Food!

I received my new Southern Living magazine today, which was a pleasure to read.  Lots of Fall goodies, beautiful Fall colors, and FOOD!

One of the most wonderful finds was a new blog to me - perhaps some of you have seen it...it's called Southern Plate and the writer/cook is Christy Jordan of Alabama.  I have gone a bit through the site and it is quite wonderful!  The photo below is of her dessert pizza called Apple Doozie.  Even if you don't cook, she's a wonderful read!

This looks soooooooooooooooooooo yummy!  I wonder what the calorie content is?????

"The Ranch"

Every so often I mention that hubby has gone to "The Ranch" - but it really isn't a ranch. It is 5 acres out of 540 that we sold near Council, ID. We kept the five as it was in an area where you can see forever - we are in Idaho and a great deal of what you see is in Oregon (the furtherest mountain ranges).

In between the beige/brown mountains and the ones that look blue is the Hell's Canyon recreation site, and the Snake River which divides the two states.

We have a nice size trailer (we like to call it an RV as it sounds so much more refined!) there, and it has been there almost a year now. Hubby spent one night there, and I haven't spent any! We are still trying to get the electricity worked out, so I hope before the Fall turns too cold and wet I will have the chance to take the dogs up there and spend a weekend relaxing, crocheting, and listening to the birds!

Coffee, Tea - you name it!

So, after reading lots of posts about the Keurig coffee pot, I broke down and bought one at Costco.  The one I bought is the Platinum Brewing System, but it isn't sold under that name.  It's very nice, easy to use, and has lots of the original kinks worked out that you often see in the complaint section....well, hopefully it will last! Only have had it for a week or two.

Costco gives you bunches and bunches of coffee, along with the extra filter you can use to make coffee with your own ground coffee - whether fresh or from a can.

If you like FRESH coffee in the morning, and strong, this is for you.  I have yet to find coffee, other than my brand, that is the medium Columbian roast, or anything that is half & half, so I only have one of theirs and one of mine.  Too much REAL coffee makes me stay up all hours (playing WORDS with Friends with my BFF) and/or makes my heart race. Neither is good...well, playing WORDS is! ;o)  I have started using the larger cup size so that the strength is at least diluted somewhat.

The downside - hubby doesn't bring me coffee in the morning while I'm still in bed! He started it because I like really fresh coffee - cold or hot - and now I can get it right when I get up. No waiting.  Poor me - no longer spoiled.

Tut tut, as my mom would say!

Little Useful Christmas Gifts

My BFF mentioned Christmas and a dilemma this year as to what to make. I had been thinking of the idea of making fancy pot holders this year. My brother went nuts over the double one I made two years ago, so made him another one this past year. He loves them as they aren't too big, very strong and thick, and he can use them as hot pads when he brings his dish out in a fancy container. I've given him the two, so think I will do a couple in a theme - like a Christmas or Thanksgiving - that type of thing.

Another thing I was thinking about was what my mom brought back from our living in Japan. They were glass covers - so when you have a coke (or in her case bourbon and coke!) the water weeping from the glass doesn't get the table tops wet....and had matching coasters. I think using a better cotton that is color fast for those would be good....is there such a thing???

Don't you like little useful things? Items that are quick, and can be bright and cheery and used sort of like an accent to the kitchen until they get dirty! ;o)

Fast and fun - can't beat that for Christmas presents made by you, sealed with a kiss!

Exercises for People over 50

EXERCISE  FOR PEOPLE  OVER 50

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags. 

Then try 50-lb potato bags and then eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.

After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.