Years ago I picked up this gigantic pumpkin from Target after Halloween. Bought it for $10. Every year we put it on the front porch and plug it in on Halloween night. Everyone thinks it’s real. Every. Year. It was a great find. Sometimes I get a real pumpkin and sometimes I don’t… this one gets all the attention!
Be safe on the roads, watch out for the kiddies… HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Ahhh, San Francisco, CA. A place you can see so much, do so much and totally wear yourself out! This photo was taken in October, 2005 -on the ferry back from Sausalito… after a big day touring Muir Woods. We went on one of those tours (that I was completely against but am so glad we went on) that takes you to Muir Woods and Sausalito. We only had an hour in Sausalito… but it is such a neat place, so we stayed and instead of the tour bus we took the ferry back to San Fran. We had a great time, snapped a few pics on the ferry ride “home”. There is SO MUCH to do in San Fran, and with such great public transportation it’s quick and easy to get around. If you’re headed that way on vacation I highly recommend the CITY PASS… you get free admission to many venues as well as flashing your pass to hop on most all public transportation. It was the perfect way to get around!
Catch you back here tomorrow… boy, could I ever go for breakfast at MAMA’S on Washington Square, owieee what a treat! Haven’t been there in years, but I do remember an omelet called THE CALIFORNIAN, crispy bacon, avocado and jack cheese…. lawd have mercy!
Those of you who know me know how I love Taco Boy restaurant. The ambiance can’t be beat, and luckily neither can the food… Every day is a party at Taco Boy… and although I’m not one that stays up late, I want to let the rest of you know there is a PARTY at Taco Boy tonight… there will be live music, games, contests AND the best costume wins $1000! Whaaaat? So what are you going to be?? Hey, get a group together, best group costume is $500! Spend a few minutes, come up with something creative and go for it! Have fun, and if you go, I’d love to hear about it!
Don’t you just love this photo?? It was taken several years ago, our first trip to Maine, Monhegan Island to be exact. If I were to give this photo a title it would be INNER PEACE. Good one, eh? This is one of our favorite places in the world. I think we are destined to become island people… all of our favorite places are islands. On our first trip back from Monhegan, sitting on the wharf waiting for the Laura B. all I could say is that I didn’t want to leave. Not in a “I don’t want to leave because I’m having too much fun” kind of way, but more of a “this is where I belong and it’s difficult to leave” kind of way… We both felt that from the first year our feet hit the ground. While in Maine you just feel so content. So happy. So relaxed… It’s life… The way it should be…
Back to the reason I started this post…
WOOHOO FRED!!!! Happy Birthday!! If I could give Fred one thing for his birthday it would be a trip to Monhegan, although the season is over, the inn is closed and let me just say… WHERE WOULD WE EAT? Ha ha… So Fred… I wish you the happiest birthday ever. A year full of happiness and no worries, I am blessed beyond belief to be your wife. I love you so much!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
The past few weeks we’ve been discussing an article from Reader’s Digest magazine EAT FOR BETTER MEMORY: 7 WAYS TO STAY SHARP (worth the read!), today is week three:
Tuna. Yay! Tuna salad, tuna casserole (hee hee, I actually have a fabulous recipe for this believe it or not! Fatty fish such as salmon has so many health benefits. Whenever we go out to eat, if salmon is on the menu, Fred usually orders it. I WISH I could be one of those people to actually like salmon. It smells so fishy, and the few bites I’ve tried at restaurants always tasted/smelled fishy… then I went on vacation while Fred stayed home, worked, took care of the house and dog sat Charlie. While I was gone he was at EarthFare (grocery store) and they had a cooking demo involving salmon. So he bought some. He tried it. He told me how wonderful it was. OH NO I thought to myself. I KNOW I should eat it, but… he was so sweet to work so hard for the almost two weeks I was gone how could I NOT try it? It’s the least I could do. AND I told myself I would choke it down no matter how bad it was. He made it. I made baked potatoes (with Greek yogurt, 2% cheddar, chives, yum!) it was my “just in case” it was all I was going to be able to eat.
