T.G.I.F.

I just want to tell everyone to have a wonderful weekend! We are in Maryland for the weekend, but my son had to stay home to work. Today is beautiful and 65!!!! Hope the weather is holding up for everyone else. I'm on Amy's computer, and it is ready to crash, so I can't do much posting this weekend. See you on Monday!

XOXO

My boys are back!

This is my handsom son John outside of the condo in Park City, Utah that they were staying at. Yes girls, 23 and single!

Here is my husband, John and my son at Alta or Snowbird, which is right outside of Salt Lake City. They had a great time. They went with Rick, my brother in-law, and his son, my nephew Riley. No injuries, just great skiing and lots and lots of good food. They came home yesterday to some beef goulash. (They either thought it was yummy or yucky, after all of that good food!)

HAPPY HUMP DAY!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day today! Just keep thinking.................................

Spring is right around the corner!!

XOXO

I think I fixed it!

I hope I resolved the problem! Ina, I did remove the word verification, and changed some other options too, (what---I have no idea.) Thanks for the idea! Now I'm going to take a shower and lay in bed to watch some T.V. Have a great night.
XOXO

Posting Problems

For some reason, I'm having a problem recieving comments. Please e-mail me at baily4us@verizon.net, if you can't make a post. Thank-you!! (I don't know what to do if this is a problem!)

Treats for my Sweet

Stella is being such a good girl today.

I think it is time to make her some cookies.



These are her favorite treats, and the only ones she will eat!




They are called "Simple Simon's Birthday Bones"

I got the recipe from Three Dog Bakery in New York. They are very easy to make, and very good for them too! I add a couple squirts of honey to make them extra special. The ingredients are wholesome, and much better than the store bought crap. I bag them up in small baggies, and put the small baggies in one large bag, and freeze them. I take a portion out when needed. I can't tell you how much Stella loves them! Ina--give them a try! I use small cookie cutters, and it makes oodles. Here is the recipe:

Simple Simon's Birthday Bones
These easy-to-make pet treats are a favorite of my crew and make a great present for the pet birthday party or a unique hostess gift for the animal lover.To make these tasty treats, you will need:

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup natural peanut butter*
1 cup skim milk
*Note: Most brands of natural peanut butter do not contain sugar, which is an ingredient that is not recommended for canine diets.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. in another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk. Add wet mixture to dry and mix well.
Turn out dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll out to a 1/4-inch thick and cut in shapes.
Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until lightly brown. Cool on a rack and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Makes 24-30 treats.
From: Three Dog Bakery Cookbook, 2001.

Oyster and Brie Champagne Soup

I found this amazing recipe from Paula Dean, and thought I would share it. The first person I thought of was Ina for her Champagne Thursday! It is delicious, and you could substitute scallops if you wanted to! Bon Appe`tit!!

Ingredients:

~ 1/2 stick butter

~ large shallot, minced

~ 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

~ 1/4 cup all purpose flour

~ 3 1/2 cups fish stock or clam juice

~ 2 cups heavy cream

~ 3/4 pounds ripe Brie cheese, rind removed and cheese cut up

~ 1 bunch chives, chopped

~ salt and freshly ground pepper

~ 1 cup Champagne

~ 2 dozen fresh oysters

Directions:

~ Melt butter over low heat. Add shallots and red pepper flakes and saute` until softened.

~ Sprinkle in flour and cook intil lightly colored, roughly 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the stock and cream.

~ Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil: reduce heat to medium-low ans simmer for 10 minutes.

~ Add the Brie, chives, salt and pepper, to taste, and stir intil melted.

~ Add champagne. Add the oysters, and cook for 3 minutes.

~ Makes 6 servings

Florida cont. keep scrolling till the end! (Beginning)

Finishing the last leg of our trip, we drove from Miami to Naples, to a another friend's place (boy, what a money saver!) Bob and Betsi's, for 3 days. We left on Sunday and headed to Marco Island, which is a very close 30 minutes.

This beautiful pool belongs to my husband's good friend, Edson, who has a beautiful home in Marco Island. If I were ever to retire at this moment, it would be in this town. It is FULL of senior citizens, and for some reason , at the moment, I loved it! Maybe it was because it was just me and my husband----finally, for 2 & 1/2 days ALONE.

This is a picture of Mr. Alligator while driving through the Everglades on alligator alley on the way to Naples. He was a biggon'!

Finally on the beach!

On the beach in Marco Island.

Lunch.

A VERY rare picture of John reading! (Faking?)

Beautiful ending to a wonderful trip!!

P.S. Stella did a back flip when I got home!!!!

Florida cont.

