
cornmeal, for sprinkling on the pan

Put the warm water into a large bowl along with the sugar, stirring to dissolve. Sprinkle the yeast over top and let it sit for aobut 10 minutes until it gets all foamy. give it a stir. Add the flour, salt and olive oil all at once. Mix in well and then dump it out onto a lightly floured board
and knead it for about 6-8 minutes until you have a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic, adding a bit more flour if you need to. Shape into a round smooth ball.

Wash out the bowl with warm water and dry. Grease with a little olive oil and then put the dough into this bowl, turning it once to coat it with the olive oil. Cover and let sit in a warm place for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Lightly grease with shortening two 12-inch pizza pans. Sprinkle each with some cornmeal.
Divide the dough in half and place each half on a pizza pan. Spread and pat it out with your fingertips until it stretches to fit the whole pan, making it a bit thicker around the edges. Prick it all over with a fork.

If desired, pre-bake at 205*C/425 *F for 10 minutes, then spread with pizza sauce and use the toppings of your choice.

*Note. This can be frozen quite successfully if you don’t want to use both crusts at once. Just divide in half and place the portion you want to save in a good freezer bag. Place in the freezer. When you want to use it, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

*Homemade Garlic Croutons*
Makes 2 cups

These are so easy to make and so much tastier than any you might buy in a shop.

2 large crusty white or whole wheat rolls
2 TBS good quality olive oil
2 fat cloves of garlic, peeled and slightly crushed (bruised)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Cut your rolls into 1 inch cubes. If you’re a purist you can remove the crust bits if you want first, but I leave them on as I enjoy the variety of texture.

Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick skillet. Add the garlic cloves and heat until just becoming fragrant. Toss in the bread cubes and cook over medium heat, stirring from time to time until lightly browned all over. Dust with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. Allow to cool and then use as you wish.



Baking in The English Kitchen today, a delicious Candy Apple Cake!

Living in the present . . .

It's been almost a year now since we brought Mitzie home to live with us as an 8 week old puppy. I had no idea at the time how much I would learn from her over the coming months . . . I thought we were just bringing home something to love and to cuddle.



All the way home in the car she snuggled up to me as I held her close. I could feel her small little breaths against my chest, and with each one she began to twist me around her little heart, and wind her way about my own. During the days that followed, I came to understand her sheer, complete and connected presence. I had never observed anything before that was so thoroughly involved in the exercise of being in the moment as she was.



She was completely and innocently devoted to whatever lay before her . . . to whatever the experience was of her being at any given time. If she was playing with an empty milk bottle . . . then that empty milk bottle was her whole world. If she was rolling in the grass . . . her world was the grass. If she was bunching up her bed to go to sleep . . . her life was totally the need to lay down . . . sigh . . . and go to sleep . . . and sleep she did and does, with total freedom and abandon, and not a care in the world. Oh to be so free and completely one with your environment . . . I can only wish.



She knows her world primarily through touch and smell. She uses her nose like we use our fingers. She sticks her nose, without the hesitation that holds us humans back, into everything with abandon and this immediate knowledge and smelll of whatever it is brings her complete and utter joy. Todd is always saying she doesn't go for walks so much as she goes for sniffs. It drives him up the wall . . . but in a way I envy her that quality . . .



This wee creature, incapable of words . . . has taught me that there is an overwhelming feeling of endowment that comes from staying connected to our surroundings without deviation . . . a certain humility that comes from making a distinct connection with whatever we are experiencing. This brings her world to life, and can do the same for us . . . her awareness of the here and the now has been illuminating to me. She has shown me how very refreshing and invigorating living in the present can be, and I now dig my own heart into each day that I am gifted with . . . with total abandon . . . and joy for the here and now.



The way the sunlight falls upon the leaves of our roses . . . the moss that grows along a garden wall . . . the sight of wasps landing on the rocks of our pond and watching them sup from the water . . . our frogs as they sun themselves on the lily pads and wait for flies to alight . . . the way the sweetpeas climb and cling to everything around them, and shed their pink blossoms . . .

It all has even more meaning to me now . . . simple things and pleasures that bring me joy and sing the song of my heart . . . satisfying and free for the taking.


(Not so tiny anymore, but still our baby.)