I. Like. To. Be. Prepared.
And guess what? I didn’t need to be! The salmon was AWESOME! IT wasn’t fishy in the least. It was fresh wild caught Alaskan coho salmon and it was a treat. I can’t believe I just said that. After I ate it, the first thing I thought to myself… I’m an adult. Ha. I like salmon patties dipped in lots of ketchup, which is disgusting because under any other circumstances ketchup gives me the willies. So sautee a nice piece of fresh salmon if you can find it! Otherwise there really isn’t anything wrong with canned salmon, it makes great salmon patties (mix in an egg, a wedge of lemon squeezed, some onion and a little bit of breadcrumbs. Sautee in olive oil… then dredge in ketchup if you must :) or tuna salad!
Read the rest of the article for the remaining suggestions… I will have more info back here next week!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
Is there truly any way to feel better than to do good for someone else? There is nothing that will make you feel better than helping someone who needs it, especially during the holiday season. I normally don’t start talking about the Christmas season so early, but this is for a good reason. FAMILIES NEED YOU. Kids need you. Senior citizens need you. YOU can make a difference in someone’s life. Families Helping Families is a great organization that my husband and I have been involved with. There are different ways that you can help make a big difference.
You can make a tax-deductible donation by going to the FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES WEBSITE. Once on their website click on the MAKE A DONATION link. These funds will allow FHF to provide gifts for unsponsored families and cover their relatively low operating expenses. PERFECT!
The other option…
You can become a sponsor for a family (or families) by clicking here to go to the FHF website, click on the SPONSOR A FAMILY link by Nov. 18. FHF send you a profile of your family that will include specific needs and the children’s wish lists. Most sponsors say they spend an average of $50 on each family member. This my friends, is what the holiday season is all about. Bringing a smile to someone’s face on a day that can be difficult for so many. Can you imagine being a child on Christmas and not having one single gift to open? I was fortunate, I never had that worry. No child should. Don’t let the $50 scare you. The average is $50 spent per person, but with larger families that may be $30 or $40 per person. Whether you adopt a family on your own, go in with some friends or neighbors or get your office to adopt a family/families – please do it today. They’ve made it so easy. The process goes something like this:
You fill out the form. If you like, you can specify the number of people you would like in the family and they will try their best to match it (i.e. a single parent family with 3 children, or a senior citizen, or hey… BOTH!).
You will be sent a packet with information on your family, it will give their names, ages, and a wish list. A wish list is just that… it doesn’t mean you have to purchase everything on the list. If you have big plans (TV, Computer, Bike) you may want to mention that when requesting a family so they can hook you up with someone who has big wishes :) Sometimes the adult may ask for an item, sometimes they just want everything to go to the child. Hey, it’s Christmas for us all… the last family we had the mother asked for a clock. A simple everyday item we take for granted. We shopped the sales and got her some great things, and a clock was one of them. I cannot tell you how much fun we’ve had shopping for our FHF Christmas Families… you can’t help thinking about them, you’re excited on Christmas Eve for them to open their gifts the next day. You wonder if they enjoyed their gifts. You. Care. AWESOME!! It’s nice when Christmas is all about someone other than ourselves…
A nice thing to include is a gift card so the family can buy food for dinner. If you pick a place such as Walmart, if they don’t have items for a Christmas meal they can use the gift card, or if they need household items… they can pick. Christmas dinner doesn’t have to be fancy, but it’s nice to know with a small gift card, that your family is enjoying their own Christmas dinner. That’s perfect!
And did I mention the bonus for you?? Families Helping Families is a tax deductible contribution. You just keep your receipts (or make copies if you want to include the receipts for your family to exchange if they need), along with a copy of the letter that comes in your packet and voila! You have a tax deduction!
Can you get some people together who may be interested in participating?? Maybe instead of exchanging gifts at the office everyone chip in some $, then have a wrapping party…
After the purchase you wrap the gift, put a name tag and include the Family ID# (will be in your packet), then if possible, put the gifts in a big clear plastic trash bag labeled with their Family ID#.
