Category: THOUGHTS

Mine is Fall, what is yours?

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Daily Blog, Photograph, SC, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Fall leaf...

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall? Which is your favorite season? Fall is my favorite and has always been. I love the cooler, less humid temperatures, the color in the trees (there is some here in SC) and that afternoon light – OH! It’s breathtaking! I can’t complain about our Winter that’s for sure. Temperatures are rather mild here in Charleston, SC – we do see a few cold snaps, but nothing to complain about! Spring is always welcome due to the fact that it seems that EVERYTHING is blooming and so beautiful, even with all the yellow/green pollen! Summer, ah, Summer… you love it or you hate it. Hate is a strong word. Ha ha…

📸 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE, PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Better than Botox!

On By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, Photograph, San Francisco CA, THOUGHTS1 Comment

Me in San Fran

Posting an older image (2005) is better than botox, hee… We had such a good time in San Fran back then, we really should go back, but then that would mean missing Maine and all our friends, so that’s really hard to do. We bought a CityPASS and it was so worth it! Travel has never been easier! There is no way I would want to drive in San Francisco… hop on a cable car or MUNI (bus) – and away we would go. I think we discovered every part of the city, and some by accident, ha ha…

🖼 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE, PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!

On By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Memories!

Fred. My husband… we have such fun together. This photo was taken back in 2005 – boy, does time ever fly when you’re having fun! We were at a winery in Napa. I remember taking this photo. These chairs were amazing. The winery was like something you would see in Italy, we had the best time!

I’m happy to have photos to reflect back on, although at some point I think I’m going to have to edit some of them, I have far more than what is probably considered normal. Ha.

🖼 IMAGES ARE MY OWN UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE, PLEASE CONTACT ME IF INTERESTED…

Back to normal posting next week – Catch you back here tomorrow!

A Collection of Cones…

On By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Cones, cones and more cones!

Let me start by saying I had the best of intentions of getting through a week of normal posts, however – I am so far behind I’m going to post some (lovely!) photos until I can get back into the swing, hopefully by next week!

Charlie, our sweet Jack Russell, hounded (hee hee) by skin allergies – medication has helped quite a bit, but every once in a while he’ll get a hot spot (this time between his toes), this has been going on since late September. Antibiotics and a Elizabethan collar (AKA cone). Antibiotics started working, but then they didn’t. No matter what cone we put on him, he can still reach! Biopsy of his foot to rule out anything else, he is OK… but the biopsy and the bandaging for over a week did not do his foot any favors. Back at the vet this weekend, another antibiotic shot… we have been watching him 24/7. One of us constantly keeping watch. 👀

I know we aren’t the only ones. We ran into a nice man at Petco who told us about Vets Best Hot Spot Foam – I’m hoping it will help soothe, but we aren’t to that point yet.

CONES… they need to fit better. The Pro-Collar he LOVES, but he can reach feet with no problem, it is helpful for other areas. A size 15 (cm) cone fits him, but is zero challenge. They tried a 20 cm cone which is for a larger dog and is heavy around his neck. He’s had that on like a trooper, but it’s heavy for him AND he can still reach his foot. Takes a few seconds, but it’s not a challenge either. He’s had the blue “daisy” as well call it. Soft and comfortable, but because it’s soft – foot into mouth in 0 seconds flat. So we are back to the 15cm cone and constant watch. He is fast.

So fast.

He seems fine, the foot is healing, if he will just allow it to – in the meantime – we watch and wait, which is why it’s hard to spend time on my blog – so I’m going through to share some photos and some thoughts.

Hoping you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Thanksgiving Day Prep – The Organized Way…

On By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, FOOD, THOUGHTS4 Comments

My hope is that this may help some of you who will be making a big Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I created a template, and just change it up as necessary. We usually eat around 1PM, so I work back from that time. I am a well-oiled machine, but do not talk to me as I will get distracted and then what? 😳 Ha ha… In case you need a plan, you can change the times and it gives you something to go by. Note that the turkey roasts much faster when set to Convection (if you have it). I love it! I’ve added a link (🔗) to a few recipes provided… This may be a bit weird, but it’s how my brain functions best, ha ha… Happy prep day!

Thanksgiving Dinner 2016 – 1:00PM

Day Before

🔗Bean Salad:  Mix up bean salad and refrigerate.

Pie Crust: Make pie crust, freeze one, Saran Wrap and fridge other

Dressing: cut up celery/onion cook with sausage

Day Of…

Turkey (6# bone in breast)

Set turkey on counter by 7:45AM, olive oil, S&P, onion in cavity.

Preheat oven to 350 (turn on at 8:15AM) – put turkey in oven at 8:30 AM on PURE CONVECTION. Should be done by 11AM. Let rest 15 minutes. Carve. (Pour fat in fat separator, wait 3 minutes then pour off fat, reserve a wee bit). (Convection may speed this turkey breast up, but then I can move everything up if needed).

