Jack is Back!

This was my very first post, all about Jack the Scarecrow.....today I'm linking with

Sunday Favorites where we post past favorites thanks to Cheri at Happy to Design .

Jack is still special around our house......hope you enjoy reading about him.

It's always kind of sad, but after sitting on our porch swing from October 1st until Thanksgiving, our family scarecrow Jack has to return to the attic for another 9 months of relaxation. Actually we aren't always sure what he does up there all year when we're not watching. The two youngest ones in our family, the two 5 year olds, are pretty sure he can talk......and they're convinced they've seen him move.

I made him when my youngest son Christopher was in Kindergarten ( and he's 19 now!) So Jack has been in the family for awhile now.

He loves to travel around town........over the years he's been to parties, hayrides, and presided over Harvest Carnivals. He's had his picture taken with young and old. He's quite a social fellow.....never met anyone he didn't like.....or anyone who didn't like him. If he had a Facebook page he'd be the guy with all the friends!

While there's a video tape floating around somewhere of him dancing with several lovely young ladies here in Phoenix, his favorite date has always been my Mom. Here they are a few years back at a church party. He was her constant companion on a 1998 hayride when she was trying to ignore the unwanted attentions of a much older gentleman who shall remain nameless. He finally got the hint.....Jack had saved the day. He's really quite the ladies man.

But at heart he's a real family guy.......here he is with grandaughters Kylie, Kenedee, and Christian last year.

This year, just like every other year, nobody wants to say goodbye.........a quick kiss from the aforementioned 5 year olds........grandaughters Fiona and Kenedee. Love ya, Jack.

The Perfect Fall Cookie

We recently spent a few days in Camarillo, California celebrating my Mother's birthday. I wanted to share a few photos of my sister Joan's home while it is decorated for Fall. We felt like we were staying at a charming Bed and Breakfast. I also wanted to share her recipe for a delicious cookie she baked for us while we were there.....Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies. This is a little table she has set up in her kitchen......the basket there is holding the leftover biscuits we had that morning for breakfast with our sausage gravy and eggs......see what I mean about that Bed and Breakfast?

Pilgrims on the table...........

Beautiful tabletop vignette in the diningroom...........

Some of you will recognize her Jack Vettriano painting of the dancers on the beach........by the way it rained every day we were there........which was fine with us........very cozy

Here's a little proof that Autumn has indeed arrived........even in Southern California......a few falling leaves

And finally here's the cookie recipe.....there were a few left so she sent them with us when we left town........driving in the rain, cups of hot Starbucks coffee in hand......perfect ending to a great trip!

Joan's Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup of vegetable shortening

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

2 eggs

2 Tbsp milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

4 cups oatmeal ( not instant)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Blend shortening and sugars together gradually. Add eggs, milk, vanilla, and beat well. Add flour, baking soda, salt and beat well. Stir in oats, chocolate chips, and walnuts.

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased cookie sheet placing them about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 13 to 15 minutes depending on your oven and how chewy you want them.

Cool on wire rack or flat surface (they can easily break if not laying flat)

Makes about 42 cookies.

Enjoy!

Phoenix Hailstorm

As promised I'm finally posting pictures of the storm that hit us here in the desert three weeks ago. I thought it particularly appropriate for an "Outdoor Wednesday" post since it hardly ever looks this way here in Phoenix! No, this is not snow, it is hail.

My son Christopher, who is admittedly known to be rather dramatic, immediately rushed outside. Of course he wasn't the only one.....only one of many who reacted this way here in Phoenix......we all act kind of crazy when we get any change in the weather.....clouds, any kind of rain, the rare snowflake, and particularly something like this!

In our part of town, thankfully, it was all fun and no property damage.

Our Golden Retriever Patrick wouldn't dare venture out in it......he just stood at the door and looked out......until he found out it was ICE falling from the sky. Ice just happens to be one of his favorite treats.....really.....better than Milk Bones even! So he did stick his head out the door and eat all the hail that had fallen on the front doormat.

Keep in mind that we were still having three digit temperatures that first week in October!

The temps did drop a full 20 degrees pretty quickly that afternoon, but of course it all melted pretty quickly too......but we had our own white wonderland for a little while. That's exciting stuff around here.