Drop off of gifts is at the Strobel Tire Warehouse located at 1101 N Main Street/Hwy 17A, Summerville, off I-26, Exit 199. If you need help getting your gifts to that location you may contact FHF, please DO NOT BE DETERRED if the drop off location is not near you, they will work with you to get the gifts there!
If you have any questions, here’s the email: FHFCharleston@PalmettoProject.org
I would love to hear any of your stories! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Aren’t these paintings OUT OF THIS WORLD?? They’re so fresh, so different, colorful yet peaceful, I absolutely love them. The painting above is entitled “BELOW SONORA PASS” and the one below “395, NORTH OF MONO LAKE”. I found this artist in an unexpected place. I was on Serena and Lily’s website (home furnishings, bedding, etc.) and they have something called a BAZAAR, where they collect neat things from around the globe… I clicked on the ART tab, TRULY not expecting to see what I call fabulous art and whoa! There she was… Karen Smidth has paintings on Serena and Lily’s Bazaar (click HERE) that are breathtaking. MANY are sold, you have to act fast! I’m telling you… this girl is good! (See, now you know what I meant when I said Karen was a bazaar artist… Serena and Lily Bazaar)!
Karen is a graphic designer/artist who was born in Denmark, then moved to the United States. Here is a bit about Karen from her WEBSITE:
1976-80 journeyman hot metal typesetter, ringkobing, denmark
1980-82 the graphic arts institute of denmark, copenhagen
1985-86 the academy of art, san francisco
2004-07 part time student at college of marin, kentfield, ca
Healthier Mac and Cheese recipe… hmmm. I know right now you’re thinking well how good can THAT be? Low fat cheese, yuck. Well, actually I’ve been making mac and cheese for years with Cracker Barrel 2% Extra Sharp cheese and it has FLA-VOR! I don’t quite have it down pat when it comes to making a rue and adding the cheese, it curdles, from what I’ve read I need to use a combination of different cheeses to prevent that from happening, and that’s exactly what she does. So give it a whirl! Thanks to the Doctor Oz Newsletter that sent this out and of course, thanks to Paula for another fabulous recipe!
Dr. Oz challenged celebrity chef Paula Deen to transform her favorite dishes by cutting the calories and fat in half. By using low-fat cheese and milk, Paula Deen’s Healthier Mac and Cheese keeps all the cheesy flavor of the original recipe without destroying your diet.
Ingredients
Makes 4-6 servings
2 cups whole wheat or regular elbow macaroni (8 oz)
2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (8 oz)
1/2 cup low-fat evaporated milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain well and transfer the pasta to a large bowl. Add the cheddar and stir until the pasta is coated and the cheese has melted.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the evaporated milk, eggs, sour cream, mustard, salt and cayenne pepper. Add the milk-egg mixture to the macaroni and cheese and stir well to combine. Scrape the mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the parmesan evenly over the top. Bake until golden brown and crispy around the edges, 35 to 40 minutes.
From PAULA DEEN’S SOUTHERN COOKING BIBLE by Paula Deen with Melissa Clark. Copyright © 2011 by Paula Deen.
Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc, NY.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I know “Red sky in the morning – sailors take warning, red sky at night – sailors delight” but what is a pink sky? Beauty! That’s what! This photo was taken several years ago when we spent Thanksgiving at Amelia Island in Florida. The weather was perfect, the meals were to die for, the accommodations… HEAVEN and the sunrise on the beach each morning… WORTH. GETTING. UP. FOR! You can see the silhouette of the big Christmas tree to the right, can you believe that’s just around the corner?! Eek!