Okay, I'm going backwards, but this is my friend Betsi on the left and my sister-in-law Diane on the right. Betsi and her husband rent the condo in South Beach for 3 months each year, (LUCKY.) She has the cutest little teacup poodle, Porsche, who is such the little princess!

Princess

This poor dog! A man on a bicycle was riding around Ocean Drive with his dog and people were dropping dollar bills on the sidewalk. The dog is trained to pick up the money and put it in the bucket. It was very windy that day and the money was going all over the place. I got scared when the money blew out into street and the dog went after it. He does this everyday. It is child abuse in my eyes!!

Poor baby.

This is a picture of John and I at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami. James Deering (John Deer) built this house between 1914-1916 for his girlfriend and she dumped him! It was beautiful! All the stonework in the gardens is made out of coral.

Miami Beach was so beautiful. This was the back of our friend's house on his dock. This was our second stop. Matt Damen lived 3 doors to the right, and Ricky Martin was 2 doors to the left!

South Beach view from Betsi's condo they were renting. I got to see where Bird Cage was filmed, and Verssace's, and below is a picture of a car with Humphrey Bogart in the front seat. It is parked in front of Cassablanca's. I loved this town!

The very famous Joe's Stone Crab's----YUMMY!!

I'm Home!

We are back from a wonderful sunsational 10 day trip from sunny Florida. The weather was a perfect 70-82 degrees every day. It was so nice to get a good dose of sunshine, and get away from this cold, gray weather. I only wish I could have posted on a daily basis, but we had a hard time with the Internet down there. Plus, it was nice getting away from the keyboard for awhile. I'm still getting used to posting pictures, and comments. How come when I write something and post a picture, the picture comes out on top? I want to type something, then post a picture, what gives?? I'll give it a try, I might just have to make a bunch of posts.

Anyway, we started our trip in Sebring (close to Orlando) to watch my brother-in-law race. He is in the Porsche Club, and races in different places. This is Rick above with his car. He came in 3rd place, out of about 25 racers. Not too bad. It was neat to see him race, but it is not my cup of tea.

On my Way

I'm getting up at 3:30, and leaving at 5:00 a.m. I will try to keep you updated on my trip, as best I can. I really can't wait to get in some warm weather. Will be thinking of my new friends all week!!

XOXO

Countdown to Florida

I leave Sunday for Florida for 10 days. We are flying into Orlando and renting a car and driving to Sebring Racetrack to watch my brother-in-law race and spending the night. Then on Monday, we are driving to Miami, and I can't wait! We will spend a few nights there, go out on the town, go to the famous Joe's Stone Crab....

Then, on Thursday, we are driving to Naples to visit some friends and spend a few nights with them. Then we will end our trip in Marco Island at another friends house. Then it will be back to reality. I am already missing Stella! (I'll miss my 2 kids too!). I'll keep you posted on our adventure.

XOXO

Florida countdown

I'm going to Florida on Sunday for 10 days, and I can't wait! With that said, I have so much do do in the next couple of days, that I can't think straight. Not to mention getting on a plane. It really doesn't bother me, but ya know, it's still in the back of your mind, that your flying somewhere.

I have to go through and find summer stuff, after just putting them away for the winter. I want to get my feet under control. I don't know about you, but I have cracked heels. I saw Dr. Oz on Oprah once, and he said to rub Stridex pads on your heels, then your favorite cream with white peds, and your cracks will disappear. Well, I have been doing it for about a month, and it seems to be working. Better than before, that's for sure! I do it everytime I get out of the shower, and it's cheaper than a pedicure!

This might sound crazy, but I have to cook 10 days of dog food for Stella to take to my mother-in-laws. I'm sorry, I do cook her food. Ever since that dog food recall, I have been making her food. She was just a puppy when all that started, and I wanted to keep her healthy. Now I'm getting kind tired of doing it, even though she only eats a cup at a time! I give her chicken or beef with peas or carrots, and rice or pasta. Anybody know any GOOD dog food out there? Ever heard of Nutrish by Racheal Ray? Any good?

I have to work tomorrow, go food shopping, haircut, pay bills, post office, dry cleaners, blah, blah, blah!!

Have a great day tomorrow----Thursday.
XOXO

Isn't it pretty?

This is a picture taken of out my back door. It is snowing right now, but I don't think it suppose to get too bad. It sure is pretty though! Hope everyone is having a nice day!

The flu

This has been me since 5:00a.m. I want my mommy.

1970's

Does anyone have anything they just can't part with? Well I do. I can't part with this thick, fluffy, oversized, Olive Green, "Blanket" that Stella is snuggled into. I have to admit, it is so warm, SOFT, and not to mention, big. I'm sorry to say, they don't make blankets like they use to. I just love this UGLY thing!