Stuffing

Oven back on 350 at 11:50AM. At 11:30 heat cooked celery, onion, water or broth, sausage, add to bread mixture and sage. Put in BUTTERED 3qt casserole dish and cover with foil.

Put in oven at 12:00 (noon), back 45 minutes (25 covered, 20 uncovered) – should come out of oven by 12:45.

Mashed Potatoes

Peel potatoes at 12:00 (noon), put in cold water. Have water boiling.

At 12:30, drop the potatoes in the water.  When done, mash, cover.

Bean Salad:  Remove from fridge at 12:30

🔗Cranberry Sauce:  Remove from fridge at 12:45

Gravy

Start gravy at 12:50. Pour into warmed container (or pot with lid).

🔗Chocolate pie with homemade crust

Get coffee ready to turn on after dinner

Turn on coffee, slice pie.

Thanksgiving Prep 2017

Enjoy your Thanksgiving tomorrow and don’t worry if something doesn’t turn out. Thanksgiving is a day to be with friends and family, so don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all good!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Get out and vote!

On By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Charlie - I VOTED

I keep politics out of my social media and blogging – for many reasons… Trust me, this has been a tough election to keep quiet about.

Be sure to get out and vote today (this is as political as I get) – it’s an honor and a privilege! This is an older photo, makes me smile. Enjoy your day!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Playing catch up right now, posting photos this week, back to normal next week!!

Festive door in Rockport, Maine!

On By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, Maine, Photograph, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Festive door in Rockport, ME

While in Maine earlier this fall, Fred and I drove around Rockport – a cool city with some really beautiful homes. When we came upon this house, whhhoooooa! STOP! Backup! Need a photo! Thought this would be the perfect Happy Halloween/Happy Fall photo! What an inviting entry, a beautiful door (fabulous paint color!), love the star, the American Flag is so stunning against this backdrop, the pretty flowers and of course, the pumpkins! How creative!

Wishing you a 🎃 Happy Halloween 🎃, and most of all a joyous fall! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Thinking of fall…

On By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, Maine, Photograph, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Fall is in the air!

Fall has got to be my favorite month. Spring is nice with all the flowers and trees blooming, but it also means hot weather is on its way. Summer is just hot and humid. Winter is nice here in South Carolina, so I have no complaints, I like it, but… Fall is my favorite – when those humid days change to something beautiful where you can be outside without melting – definitely my favorite. It’s so beautiful, even with all the leaves and acorns. It’s all good, I love to be outside this time of year!

These are Monhegan (Maine) pumpkins, I thought they made for a pretty fall photo!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Wishes!!!

On By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, THOUGHTS3 Comments

Fred - Monhegan, Maine

Sending birthday wishes to Fred, my husband – he finally caught up with me age-wise, ha ha… whew! I love this image of him while on Monhegan, out walking the trails and reading the map to discover trails we may have missed over the years. Ah, the peace and serenity of the island. Fred, if I could bottle it up for you, that would be my gift to you!

But… you did get a little piece of that peacefulness… a Cat Bates Bracelet – LOVE IT! I love the juxtaposition of the bracelet with the watch and boots :) It’s as cool as you are! ❤️

Boots, watch and Cat Bates bracelet!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best husband on the planet!

Love you with all my heart!   xo, me (& charlie too!)

 

Backyard Vignette by Charles Sovek (Solved)

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, Daily Blog, Guess the Artist, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Guess the Artist
Backyard Vignette by Charles Sovek  9×12″ Gouache

SOLVED!

Already! Thanks to Daniel Corey’s early guess! I had a feeling this one would be quick to be guessed! Charles Sovek had such style. His paintings were stunning and his style was all his own.

Over the next few weeks (until I run out of paintings), I am posting one of our paintings and then seeing who can GUESS THE ARTIST. I have retouched this photo on the bottom right corner to remove the artist’s signature.

Do you know the name of this artist?

Comment on my Facebook page or on this blog…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Sunflower and Uncle Henry’s in Fog – Monhegan Island.

On By Barbara StroudIn Daily Blog, Maine, Photograph, THOUGHTS, TRAVELLeave a comment

Monhegan Fog | barbara stroud

Stunning! I have taken so many photographs over the past few years of this very spot. In sun, light, shadow, but this year I was able to add fog to the list. I truly enjoyed those few foggy days. It kept things cooler, which I wanted more than anything! For those of you familiar with Monhegan, this is the view as you walk from the Lupine Gallery back towards the Island Inn – this is on your right – Uncle Henry’s, an iconic cottage that sits majestically on that hill between the wharf and the Island Inn.

It was really nice to catch up with friends – can’t wait until next year!

Catch you back here tomorrow!