Go get your Christmas shopping done, hee hee… KIDDING! Enjoy your week! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Hey, if you happen to be in the area of San Francisco I certainly wouldn’t miss the HARVEST FESTIVAL going on this weekend (Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23, 2011) at the Ferry Building! It sounds like it’s going to be a great time. Here’s a little info from their website (I urge you to visit it!). Here is a blip from their website, a wee bit of the history, much more on their WEBSITE:
The Ferry Building Marketplace is a people’s marketplace serving residents and travelers alike. Located within the historic Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street, shops large and small celebrate food in all its forms, offering everything from artisan cheeses to the freshest of local fish. Restaurants and cafés serve cuisine representing the quality and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s
The Ferry Building Marketplace is located along the Embarcadero at the foot of Market Street. It is the center of a transit hub that connects all of San Francisco’s neighborhoods and the surrounding bay communities. The marketplace is accessible by MUNI, BART and Ferry Boat. The historic trolley cars (Line F Market) stop directly in front of the Ferry Building. For more information about how to get here,visit the parking and transportation page or read our FAQs.
Enjoy!! Catch you back here tomorrow!
Image: http://www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com/
Hey! It’s not too late! There’s still time to catch this show at the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, Maine! I first saw Greta’s name mentioned while reading Colin Page’s Journal (if you haven’t read it… it’s addictive, this is one VERY talented artist, who shares a wealth of information). Greta’s work is so different. I am impressed. This is one girl with some energy! She has a great WEBSITE and BLOG. She’s in a fabulous gallery, the DOWLING WALSH GALLERY. So if you are fortunate enough to live anywhere in the Rockland vicinity and haven’t seen Greta’s show yet… I would find a way to make it over there…
Here’s a blip about Greta from the Dowling Walsh website:
Greta Paints America
“Over the course of 2011, I plan to visit all 50 of the United States and paint a portrait of America. The act of painting helps me to look more closely and honestly at all that is around. I want to explore contemporary America, while also learning about the history of the land and people in our country. I want to meet individuals from all walks of life and listen to their stories. My goal will be to preserve and share the experience of paying close attention to all that I see and learn by capturing it in paint. A car will serve as my main mode of transportation, but I’ll also be traveling by plane, bus, rail, boat, and foot. I want to begin the project with loose guidelines: one year, 50 states, oil paint, an open and curious mind, and the desire to learn, listen, explore, and look closely. Hopefully, if I hold true to those guidelines, the project will develop organically, leading me to many great discoveries!”
Greta will have a solo exhibition at Dowling Walsh Gallery from Friday, September 30th through Sunday, October 30th, 2011.
One more image… from Dowling Walsh’s website… check them out for more!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I mentioned last week that I ran across a great article from Reader’s Digest magazine. EAT FOR A BETTER MEMORY – 7 WAYS TO GET SHARP. A great article from a great magazine! Today’s food is… COFFEE! YAY! From Reader’s Digest:
Sip some coffee for triple benefit.
Coffee has been shown to improve memory, reasoning and reaction time in older folks.
Good news for lifetime coffee drinkers: Long term consumption’s
been linked to a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Finally a good reason to have a cup of coffee in the morning! I am excited about grabbing my morning cup of coffee and sitting with the newspaper. It’s my favorite time of day. It’s my meditation time…
After doing a little research on coffee and Alzheimers it appears that YES, the coffee has to be caffeinated, and for some of us that simply isn’t possible, but if you are one of the people that can drink regular coffee by all means! An article I read from http://www.alzheimerspreventiondigest.com had this to say:
Your morning cup of coffee may protect you from a variety of diseases, from Alzheimer’s to diabetes to Parkinson’s. Several studies have suggested that regular consumption of caffeine reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
But there is a catch, it seems. A cup or two are not enough to produce the optimum benefits, according to Dr. Gary Arendash, a leading Alzheimer’s researcher who has been studying the effects of caffeine on the brain. He says 500 milligrams of caffeine – equal to five cups of coffee – seems to be the amount necessary to produce a protective effect. According to Arendash, “I drink five to six cups a day religiously.”
Read the full article HERE – a few tips from that article:
COFFEE DRINKING TIPS
Don’t forget that tea also contains caffeine (A cup of black tea has about half as much caffeine as a cup of coffee and a cup of green tea has about a quarter as much) and other beneficial compounds, and is less likely to produce side effects.
OK, last week was BLUEBERRIES, hope you are getting your fill! Today is COFFEE, wonder what it will be next week? Catch you back here tomorrow!