It is a special treasure to be able to experience totally the now and to be fully present in and living my todays . . . and to think I learned it all from a dog!

Just my thoughts on this early Monday morning . . . the first day of August 2011 . . .



I've a very busy and full day ahead of me today. I have my reading lesson this morning and then this afternoon I am off to the Opticians to see if I can find out why my left eye won't stop twitching. It's becoming very worriesome to me now. You can't see it if you look at it, but it feels all droopy to me and I can feel it twitching constantly. It's just not normal. Wish me luck!

With these nice warmer days we are eating lighter and fresher. I don't like to heat up the kitchen and house by using the oven much, and in truth we (well, probably "I") have a longing and a taste for summer salads these days. (Todd just tolerates them.) This is a tasty one here today, very quick and easy to throw together. I like to do my own chicken for it. Just take a package of boneless skinless chicken breasts and place them into a non porous container, cover with Italian Salad Dressing and let them marinate in it for several hours or overnight if you wish. Then I just grill them and cut them into slices for use in salads (like this tasty one) or whatever.



*Chicken and Spinach Salad*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Nothing coule be easier than this delicious salad. You can buy the chicken strips ready made, or you can make your own. I always make my own. It's very easy to do if you plan ahead!

1 bag (10 oz.) baby spinach
1 pkg. (6 oz.) fresh Italian Style Chicken Breast Strips
(Marinate some chicken breasts in Italian Dressing overnight,
and then grill. Cool, then cut into strips)
2 cups broccoli florets
1 cup cherry tomato halves
1/2 cup Italian Salad Dressing

Toss all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Serve immediately.

Note - when I worked at the big house, I was made to pick off any stems from the spinach leaves. You can do the same if it bothers you to have them there. It doesn't bother me enough to make it worth wasting the time!



Over in The English Kitchen today, a deliciously light dessert called Blueberry Bliss!

Monday morning thoughts . . . and a Giveaway!

"Half the world is on the wrong scent in the pursuit of happiness. They think it consists in having and getting, and in being served by others. The truth is, it consists in giving, and serving others . . . He that would be happy, let him remember that there is but one way . . . it is more blessed, it is more happy, to give than to receive."
~Henry Drummond

And in that vein, I'd like to have a little giveaway on here this morning. I haven't given something away in a long time. This is one of my pieces of artwork, called "Family, Forever. As you can see here, I have customized it for my son's family, but I can customize it to fit any family. The family name is on the small heart at the tail of the ribbon. The smaller hearts scattered below have the names of all the family . . . mother, father and children, with the children's birthdates included and down in the lower right hand corner is the marriage date.



I am giving away one of these prints, customized to the details of one of my reader's families. Just leave a comment on this post to be in on the giveaway! I will draw one at the end of the week.

We didn't have much of a weekend. It rained and rained and rained. It is still raining. Not heavy rain, but a constant drizzle. The gardens will soak it up for sure, but . . . it can get very tiresome though, to say the least!



Today is the day that Lura is going in for her operation. Please keep her in your special prayers and thoughts. She needs them now, more than ever!

I spoke to my father yesterday and also to my mother. (They live in different places.) I'm afraid I woke my father up. It is hard to know when to call him. Most times I call and he is out, so I thought I would get him before he was off and out the door. Unfortunately I got him before he was off and out of the bed! He did not mind. I used to chat to him very often on MSN, but he rarely goes on these days and so I can see that I will have to call him frequently to make up for our lack of chats. I have always called my mother once a week, because she doesn't have a computer. So now I will be making two calls a week. I don't mind at all. It's the least I can do for all that they have done for me. I wish I lived closer so that I could do more, but we must do the best that we can and noone can ask for more than that.



We were snuggling with our Mitzie last evening watching the television and she was curled up in her favourite place, between us on the sofa, completely oblivious to everything around her, laying flat on her back, legs splayed and head thrown back, snozzing away, totally at ease and happily ensconced in the place she loves best. I love my beautiful little family . . . Todd, Mitzie and myself. We are so comfortable with each other and in complete harmony. It is an easy and happy place to be . . .

