Monday and it's all good! How about You?

Hello Monday Morning!

Well, here it goes folks!   I cleaned the house until it sparkled.

 I washed, dried and folded 6 loads of laundry.

Had multiple cups of coffee Saturday and Sunday am at home

on the sofa with a Jodi Piccoult book.

"Change of Heart"

Then spent some quality time with my husband John,

he's very young looking isn't he?

Made him French Toast which he shared with Spice and Autumn.

He searched for Autumn while I discovered the bra and another sandle she had destroyed.

Yes, we watch her. Yes, we're thinking about hanging every item we own from hooks!

He found her. (these pics are not of Autumn)

relaxed

relaxed

it was all good....

                                                       even the Chinese take-out

Recipe.................BEE Happee!

the girlfriends and I were talking

last night about recipes...

what fun we have - whatever we do

a day at the beach

talking about decorating or movies or music

travel - tv or for real

blogland too!

but we have a recipe...

it's happiness - do you have this one in your files?

Recipe For Happiness

2 Heaping cups of patience

1 Heart full of love

2 Hands full of generosity

Dash of laughter

1 Head full of understanding

Sprinkle generously with kindness

Add plenty of faith and mix well.

Spread over a period of a lifetime

And serve everyone you meet

"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies." -- Gene Hill

flowers for YOU You YOU!

bee happee!

White Wednesday Around The House And In The Kitchen! White Recipes Two!

WHITE BEAN DIP by Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients:
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil, plus 4 tablespoons
1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh Italian parsley leaves
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
6 pitas
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the beans, garlic, lemon juice, 1/3 cup olive oil, and parsley in the work bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the bean puree to a small bowl.
Cut each pita in half and then into 8 wedges. Arrange the pita wedges on a large baking sheet. Pour the remaining oil over the pitas. Toss and spread out the wedges evenly. Sprinkle with the oregano, salt, and pepper. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, or until toasted and golden in color.
Serve the pita toasts warm or at room temperature alongside the bean puree.

It's not really white but anything with garlic....who cares!

then there's

BRUSCHETTA WITH WHITE BEAN PUREE by Michael Chiarella

Ingredients:

3/4 cup white marrow beans (or other white beans), cooked and cooled, 1 cup cooking liquid reserved
2 tablespoons olive paste
2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme leaves, plus 6 sprigs fresh thyme, for garnish, optional
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1/4 teaspoon gray salt
Fresh ground black pepper
1 loaf thick Italian bread
2 cloves garlic, peeled
Directions:
Puree the beans in a food processor until smooth, adding the reserved liquid, as necessary, for a finished consistency that is spread-able but not too thin. Add olive paste and thyme. Puree again, and while pureeing, add extra-virgin olive oil and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Reserve, and garnish with sprigs of thyme, if desired.
Bruschetta:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Cut a crispy Italian bread into thick slices. Toast or grill until light brown and crispy. Then swipe once with a clove of fresh garlic, drizzle with olive oil. Spread with the White Bean Puree. Finish with a pinch of gray salt and freshly ground black pepper, if desired.

crunchy, crusty, golden, white, fresh, warm Italian bread

Gather up the girls, put in a chick flick, pour your favorite wine, put your tootsies up, laugh, enjoy each other, remember you GET IT, and sample these recipes!

BUTT...

YOU MUST HAVE DESSERT...

wish i could join you, jennifer

And so it begins... my weekend!

First of all, I wanted to let you know that the lovely little girl on the my last post is "Miss Rudy". I saw her striking photos on Flickr one day and asker her father's permission to make some of my greeting cards with her on them. I offered to make him a few samples as a "thank you".
I had several shots, one of her tying her ballet slippers on with her hair in braided rows. The one featured below I entitled "Queen Bee". Hence, the beginning of my "Miss Rudy series". Ta Da!
Now, as for the rest of the weekend....we slept in, stayed up, I read, took a bubble bath, gabbed on the phone, my friend Bobbie came over with Sushi and the componets for very dry Martinis ( I had 1). I cooked 4 lbs. of venison jerky for gifts for my hubby, son and the Security guards at my school ( yes - we have 5 - 1800 students - it's like a mini town).  We went to my son Todd and his wife Ravy's house in Annapolis for crab fried rice, shrimp & leeks stir fried, baby eggplant and pork, spare ribs, soup with green papaya (very much like a potato) and a tapioca dessert with tiny beans and plaintains. Ravy is from Cambodia and cooks like a dream! My meat & potato husband loves everything she makes. We watched a video and enjoyed every minute of our time with them.
I made 30 cards for my card business ( Valentine's are hot right now ). Watched 3 good movies with my husband John ( while folding wash and simmering chili and baking cornbread - Martha Stewart I AM NOT). While this was going on Little Miss Autumn - the puppy- the beast in shiny fur and big doe eyes - chewed the cord right off my vacuum cleaner.
                      So it's Happy Monday for ME... ha - ha!

Autumn is The Queen Bee!

autumn is in the house - in the basement

in the bathroom in the closet

in the cat food in my coffee cup

in the dishwasher in my magazines on the bed

under the bed on the dining room table under the sofa

AUTUMN IS IN THE HOUSE!

My busy weekend! Relaxing? NOT - fleas - yes!

