Am I the only one…

 …who buys an extra turkey breast, just to ensure there is enough leftover for other favorites?

It was a lot of chopping, ‘tis true.

Then, carefully stirring….

…while creating this pot of delicious Turkey Wild Rice Soup, a favorite here!

I will add that it was a pre-Thanksgiving treat!  We couldn’t wait for Thanksgiving around here for that turkey breast!  The bread is Cheesecake Factory, available now at my local super market!  Brown bread!  Yum!

Now the calendar has moved on, well into December!  How are things going for you now?  Are you part of the merry whirl that seems to be part of this month?  Take time to be still and silent.  It’s very good for your spirit!

Take care, be safe, and stay well!

This may be the reason….

 I’ve wondered about my lack of posting regularly on the blog.  This may be an indication of the reason….

I must be busy churning and gathering eggs!!  

Wonder who is doing the milking?!?  It definitely isn’t me!!

A blogging routine….

 ….seems to elude me.  A few years ago, I would sit at the computer and enter blog posts for several days using the prescheduling option.  It seemed simpler to do than with the iPad, which I am currently using.  

I have lots of pictures/events that I could share.  I just need to settle, once again, on the routine I want to follow.

What I am most interested in sharing with you on this post is this sunset from Sunday evening as I looked across the street….

It’s like the sky is on fire!  I can honestly say that I’ve never seen a sunset this intense!

Sunday morning was our coldest morning of this season, and there was a skiff of ice in the bird bath.  Several days ago, when we expected our first frost, I clipped off what might have been the “last roses of summer.”

The Knockout Roses have been very sturdy this growing season.  That frost didn’t knock them out, though they are not too lively following the cold of this weekend.

It is good fireplace weather here!  How is everything where you are?

Am I too late….

 ….to let you know that today is National Chocolate Day?  I know, I know….I thought EVERY day could be Chocolate Day!  Well, this is that special day devoted to chocolate, and we have to honor that, of course!

I’ve had this recipe in my files for quite sometime.  It looks rather neat because I rewrote some bedraggled recipe cards not too long ago.

Ready to turn on the heat and start cooking!

All done!  See, that didn’t take long at all!  I did add a splash of vanilla extract and that small pat of butter when the cooking was finished.

Whipped some cream to place on top, then shook a little powdered hot chocolate over the top for a garnish.  I may have overdone the garnish bit just a little.:-) 

The Husband happened in the kitchen as this was in process, and he thanked me profusely for preparing him a special treat! 😂  It has since disappeared!

Looks like I need to do something about that empty cake stand.  Room Rater wouldn’t be giving me a very high score on this one!

Have you had some chocolate today?  What is your favorite treat?  There is still time for you to prepare this pudding.  No separating, no special box from the grocery store, just Bisquick (or any other baking mix would work), sugar, cocoa, and milk!  Try it!  You’ll like it!

Friday’s finds….

 There are a few of you who are reading this who have known me for many years.  You know that there was a period of time in which I baked a lot of bread.  It has been a number of years since I have done much bread baking.  New motivation came when I learned of @thefoodnanny and watched one of her demonstrations.

The flour used is Kamut flour.  It is lower in gluten, which made it of special interest to me since some of us have markers for celiac disease.  I ordered the flour, plus a couple of other items, to give the bread a try.

The special implement is a dough hook, and it really works in an extraordinary fashion!  The smaller item is a measuring spoon that has 1/4, 1/2, and 1 teaspoon, plus 1 Tablespoon measurements all in one!

This is after the second addition of flour, just before shaping the loaves…

This is the bread dough shaped and in the pans….

….and here it is just out of the oven!

Check out @thefoodnanny.com if you are interested in the Kamut flour.  I am not able to find it on the shelf anywhere I go for my grocery shopping, though I’m sure there are probably other sources. 

The weekend is imminent!  I hope you have some special plans for your enjoyment!  Baseball is still underway, and college football is of interest to many.  

Take care, and be safe and well!

Tuesday tidbits….

 It has become a rather gray day here.  Good thing I snapped this picture earlier….

Turns out that was apparently all the sun we’ll be seeing today.

Remember that song “Anywhere I Hang My Hat is Home?”

Does this mean that the witch lives here?!?

Seasonal displays in the house give some October spirit….

It even looks a bit like October outside….

Twitter Book Club is tonight.  I am happy to say that I have finished the book!

Uncertain about my reading choices for the month, though I plan to do some reviewing of these….

Good wishes to you on this day!  Take care, and be safe and well!

Since last we met….