It occurred to me that life can and is every bit as good, if not better than the wonderful make believe movies that we love to watch so much. It has all the same joy and sorrow . . . the mystery and suspence, adventure and excitement . . . and the love and emotion, except that it is real and not make believe . . . which reminded me of this quote from Shakespeare . . .

"Life's a play; all the world's a stage; and you're the star!"



Each day can be a little play, complete with beginning, middle and Happy Ending! I have already decided that I want written on my headstone one day . . ."She lived happily ever after." Coz that is what I am doing each day of my life . . . come what may.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be in on the giveaway today, and of course wherever you are today, whatever you are doing . . . live this day to the fullest and . . . smile!

Here's a tasty main meal salad that makes good use of leftover chicken. Perfect for Mondays when you may have the leftovers from Sunday lunch. You don't need to use chicken or turkey though, you can also use ham, and I am sure it would be quite good with pork as well. You can also throw in some chopped cheese if you like, or even leftover cooked vegetables. It's quite adaptable to what you have on hand and quite delicious, if I don't say so myself!



*Chopped Salad*
Serves 4 - 6
Printable Recipe

A hearty main meal salad, perfect for these warm summer days!

1 cup dried pasta (macaroni, medium shells, etc.)
1/2 medium head of iceberg lettuce
6 ounces cooked chicken or turkey, but into bite sized pieces
1/2 of a 12 ounce jar of roasted red peppers, drained and cut into bits
1/2 of a small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced into rings
1/2 cup of French Fried onions (crispy salad onions)
6 ounces bottled poppy seed salad dressing or 3/4 cup of your
own homemade poppy seed salad dressing

Cook the pasta in a pot of lightly salted boiling water according to the package directions. Drain well. Rise with cold water and drain again. Place into a large bowl. Add the remainder of the salad ingredients and toss all together gently to coat. Serve immediately.



Over in The English Kitchen I'm cooking up delicious Crispy Cod with a Gazpacho Salad!

Friday this and that . . .

Look for it . . . you've got to make an effort and you've got to look around. That's the only way that precious treasure can be found. You'll never catch the sunshine if you always draw the blind. You'll never make a friend unless you open heart and mind. If you want to find the best, you've got to search a bit. You'll never see the good in life . . . unless you look for it!
~Patience Strong

Oh, I am so glad that I am the type of person who strives to find the positive in all things! Life is so much easier to live when you look for silver linings! It seems I always find them! I'm just lucky that way I guess.

My dishwasher arrived yesterday!! Yayyyy!! As the day wore on, and it didn't arrive I was worried that once again it wasn't going to get here, but about half an hour before supper was ready it came and is now sitting in my kitchen waiting to be plumbed in! I thought portable meant that you could just wheel it around the kitchen and hook it up to your existing kitchen tap . . . that is not what it means over here though! (It might in North America!) We still have to have a plumber plumb it in and it will be stationary in one position. Nevermind . . . the hardest part has already taken place and it is here!! Yipee!! I can't wait to have squeaky clean drinking glasses, and Todd can't wait to hang up his dish pan hands!

We had a lovely time with the missionaries last night. I just love having them in our home. I made them a tasty meal and they always bring such a lovely spirit into our home. We have four missionaries here at the moment, but only two come at a time. Last night it was Elder Cunningham from Phoenix, AZ and Elder Yager from Hamburg, Germany. Two lovely young men. It was Elder Yager's first time at our home as he is new to the area. If I had known we would be entertaining a German, I would not have cooked sausages. Germans have such lovely sausages and cannot compare to anyones in the world. One of the first things I have to get when we go to Germany is a tasty Bratwurst! Anyways, they licked the platter clean and seemed to enjoy, so that was good. About an hour after they left, I went to go upstairs and look at what was sitting on the floor under our mail slot:



A sweet little origami shirt, complete with tie, missionary badge and pass along card!



And when you flipped it over there was a lovely message on the back side! What a nice surprise it was and such a loving gesture from two very nice young men.



A friend send me this video yesterday and I thought it was so lovely and wanted to share it with you! It' so sweet. I just love the relation that can exist between humans and animals if humans are kind and sharing and loving. It breaks my heart to see animals that have been abused in any way, but to see something like this loving relationship between this man and goose is just wonderful. It really brought a smile to my face!



(I hope she doesn't mind me pinching her picture!)

