This and That

Sorry guys - but I'm complaining about blogger this morning. Got to load all photos at one time - can't add any more after that. sucks. A couple got deleted. Oh well. That's life.

I had a good weekend. Got out of town for a change. And the change was good. Headed up north to Cleveland MS. My dad lives there and I went up to see my dad and step mother.

The trip up was boring as heck. We were in the Delta area. I learned that this road runs along the MS River and is nothing but flatlands. For the entire 107 miles that we drove this road nothing but flatlands. Boring.

I saw mostly open fields of nothing but dry dirt. The farmers can't plant due to the draught conditions we are experiencing here in the south. However there were tractors stirring up the dry dirt along the way.

Little Buddy did really well for the 5 1/2 hour drive. He mostly rested in his riding bed but sat up now and then to look around.

My dad and me.

We decided to take a less boring route into Jackson MS and rode the Natchez Trace. This was my first trip on the Trace and you couldn't ask for better weather for traveling. The bluest skies and temps of maybe 78. One day I'm gonna take the Trace to Natchez or start there. Natchez is a place I want to visit. It's on my bucket list.

Here we got on the Trace.

This is the first marker we saw.  

We saw only a few vehicles on the Trace. Ended up passing the only 3 vehicles 3 different times on the way.

 

We stopped at this park and walked part of the trail.

The view at the park.

The trail was open and well maintained. Buddy enjoyed getting out too.

Along the paths were mostly the Beautyberry that someone identified on my blog from my yard. Correct me if I'm wrong.

There was very little color which I found surprising. Guess it's not far enough north. However this was pretty.

We passed the resevoir. Forgot the name of it. The sun sparkled on the water as the sun hit it just right.

It's always a joy to see the grands, daughter and husband.

Gavin is taking guitar and piano lessons. Gavin is the oldest - going on 13. He is strumming me a tune.

Ben is in the middle. He is into martial arts and is showing me his routine for his next belt. The boy is good. (have I said I hate blogger sometime)

Luci is the youngest just turned 6. Luci decided that she wanted to take karate/tai kwon do too and she is doing very well. Last year she was in dance and I hope that she will resume dance along with the martial arts. Martial arts teaches the children self control and coordination among other things. (Could it be too late for me - I could use some self control and coordination. just kidding ya'll. I think something would break)

April and Luci and me. (have I said I hate blogger sometime)

The SIL Brian with Ben.

Gavin.

On Sunday I decided to fix a seasonal meal. Baked Tilapia with fresh basil, parsley, lemon, butter and paprika for color. Also baked sweet potatos and cooked yellow saffron rice and baked apples for dessert.



Baked apples was on the menu.

I make this stuff up as I go along here.

Apples with the first ingredient - honey.

Blogger didn't load right so they are out of order. Ready for the oven. Believe it or not what you see is two apples.

These are the ingredients for the apples. I love honey on just about anything. Except for all the butter I use, it is a somewhat healthy baked apples. I use a lot of butter/margarine on lots of things. Could I be related to Paula Deen? Just asking.

I have been wanting to learn quilting for sometime now and just haven't taken the plunge. Well my step mother set me up here with this Quilting Bible. And a quilt starter piece (under the book-blogger wouldn't load the photo). I need to get me a little Singer sewing machine and begin making some quilts. Can't wait to get started.

For the past few weeks - everyone who sees Buddy has commented that he has gotten so fat. I guess I didn't really notice that he had gained weight. The vet didn't say anything when we were last in for a visit. He weighed 22 pounds 4 months ago.

This is Buddy's cabinet filled with dog treats. I had been leaving his food on the floor and filling the bowl whenever it gets empty. Plus I love passing treats out to my little companion. He kinda ate when he wanted but - I'll tell you - Buddy eats when I am present and only if we are in the same room and he has to be sure I'm not doing anything with food. Funny dog.

Buddy loves his treats and I love to pass them out.

I decided to begin picking up the food bowl and putting it down for him only once a day now. He is focusing on his food now. After he eats good I'll give him a treat. I think this will help the little fat fellow.

Look at this sweet rolley-polley. He loves his momma and loves mommas chair.



Hope I haven't bored you too much.

Hope you all have a blessed day.

A Sunny and Warmer Weekend!!!