We thought it was an especially enjoyable and cozy way to start off our Fall season.....too bad the firewood had gotten wet or I do believe I would have started up a fire in the fireplace :)

Till Friday when I share my sister Joan's special recipe for "Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies" ,

Enjoying the Season

Don't you think Sunflowers are the epitome of a Fall day.....I do. I've never grown them in my garden though I've always planned to......just like I've always planned to grow pumpkins. Hasn't happened yet (go here for my pumpkin excuse post). Anyway, I enjoy these flowers wherever I find them.

There was an abundance of Sunflowers at the Pumpkin Farm we went to last weekend. Thats where I snapped the shot of the gorgeous flower above. Look closely and you'll see the bumble bee enjoying it too.

And of course there were those "specially picked out pumpkins" to take home. Hope you're enjoying this Autumn Season as much as I am. If not, what are you waiting for? It's everywhere you look and it won't be here for long.....be sure to enjoy it while you can.

I'm linking with Today's Flowers.....please drop by their site for more flowers!
And be sure to drop by Mellow Yellow Monday too!

Quick Autumn Breakfast

It's beginning to seem like Fall even here in the desert. Perhaps next Wednesday I'll post some "Outdoor Wednesday" pics of the big hailstorm we had this week.....quite an event for Phoenix. In any case, the quick drop from three-digit temp days to days in the 70's and 80's has made everyone around here positively giddy!

Yesterday we had to leave town yet again on business, but before we did I managed to throw together a quick autumn-type breakfast.....one we don't usually have in the summer.....couldn't get any simpler......oatmeal! The trick this time of year is to set the table for Fall and serve the humble bowls of oatmeal with raisins, brown sugar, and a little Half and Half.

It's hard to find a quicker, cozier, or more delicious little breakfast.

   Used my "apple" napkins that I've had for who knows how many years now.....only use them in Autumn so they've stayed in pretty good shape.....just worn enough to be comfortable.

 


  We usually have orange juice with almost any breakfast so I used some little wildlife themed juice glasses that I don't use very often (can't wash them in the dishwasher so I have to be a little more careful with them)

The key to this breakfast, like I said, is the brown sugar, raisins, and Half and Half. The small milk pitcher I picked up at Crate and Barrel Outlet a few years ago, the amber sugar dish is the perfect color for a fall tablescape, and the the white raisin dish is just one of many little inexpensive white dishes I collect......they work for so many things.

Quick, Easy, Delicious......aren't we glad Autumn is here?

  Today I'm linking to Tablescape Thursday, Foodie Friday,

Just a Little Autumn......For Now

Sure, the calendar says it's Fall......but most of us here in the West are not convinced just yet. With three-digit temperatures still around we're really having to use our imaginations! But it's almost October.....you have to do SOMETHING..... right?......or at least I do. My solution has been to place a very simple arrangement of dried hydrangeas on my dining room table. I used a basket I already had, filled them with the flowers I picked from my father-in-law's yard a few weeks ago and have simply let dry. Now they're just the perfect gorgeous autumn colors.

Here I've used a table runner

Here's the arrangement from a different angle, using no table runner. I tend to like things a little more on the simple side so I'm really liking it on the bare black wood of the table top.

BUT.......

the trouble is I like them both ways. I'll probably go back and forth with it for the rest of the season.......I love to putter around with things in the house. For now I'm loving my little touch of Fall, and since we have to be away on a business trip for the rest of the week, we'll have this to greet us when we get back home on Monday. They'll look as lovely then as they did yesterday when I first placed them there. Even if the weather still isn't cooperating we'll have our own little piece of Autumn when we walk in the door.

Enjoying the little things,

The Mom Song with Lyrics

This is so hilarious and 100% accurate! I posted this on my Facebook page this morning and thought I'd share it with my Blog followers too.

Enjoy!.....and Happy Mother's Day!

Sexy Joes for Swimsuit Season

Who among us hasn't decided this time of year that we'd better get busy and lose a few pounds before swimsuit/shorts season is in full swing? Here is a great little sandwich that comes in at only 331 calories and is actually very good. I don't mean to sound surprised, but you all know what I mean.......sometimes the stripped down versions of things just don't taste that good. This is from the Biggest Loser Cookbook. I think it makes a great supper with lemon sliced cucumbers, veggie sticks, or a slice of nice juicy melon......and of course a big glass of iced tea! This "good for you" meal is guaranteed to be painless.

Sexy Joes

Ingredients:

I pound of extra lean ground chicken....