I was so happy to get a telephone call from Lura last evening as well! It had been a while since we'd been able to speak on the phone. Since her accident she gets up a bit later in the day and it takes her a while to get herself sorted and by that time I am usually in bed. (Just one of the down sides of living so far away from each other, I'm afraid!) She is doing so much better these days and hardly has to take any pain medication at all now, which is great. Do still keep her in your prayers however, as her operation to check out her ovaries is looming in just a few days now and she surely needs our prayers of comfort and support! As you can imagine this is very worriesome to her and a bit frightening. I just cannot believe however that Heavenly Father carried her through that terrible car accident to drop her now! Please hop over to her page and give her a little love and positive support! I know she would love to hear from you and your messages would help to uplift her so very much! She and her husband John just celebrated their 46 Wedding Anniversary, a real milestone in these modern times!!



After several days of beautiful sunshine we are going to get some rain today . . . and tomorrow . . . and the next day . . . oh well . . . into each life some rain must fall!! We have to take the rain with the sun don't we? If it wasn't for the rain we would not live in such a beautiful green country, so we shall grin and bear it!

I shall love you and leave you now with Happy Friday and Weekend wishes!! I hope that you are able to enjoy a little bit of all that you love today and are able to find lots of little pockets of joy wherever you look and that you are able to find the silver lining in all things! Don't forget to look for the rainbow which follows every storm!

I wish I had a pound for every time I had baked these delicious Barbeque Beef Muffin Cups for my boys!! This was always a family favourite in our house. My boys just loved them! Sometimes I did them with taco flavoured beef as well and garnished them with shredded lettuce and sliced olives, which was also very popular with them! I often doubled or tripled the recipe, which with 5 children was a necessity! The 4-H'ers also loved them! All you need on the side is a bit of salad!


(photo courtesy Pillsbury)

*Barbeque Beef Cups*
Makes 10
Printable Recipe

These are almost like Sloppy Joes, except they are in a muffin cup and easier to handle. Delicious!

1 pound of extra lean ground beef
1/2 cup of your favourite flavour barbeque sauce
1/4 cup of chopped onion
1 to 2 TBS soft light brown sugar, packed
your favourite baking powder biscuit recipe (making 12 biscuits),
or a tin of refrigerated biscuits (You can get my recipe HERE.)
1/2 cup grated strong cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 200*C/400*F/ gas mark 6. Spray 10 regular sized muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.

Separate your biscuit dough (or tin of biscuits if using) into 10 equal pieces. Flatten out into rounds and use to line the muffin cups, pressing in firmly and forming a 1/4 inch rim over the top of the cups.

Spray a nonstick skillet with some cooking spray and brown the ground beef, stirring to break it up, and cooking until no pink remains. Add the barbeque sauce, onion and the brown sugar. Cook for several minutes, stirring constantly, to heat through and meld the flavours.

Divide the barbeque beef mixture evenly amongst the cups. (about 1/4 cup each) Sprinkle with the cheese and then bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the biscuits are cooked through and nicely browned on the edges, the filling is bubbly and the cheese is melted.

Allow to cool in pan for several minutes before removing and serving. Delicious!



Cooking in The English Kitchen today, a delicious Cherry Tomato and Sausage Bake!

Friday Ramblings. . .

I put it in a safe place, of that I'm very sure,
I knew it was important to keep it quite secure,
So, why, now that I'm searching in every little nook,
Do I know I'll never find it until the last place that I look??
~unknown

This made me chuckle because I do this same thing all the time!! I am always putting things somewhere to keep them safe and then not being able to find them when the time comes I need them, my place of safety having become a little bit "too safe!" I suspect I am not alone in this either!



Yaaaayy!! We've finally almost finished the craft room. I still have a ways to go, but I can finally walk around in there without stepping on anything! What a chore it was and I'm afraid that Todd and I almost bit off each other's heads at one point, but at least we've made great inroads and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now!

We had frog spawn in our pond this spring and we watched it hatch into what seemed like millions of tadpoles and then those millions became only a few, one of which was quite large the last time we saw them, and we could definitely see some legs on them . . . . and then even those few disappeared and we began to despair. We thought for sure that they had either been eaten by birds or the gold fish in the pond . . . we weren't sure if they ate tadpoles or not. I know too, though . . . that tadpoles will eat each other! (I know . . . ick!!)