When you buy POMI tomatoes in a carton you’re buying tomatoes with no BPA in the packaging, no preservatives, citric acid, artificial flavor or water. Just tomatoes. BPA. Bisphenol-A. Once thought as harmless has been undergoing closer scrutiny. It’s in many plastic bottles (which is why we see the emergence of so many “BPA Free” plastics). What everyone doesn’t realize… it’s also in the plastic lining of cans… such as cans of tomatoes, soup, vegetables, the list goes on and on… There is a good article (click HERE) regarding the fact that BPA dangers may be worse from cans vs. plastic bottles… What can you do? Buy cartons or buy from companies who don’t use BPA in their cans, I believe EDEN FOODS and TRADER JOE’S. Hopefully by now there are more, but check it out. It can (possibly) cause many problems INCLUDING breast cancer… (read the article for further details). The best thing to do is not eat out of cans. That can’t always be done, but you can limit the amount of food eaten from cans. MAKE YOUR FOOD. Instead of buying a (processed) can of soup, it’s much healthier to MAKE your soup. Let me tell you… SOUP IS EASY. It just requires a little time and you will have one big pot that you can freeze into individual servings or eat for several days. It will end up being more cost effective if you make it AND you’ll know exactly what’s in it! Let me know if you know of any other BPA-free companies that have canned goods.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
I really enjoy paintings done of interiors. I love to get a glimpse into other peoples homes, it’s kind of like taking a home tour without going anywhere. I appreciate other people’s style and design (well, most of the time!) Karen Lawrence is an artist from Atlanta, GA who primarily does interiors. They’re fantastic. She does paint other subjects, but interiors are what she’s known for. What drew me to this painting was the gorgeous deep dark greens that you see through the window next to the bright light. This painting is entitled SUMMER SUN.
It appears that Karen is in the midst of updating her website (we always appreciate an up-to-date website when we aren’t close enough to pop into a gallery and see the real thing! For now click HERE for a link to see her work. Her original website is http://www.karenlawrenceoils.com – check back in a bit, give her a chance to update! Here’s a blip from the temporary website:
I paint every day in my studio at Tula Art Center in Atlanta. That is, when I’m not out photographing beautiful homes and meeting the people who live in them. I’m intrigued by how people live and the common thread that connects us with our past. I love houses with history and rooms filled with beloved treasures.
The elegance of a curved archway, the drama of tall ceilings and open French doors, the intimacy of an overstuffed chair with a good reading lamp – are all elements of scenes waiting to be painted. For me, the other essential element is light. I’m especially excited by the play of bright sunlight streaking across the floor or warm lamplight drawing one to a comfortable place.
After wrestling with the perspective of a foyer with multiple archways reflected in mirrors or chair legs that don’t want to cooperate with my paintbrush, I relax with the tranquility of a vase of flowers on a table. I find still life very comforting. I love the colors reflecting on shiny surfaces and the freshness of garden flowers backlit by sun pouring in my dining room windows.
My style of painting is a rather loose version of realism. I spent thirteen years developing my style and technique in watercolors. Since 1997, I have been painting almost exclusively in oils.
Karen is in several galleries click HERE for a list from her website… Catch you back here tomorrow!
If you’re on the Meatless Monday bandwagon, you don’t have to feel deprived. LOOK at this dish. This recipe is all good! Fresh simple ingredients, quick to throw together, not using many pots/pans. You’re simply roasting the tomatoes, cooking the pasta and mixing! This pasta paired with a nice fresh salad sounds TASTY! I’m going to serve mine on a salad plate to help trim calories. Our dinner plates these days I swear used to be platters back when I was young. You can load a lot of food on a modern plate… back to the salad plate for me! This recipe came directly from Giada’s website. ENJOY!
Pasta Ponza
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.
Place the tomatoes, capers, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in the prepared baking dish. Toss to coat. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the tomato mixture. Drizzle the top with olive oil and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top is golden. Cool for 5 minutes.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Place the pasta in a large serving bowl. Spoon the tomato mixture onto the pasta. Add the cheese and toss well. Thin out the sauce with a little pasta water, if needed. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Catch you back here tomorrow!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 