The 'Ole Weatherman' is calling for a weekend half filled with sunshine and warmer weather. How ya like my description. Optimistic it is. Actually the next few days are going to be very nice. It is beautiful outside here today and it just makes me anxious to get off work today.

I just came from WM and picked up some potting mix to go into the new porch garden - unnamed yet. I am getting it ready to do some direct seed sowing and plant some things I need to get in the ground. I am also getting an area out the back door garden for these babies. See how big they are. I am planting them this weekend and will begin some new seeds in these containers.

The lettuce will be ready to eat in maybe 3-4 weeks, I'm hoping anyway.

The broccoli is also getting big. I have no idea how long it takes broccoli to make but I'll be as happy as a lark when I cook me some. It might be just enough for me.

I have to tell you about my grandson last year. My daughters 3 kids have taken and interest in gardening the last couple of years. Last year - The Oldest grew some snap beans. He would pick 1 or 2 pods every few days. At the end of the week, April cooked a can of snap beans to go with dinner and cooked The Oldest kids beans separate for him to eat. He said that was the best beans he ever ate. I am very proud of Gavin, Ben and Luci (daughters 3) for taking an interest and for wanting to grow their own veggies.

Hope you all have a great weekend and that it is warmer.

(PS sorry I haven't been around much lately but this is the new year and I am still closing the books for last year and I am very busy. I'll be back around more in a few weeks.

This and That

I found this piece of an egg laying on the ground but didn't see any babies near by. I thought it was neat to find anyway.

Luci turned 5 and had a puppy dog party with many of her homeschool friends and neighbors. Happy Birthday Luci.

I have been wanting some homemade chicken pot pie. I printed off the recipe 3 weeks ago and finally made it. It was the best chicken pot pie I have ever made. The recipe "Lady and Sons Chicken Pot Pie" came from Paula Deen and I picked it up on the Foodnetwork.com. It made a beautiful pie with lattice crust on top. I don't think that I should post the recipe but I can tell you that it the creamyness of it comes from using a quart - yes I said a quart of heavy cream. I was kinda concerned but it was wonderful. One thing I did different is that the recipe called for raw onion to be added to the mix - but I prefer my onions cooked so I cooked them in the oil that I used for browning the chicken. The recipe makes a ton. I baked a 9x13 pan and had enough for an additional 9x9 pan. Also the recipe calls for 4 sheets of puff pastry - I used only 2 and had too much.

I also have been wanting a fresh pound cake and I love to make them. Another Paula Deen recipe. This one was also different than others I have made in that it called for heavy cream also but only a cup of the rich stuff. The recipe is "Southwest Georgia Pound Cake" and it is awesome and rich - ooohhhh. You absolutely have to try a piece of warm cake right out of the oven. It will leave you wanting more. Sorry about the blurred picture - I was about to drop the camera trying to get a photo before taking that warm bite of cake. MMMMmmmmm.

I decided to take the whole pot pie and the cake to my Mom's for their dinner. They were so happy to get a good meal they didn't have to prepare and it was sssooo good.

Well mom had really nice eye candy in the gardens. The leaves are so pretty on this plant. Don't know its name but it in the 'wondering jew' family with its beautiful color on the leaves.

The clematis are so full and the flowers are like velvet and such a rich red.

I love the leaves on this one too. Again I do not know the name but it sure is pretty.

Hope you all have a great Monday.

The Weekend

My favorite swinging bridge. You have to click on the photo and enlarge to see the swinging bridge just above the concrete railing here. This is in Florence MS.

You couldn't have asked for a prettier day than this. Such a pretty shade of blue with a few wispy clouds. Even the temps were pleasant. Actually set some record lows for this time of year. This AM is was 62 degrees - temps we normally see in Oct. (Could this be the reason a few pecan trees are losing their nuts prematurely?) Maybe an early fall?

Buddy has to be clean to visit relatives. He hates the whole bath process - but just like children he loves the water.

He rides in the passenger seat in his bed. He is most comfortable in his own diggs with a pillow to block some sun.

Luci's birthday cake. She is going to be 5.

The hand is suppose to be a puppy dog begging, but one hand had to hold the purse.

Ben love the pirates. Everything is about pirates right now.

Calm.

I had a great weekend. The only thing that could have made it better is if I had stayed and gone to church with them. I regret not attending with them.