Just look at what Todd found in the grass by the pond yesterday!! Isn't it cute! A sweet little frog! Of course I had to snap a picture before we set him back upon the rocks to sun himself. To say we were both thrilled is to say the least! We know that at least one survived and have our fingers crossed now that he doesn't get eaten by a bird or cat, or something else!!



Good news on Mitzie's weight loss too! She has managed to lose 400grams in a month, so is on the right track! I thought after the cheesecake episode last week, she would surely have put some on, but she has not. Relief!! I hate going to the Vet and being lectured on her being overweight. We spent a bomb on a special dog food for obesity, so I am glad to see that it is working. She doesn't really like it much, but I mix a little bit of something she does like with it in the morning and then a bit of raw minced beef in with it at night and so far so good!



I know how she feels though for I have had a week of total lack of control on the eating front. I suppose it started with my trip away . . . although in all honesty I didn't really over do it on any day, but did eat a bunch of things I should not be eating . . . like a cooked breakfast, thick chips cooked in pork fat (YUMM!!), a candy bar, some indecent Guu Naughties, a handful of Hotel Chocolate Chocolates, a packet of crisps to name but a few things, culminating in a packet of light crisps yesterday and a carvery meal. OH, and let's not forget the quick lunch we had at McDonalds the other day. I wonder why it goes like that . . . you have one foot on a banana peel and then it's not long before you are sliding down that slippery slope! Oh well, as they say, if you fall off the horse, hop back on and so . . . I am!



I read on the News yesterday about a woman who had lay dead in her apartment for over 8 years! Her only relative being a sister in law that she had fallen out with, who finally after 8 years had tried to get back in touch. The police found her skeleton remains. I think that is such a sad statement on society today!! It breaks my heart that someone could be dead for that long and not be missed. I think we are all guilty of it on some level however . . . we try not to be intrusive on our neighbours lives . . . in fact sometimes we barely speak to each other and if we don't see one for a while, we assume they are on holiday. I think we need to try to be a little more friendly and a little more intrusive. I think there must be a happy balance to be found in between being a nuisance and being a pest!



Finally, I was pleased to read of a friend's good news this morning. A friend of mine had had a positive smear test last month and had been in bits since, with worry, as anyone would be. Something like this happening to someone you know and love, is scary for everyone involved. Yesterday she had good news when she went for her colyscopy. It was only inflammation! Whew!! I think as we get on up into our fifties and our sixties, these little scares happen more and more frequently, and I have come to really be grateful each morning when I get up and nothing is wrong! I have come to value the treasure and joy to be found in each day, no matter how small, and to realize that each day that comes to me is truly a blessing indeed. Our days are numbered and it's up to us to make sure each one counts!

And I have babbled on long enough this morning, I know . . . so will end now with a recipe as I always do. Today a delicious Chicken Salad with a Mexican flavour! Something a little bit different and a great way to use up any leftovers you may have in the fridge after the Sunday lunch! If you wanted to, you could add a drained tin of sweet corn or black beans to this with most delicious results, or not . . . it's all up to you! I'd just scatter them over the lettuce before adding the chicken.



*Mexican Chicken Salad*
Serves 2
Printable Recipe

Quick and easy and a delicious way to use up leftover chicken!

1 cup of shredded cooked chicken
2 TBS chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
2 TBS sour cream
2 TBS good quality mayonnaise
2 tsp taco seasoning mix (from a packet)
1 spring onion, washed, trimmed and chopped
2 tostada shells
3 cups of shredded lettuce
1/4 cup of chunky tomato salsa
1/2 medium avocado, peeled and sliced

Lightly toss together the chicken, coriander, sour cream, mayonnaise, spring onion and taco seasoning mix in a bowl. Combine well. Lay a tostado shell on each of two chilled plates. Top each with 1 1/2 cups of lettuce and then half of the chicken mixture. Drizzle each with 2 TBS of salsa and then garnish with some avocado. Serve immediately.



If Mexican isn't quite your cup of tea perhaps I can tempt you with a bit of Thai, over in The English Kitchen today, a delicious Fruity Chicken Curry!