"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." ~George Bernard Shaw

"Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time." ~Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn


Showing posts with label Brian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brian. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Thankful Thursday ! Finally I am Back Online! October 19, 2023

Finally I am Back Online!
I am so thankful for everyone's compassion. 


Here's a photo of our dear Lucy having
a snooze while Russell is working on
his latest painting!


And here I am a few weeks ago 
celebrating my 81st Birthday!
How the heck did this happen??




Hope all is going well for everyone
and thanks for your kind patience while 
our family went through a very difficult time. 
~~~~ 

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Thankful Thursday June 22, 2023

 I am so very thankful for all the wonderful doctors and nurses that helped me over the past week. Last Thursday early morning at 2:00 am I woke up to use the bathroom and collapsed when coming back to bed. My wonderful sweetheart called 911 and an ambulance came within a few minutes and took me to the hospital very close by. I was evaluated and was then in surgery and I now have a pacemaker to help my heart beat regularly. Without my wonderful husband and all the help I received I would not be here today to tell all of you. Modern medicine and caring people saved my life. I will be forever grateful. I am recovering very well!



    



Thursday, May 18, 2023

Thankful Thursday! May 18, 2023

So very, very Thankful for our libraries!



No matter where we have lived over the years
we have always had a library card! 
We are so very lucky to have so many libraries
in our country. And we have always been
volunteers at these libraries!
Thanks Brian for Thankful Thursdays!   
Have a wonderful day!
~~~~

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Thankful Thursday April 27, 2023


I am very thankful for our sunny days!
After having March set a new record for rain and
April was not great until 2 days ago when the 
sun began to shine and the days became warmer!
Yippee Skippee!

~~~~



 

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Thankful Thursday! April 20, 2023


I am so thankful to be living with such
a talented man! He can do just about
anything! Last week he remodeled our
downstairs half bath and today he is working
on an oil painting for a good friend.
He is painting a very fun coffee shop
that we went to everyday in Loreto Baja Sur
in Mexico. We enjoyed delicious coffee drinks
and enjoyed meeting new friends every day!
You can click on this link to see more
of our adventure!  
Have a super happy day!
~~~~

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Thankful Thursday April 13, 2022


Today and everyday I am so thankful 
for all the traveling we have done over 
the years. From Paris to Zihuatenejo
and many other places !! We have enjoyed
every city and country and look forward
to more adventures later this year!
We are hoping to visit Sardinia next mid Spring!
So first I must start learning Italian!
Buona giornata ogni girno!
Thanks to Brian for Thankful Thursday!
~~~~~

Wednesday, April 05, 2023

Thankful Thursday April 6, 2023


I am so very thankful for all the adventures
my sweetheart and I have had. 
I will always cherish them.
Many thanks to Brian!
~~~~




 

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Thankful Thursday!! March 23, 2023


I am so thankful for our 2 week vacation
in Loreto, Baja Sur Mexico!
We had two weeks of relaxing, visiting
good friends, making more good friends
and having such a good time!


It was fascinating to see all the amazing
plants! So different from the rainy
Pacific Northwest! Look at this pretty
flowering plant, but LOOK OUT for 
those thorns! Possibly this plant developed
the thorns to protect itself?
Have a wonderful Thankful Thursday!
Thanks Brian!
~~~~

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Thankful Thursday March 16, 2023


So very thankful for my sweetheart of almost 
33 years of wedded bliss! 

 

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Thankful Thursday January 26, 2023




 As I promised in yesterday's blog post that I would share the     Butternut Squash Gnocci  recipe and so here it is!          Butternut Squash Gnocci

Ingredients:

1 butternut squash about 1.5 pounds equaling 2 cups cooked           2 large eggs beaten, 1/2 tsp salt, black pepper and 1.5 cups flour. I use unbleached all purpose flour and 2 large eggs beaten  1 stick of unsalted butter, 12-18 fresh sage leaves, and grated Parmesan cheese. 

  

Pre-heat oven to 350F, cut in half lengthwise, place the squash on parchment paper with just a bit of olive oiled brushed on squash. Bake for approximately 60 minutes. I usually check after 45 minutes to see if the squash is done. If a fork can easily penetrate it is ready. Let the squash cool enough so that you can handle it easily. Scoop out the seeds and then scoop out all of the squash and place in a mixing bowl. Using a fork smash the squash until it is smooth with no lumps, stir into the squash the 2 eggs. Once that is well mixed stir in the salt and pepper and then the flour.    Once that is done using a large pan such a Dutch Baby and fill with enough water to use for poaching the gnoccis. Bring the salted water to a boil and spooning about a tablespoon or a bit more of the squash mixture and using your fingers scoop it into the boiling water. Continue scooping the mixture in until the pan is full- about 10-15 gnoccis at a time. Once the water is boiling again and the gnoccis rise to to the surface then poach exactly  for 2 minutes and remove them carefully one at time- I use a small strainer. Place the gnoccis on a cooling rack. Continue poaching the rest of the mixture until all gnoccis have been poached. Let them cool and drain. I usually put a folded dish cloth under the rack to keep things tidy. Meanwhile melt the butter in a good size frying pan,  brown it just a bit and add then the fresh sage leaves turning them often until they are crisp but not burnt! Remove them from the pan and once the gnoccis have cooled down and aren't wet- only damp- then place the gnoccis in the pan with the brown butter and turning when they are browned. Once they are browned on both sides, place them in everyone's pasta bowls with the sage leaves and parmesan!

Many many thanks to Brian for Thankful Thursday!

Buon appetito!

           



Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Wordless Wednesday January 25, 2023



I took these two photos back in March of 2022.
Our good friends who live close by are lucky
to have such a beautiful Camellia in their backyard!
Here's a closeup!
Have a great day always! 
Thanks Sandee!!!



PS My header is of Butternut Squash Gnocci!
I discovered this recipe and I will be sharing
it on Brians Thankful Thursdays  blog!

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Thankful Thursday January 19, 2023


The rain may drive us all a bit bonkers, 
but it is a gift from Mother Nature and
I am thankful for all the rain as it nurtures 
our trees, bushes and flowers along with
giving us water to save and share with the 
birds and assorted mammals that live 
along with us. The deer, birds, squirrels, racoons,
possums and other animals flourish with the water.
Our French friends have taught me about 
saving water in large containers such as 
plastic garbage cans or large buckets.
They have the gutters from the house directly
filling up all the many large containers in their
backyard and over the rainy winter they
harvest so much rain! So much that
in the summer when they are not home I and
the neighbors use buckets of water to care for all 
of the trees, bushes and flowers that need attention. 
What a brilliant idea! We will be doing this also.
It makes total sense! 
Thanks Brian for Thankful Thursday!