 Whew!  The days seem to be flying by!  We seem to be busy, yet often have nothing to show for all our busyness!

I did get around to baking that apple pie….

Found this creature chomping away on my geranium….should have offered it a bite of pie!

There are several signs of fall in the neighborhood….

Then, there is this that is definitely not at that “last rose of summer “ stage….

Baseball playoffs have begun.  Are you a fan? 

Deep Dish Pizza, perfect for game night!

We had our flu shots on the 24th, then our boosters on the 29th.  Hopefully we are protected for the months ahead.

I stay on schedule for my mammogram.  This is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Are you up-to-date with yours?  

Take care, and stay safe and well!

Remembering….

 Today, I am remembering all the years we celebrated this date.

The pictures didn’t post in the desired order.  Mother was born on this day in 1908.  She is remembered with great love.  

A new season….

 Happy fall to you!  There are many who say that this season is their favorite.  What about you?

We have begun this season with wind, rain, and cooler temperatures.  Time for this seasonal mug….

Susan Branch! She always comes through with the perfect design.  

Take care!  Be safe!  Stay well!

Experiment….

 If you are reading this, and follow me on Instagram, you’ve already seen what I am trying to post here.  I’m not sure if this will work…..

Well, it was a video, and I’m unable to get it to post.  Here’s a still photo of our visitor late yesterday afternoon….If you have an Instagram account and want to see the video, I am in time for breakfast…

We watched him as he worked his way back and forth across the back, finally arriving at the bird feeder.  Sometimes there are two of them, and they don’t seem to be bothered in the least by any people who may be outdoors.  I took this photo through my bedroom window.

Many of you may anticipate the arrival of all things pumpkin spice around this time.  I love pumpkin spice just as much as any of you.  Sometimes we overlook the pleasure of apples!

This is a celebration of apples….before we dive into the pumpkin patch!

Tomorrow is the first day of autumn 🍂!  What do you enjoy most about this season of the year?

Be safe, and stay well!

Books and puzzles….

 I gave myself the month of August off from the jigsaw puzzles.  Instead, I concentrated on books.  

Do any of these seem interesting to you?  The Nightingale was the choice for my Twitter Book Club.  It is historical fiction about the German occupation of France during WW 2.  I had already bought the others not checking closely to see what period they represented.  Ironically, they are set in the same time period!  What a troubling time!  

On September 1, I began a new puzzle.  This one moved considerably more quickly than the last one.

Isn’t this sweet?  I plan to keep this one intact, and I think I have the perfect spot to display it.

This month, I have begun reading from this collection….

Persuasion is the Book Club selection for this month.  I have never read much of Jane Austen’s writing, though I have seen movies based on her novels.  This should be a good break from the serious theme from the previous month’s reading.

Also, deciding which of these puzzles to tackle next….

Someone remarked that a puzzle with fewer than 1,000 pieces didn’t present much of a challenge.  I have one of those waiting.  Thinking I’ll do something simpler first.  It’s time for a break from challenges.😂

Be safe, and stay well!

In the days between….

 In the days between my last post and this one…..

….we had a glorious Friday morning sunrise….

….appreciated cooler temperatures….

….a perfect morning for oatmeal, topped here with dried cranberries and chopped walnuts….

….caught the hibiscus as it was closing up at the close of the day….

….viewed the moon as it became visible over the housetop….

….met (with great pleasure) this grocery store bouquet brought home by The Husband….

….and enjoyed the firepit!  The Husband actually made some toast over this fire!  The next time, we might have to have something a little more exciting.

Another week begins, and our days have moved out of the “cool” range into something more akin to summer once again.  Still exercising great care whenever we are out in public and awaiting the notice that a booster shot will be appropriate. 

Be well, friends!  Stay safe!  We are always hoping for increased vaccination percentages here!  We truly believe this is the way to defeat this virus!

Thursday Things….

 Hello, Blog peeps!  Are you well?

This morning felt more like a Monday morning to me than Monday actually does!  It was to my advantage that I turned around a quickly made the bed….before I climbed back into it!

Many of my friends begin their day with tea.  Here, we must have that cup of coffee to get our day going. 

By the time I was finished with this, I was about ready to join the world. LOL 😂 

Aren’t these the cutest?

Along with baby wipes, these newborn footed sleepers will be donated to a local program called Newborns in Need at my Circle September meeting.  Oh,  yes!  That’s tonight!  So you see, it was quite necessary for me to get my act together today!  

Still taking extra precautions here!  How about you?  Booster eligibility isn’t for a month yet, and we’re taking no chances!  

Good wishes to you!  Be safe, and stay well!