It's flea season in our area of Maryland and they are more prevalent than ever! Yes, we use the vet approved flea drops Frontline faithfully on all 3 cats and 1 dog. We haven't used anything on Autumn because she is so young ... until we saw those little buggers popping up on her. THAT was it! So off we go to Pet Smart. Shelf after shelf of every available chemical to treat your beloved pet for fleas. I'm not crazy about that being a Cancer survivor. A sales person walks over and tells us about her being a vet tech and cat rescuer for the last 20 years. Her suggestion was very simple: A sudsy bath for each pet in DAWN dish liquid, lathered on and left for at least 15 minutes. Rinse well, pat dry. Comb with a flea comb. Vacuum your entire home, especially areas your pet likes to sleep. Wash any bedding. Important Idea: Cut up a flea collar and leave it in your vacuum bag. This kills the live fleas you vacuums up.
*** I am not a vet tech or a veterinarian. I am trying this method after I clicked on Google and also speaking to someone that highly recommended it. It is a trial that sounded less harmful to me. Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil is also another health remedy recommended : 5 parts water to 1 part bath oil in a clean spray bottle. Carefully spray on the animals fur being careful to protect the eye area. Comb through. This is great when going for walks in the woods. You can also apply a small amount in the bath water.
However, if I have any questions of further flea issues -
WE ARE CONTACTING OUR VET! Jennifer

I'm also open to how the heck you've gotten rid of these b______!

Autumn- Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with Me.

Well, here she is!

Puppy pads!

Crate Training!

Sticky kisses!

Energy plus!

Wagging tail!

Endless love!

Miss Autumn

While I was driving home from NJ heartbroken after the loss of our pup Palmer, my husband was on his way to Shrewsberry, PA to adopt this 14 week old dapple Daschund.

I miss my boy, every day. Those of you who have pets know it takes a long time for that to pass and then you are able to smile when you remember the snuggles, kisses, the leaps and bounds.

But she's cuddling with me when I'm sad and my husband doesn't feel as lost and she has a family.

I think Palmer would like that.

Palmer - my heart is broken.....

Palmer - my heart is broken.

I went to visit my family this weekend.

It was supposed to be fun, always is, actually it was.
We laugh, we eat, we cry, we eat, we heal,
we reminisce. We discover things we never knew
and talk about things we've shared for
many, many moons. My cousin lives in a Mayberry
type of town where everyone knows everyone in
a good sort of way. Non-intrusive but always
there if you need a ride to the ER or to share
a cup of coffee. No cell phone reception.
So when we were leaving and I retrieved
my voice mail - I had 8 calls from my husband
(did I leave a home phone number nooooooo),
apparently very upset. I called him
and he was devastated.
We live on a long 1/2 gravel 1/2 paved country road.
A town named Woodbine, MD.
Horses, sheep, donkeys, pastures and homes.
Unfortunately, cars and trucks think they can fly.
Our 7 month old puppy Palmer was in our yard
when a an SUV swerved and came across
our driveway clipping Palmer and killing him.
Never stopped. My husband ran as fast as he could,
cradled him in his arms -
he was still breathing but his neck was broken
and he died a few moments later.
John buried him by our
Annie with the help of his Dad.
I drove the 6 hour ride home trying
with all my might to hold back the tears.
It wasn't possible. The loss - my heart the loss.
My husband feels so guilty.
I'm at work today - we're trying to heal -
sorry this is so sad, but I know some
of my friends will understand
I had to have a journal
to write about my hurting heart. Love, Jennifer

To foster or not to foster - Yes I gave my Heart.

We had our sweetie foster dog for 8 months and it flew
by - Taco - 8 years old - "temporary" - just until a family of
of 7 got back on their feet and found a new apartment.
We gave him a flea bath, we cleaned his ears, we bought him
a collar - this is not good - he's under the cover in bed every
night - we buy him a fleece coat - he's stylin' - everyone loves
him - my grown sons, our 13 year old dog, the ladies at the
bank. The phone never rings. He's our baby now (he's gray,
grizzled and 8 years old). "My dog". Then the call comes ....
he's going home. I plan to be out, I get cranky. The day arrives.
No call, they don't show. Spirits soar! A week passes.
Taco went back to his family yesterday. We did a good thing -
When he left he ran out the door to an 8 year old girl with a leash
waiting. I found out she cried the entire week he left. You see he
was a birthday gift for her 1st birthday. He followed her to the car
with his butt and tail wagging. He never looked back
- which is just the way it should be. A little girl and her doggie
in love. Happy ending. I feel good.

Fall Decor & Facing CLUTTER - Can't Help It!

Yes, by all means enjoy the crisp fall days, cider, hay rides, sweaters, rolling in the leaves, walks on local trails. Our dog Spice appears to be a vegetarian. She manages to eat every tomato that grows in our garden and then moves on to the fall pumpkins I buy for the yard and the apples that drop from our tree. She also loves the green mush that falls off the bottom of the lawn mower - don't ask! Spice is 12, it must be a health diet for her. Our cat Thomas supplies her with mice and moles too. Eewww. As the cold weather approaches I have great plans for my clutter. CLUTTER: A confused or disordered state or collection, a jumble; sorted through the clutter in the attic. I begin with one drawer, or a closet. I give away, throw away, donate, organize and somehow have to do it all over again at some point. Any advice? Did you know there is a magazine entitled "Organize"?