~~~~~


 

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Thankful Thursday January 12. 2023


I am so very thankful for all the dedicated nurses 
and doctors who work tirelessly to help
others who are in need.
We have all been there in one way or another
where our loved ones are ill or injured 
or we are in need of medical assistance.
So many, many thanks to all of you out there!
And thanks to Brian for Thankful Thursdays!
~~~~~

Wednesday, January 04, 2023

Thankful Thursday January 5, 2023

This tree fell down a week ago in our old
Lake Oswego neighborhood!!
Our house was to the right of the yellow pickup!
Thankfully  no one was hurt nor was anyone's 
home damaged. Whew! 
So far this has been a torrential winter!
Take care everyone!
 

Thanks Brian for Thankful Thursday!
~~~~~

Thursday, December 22, 2022

Thankful Thursday! December 22, 2022


The weather for the next few days is going
to be cold and icy! I am thankful for many things:
1. Our weather folks have given us fair warning
and good advice on what to do!
2. My smart husband planning ahead for bad weather by
 setting up a generator when we first moved here four years ago!
 Prior planning prevents piss poor performance!
That's what he always says !
3. And we are so thankful for all our neighbors who 
help each other all the time- not just in bad weather!
Thanks Brian for Thankful Thursday and a big
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 
to you, your family and friends! 
Cheers!
~~~~~~

Wednesday, December 07, 2022

Thankful Thursday December 8, 2022


So very thankful for all the places we have lived.
All beautiful and full of wonderful people.
Life is content when calm.


Peace and tranquility.


Thanks Brian for Thankful Thursday!
~~~~

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Thankful Thursday December 1, 2022


So very thankful that Lucy
did not drag our turkey away!
Hahahahah! 
Happy December 1st  everyone!
Thanks Brian !
And now on to more Holiday fun!
~~~~

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Thankful Thursday and Happy Thanksgiving November 24, 2022

 


I am so thankful for the pilgrims who were 
so brave to sail on the Mayflower.
The Mayflower was an English ship 
that transported a group of English families,
 known today as the Pilgrims, 
from England to the New World in 1620.
Such courageous people.
Description: The First Thanksgiving 1621,  published 1932. 
Pilgrims and Natives gather to share meal.
Creator: Ferris, Jean Leon Gerome, 1863-1930, Artist

For many Americans, the Thanksgiving meal
 includes seasonal dishes such as roast turkey
 with stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes
 and pumpkin pie. 
The holiday dates back to November 1621, when the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians gathered at Plymouth for an autumn harvest feast, an event regarded as America’s “first Thanksgiving.” 
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
~~~

Wednesday, November 09, 2022

Thankful Thursday November 10, 2022


I am so thankful for my sweet and caring husband.
We heard a bird hit our dining room window and
he went outside immediately and found the
little Chestnut Chickadee. He held it in his
hands for awhile and then brought it inside
so we could put it on the counter under 
my kitchen strainer. It stayed there recovering
for a bit and then Russell took it outside and
it happily flew away! 
Russell has done this many times even with
a large California Acorn Woodpecker!


Russell is my hero!
Thanks Brian for Thankful Thursday!
~~~~~ 

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Thankful Thursday October 27, 2022

Today and everyday I am thankful for all
the kittens and cats that chose to live with us.
Some ( like Lucy) just showed up on our doorstep,
some were given to us and some we rescued.
Each one was a special individual with unique
personalities. We have had up to 4 at a time and
fortunately they all eventually became buddies.
Even sleeping altogether with us.
( It did get a little crowded at times!)



Thanks Brian for Thankful Thursday!
~~~~