(if you can't find it in the package most butchers at major grocery stores will grind chicken breasts for you)

1 tablespoon of white vinegar

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons honey

1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

2/3 cup chopped yellow onion

1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper

3/4 cup tomato sauce

3/4 cup chili sauce

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

4 whole-grain or whole- wheat buns

Mist a medium non-stick skillet with olive-oil spray ( or another cooking spray) and set on medium-high heat. Add the chicken. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, breaking into large chunks, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until no longer pink.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the vinegar, Worcestershire, honey, and hot-pepper sauce. Whisk to blend. Set aside.

Drain off any liquid that has accumulated in the pan. Add the onion, bell pepper, tomato sauce, chili sauce, chili powder, and the reserved vinegar mixture to the pan. Stir to blend. Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce the heat so mixture simmers. Cook for 20 minutes, or until the mixture is thickend

Spoon the mixture equally onto the opened buns. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

If you're like me and want to add a little mayo to spread on the buns be sure to add the extra calories........45 for 1/2 Tablespoon of mayonnaise.

Enjoy!

Today I'm linking with:

Foodie Friday, Friday Favorites, Friday Feasts, Food on Friday

Friday Follow, and Follow Me Friday

Don't forget to drop by these great sites!

Lilies of the Field

Lilies are so often associated with this time of year. I've attempted to grow them in my garden but have never been very successful, particularly here in the desert, so I've pretty much given up on that and now just enjoy them as potted plants while they last. They are so gorgeous, though, aren't they? These are photographed in their containers and placed in the garden among other flowers. I wanted to capture them before they lost all of their blooms.

I can never see a lily without thinking of the passage in Matthew 6:28 where Jesus tells us to consider the lilies of the field and how they grow. One version says to take notice of the lilies and how they grow. It goes on to say how they neither spin or toil but they are arrayed in such splendor.....more splendor than even King Solomon was arrayed in! He says how much more will our heavenly Father make sure we are clothed! Or how much more will he take care of our every need!

There is so much financial instability in our world right now, and there's always the temptation to worry or be concerned about so many things. Later on in the same chapter we're told that there is an answer to all of this though..........."for your Father knows that ye have need of all these things. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." (Matthew 6:32,33)

So whether you have a garden full of lilies, or just enjoy them in pots this time of year, it is wise to consider them or take notice of them because it is just one of the many examples of how much God loves us and how much He wants to take care of us.

Blessings,

Today I'm linking up with Charlotte and Ginger at Spiritual Sundays and Today's Flowers. Be sure to take time to visit them!

Lemon Basil Pasta

Since we've been so busy around our home this week I've tried to keep things as simple in the meals department as I could. Last week I ran across a wonderful little recipe that I definitely think is a keeper. Right now I have plenty of basil and Italian parsley in the garden along with a few lemons still left from my father-in-law's Meyer Lemon tree, so I couldn't resist trying this. It turned out to be very quick and easy. My son especially loved it and my husband gave it a thumbs up ( but also added that he thinks an Italian sausage would be great on it.....of course he would say that). I found the recipe at Budget Confessions and I tweeked it just a bit and added the equivalent substitutions in dry herbs in case you want to use those instead of fresh. Serve this with garlic toast or breadsticks and a big green salad and you're set to go........ Oh and maybe an Italian sausage or two. :)

Lemon Basil Pasta

Ingredients:

16 fresh basil leaves, finely sliced

(or 1 1/2 tsps. dried basil)

2 tsps. Italian parsley, finely chopped

(or 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes)

Zest of 1 lemon

Juice of 1 lemon

2 1/2 Tbps butter, preferably unsalted

2 1/2 Tbps extra virgin olive oil

1 tsps salt

8 oz. Angel Hair pasta

Coarse ground black pepper

Grated Parmesan cheese

Black olives for garnish

Italian parsley for garnish (optional)

To Make:

In a large bowl put basil, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and extra virgin olive oil. Prepare angel hair pasta as on package. In the meantime melt butter and add to other ingredients in bowl. Mix well. When pasta is ready, drain in collander then add to bowl. Take tongs and repeatedly lift the pasta to coat evenly. Serve immediately adding salt and pepper to taste and topping with Parmesan cheese and black olives.

Today I'm linking with these parties so be sure to check them out :

Foodie Friday, Friday Food, Food on Fridays Friday Favorites, Follow Me Friday, Friday Follow