I'm finished. With the book that is.

Wow, and what a book it was.  I enjoyed it very much and make sure you read it to the end.  I especially enjoyed it because parts of it were true as they were based on historical facts and parts were fiction which was based on falling in love.  We would like to say if you have money you have everything but we all really know that is not true.  Of course, it sure can help a situation become better that is if you find yourself with out any. Ha!  Anyway, I must say I was quite surprised how much I did enjoy the story so if by chance you are reading it now, I do hope you enjoy it.  I also downloaded , "My Antonia", by Willa Sibert Cather as in the story it was one Abigail recommended to Lauren.  I have only read a couple of pages so far and it does sound good.
I have started on the book, "The Heir", by Paul Robertson.  It's interesting as we all would love to be in his position but this is only the beginning so we'll see how the story flows.  I will let you know.
We are enjoying the 4th of July weekend.  Barbecue, swimming, and someone said something about a fight on TV.  I don't know about the fight as it's not my cup of tea but I am reading and just relaxing.
Oh, I wanted to add a pizza recipe for you.  It's fast, easy, healthy and delicious.......

Buy a Pizza crust already made. You know the ones which are usually on the end of the aisle, they come in different sizes, anyway pick the size you want.  Next go to the deli and pick up pesto in a container.  If you can't find it, ask.  I have had to in different stores.  Then go to vegies and pick up a container of mushrooms.  It's up to you if you buy whole or sliced (as you will have to slice them).  Then pick up red pepper or green pepper or orange or yellow.  You will only need half of one unless you want more as it needs to be sliced very thin.  Next pick up pine nuts.  I know they are expensive but keep them in the frig and they last a long time.  Believe me they make this pizza.  Then parm cheese and last but not least olive oil.  Follow directions for cooking on pizza wrapper and WaaLaa, you have heaven in your hand.
When you get home spread olive oil on crust, then spread pesto to cover, add mushrooms in circle to cover, then sprinkle pine nuts around, lay peppers around in circle, sprinkle with parmesan cheese follow with a drizzle of olive oil over all.  Cook and serve as soon as you can.  As always eat healthy and enjoy the food,  Tootles

Free Book Alert !!

I started this book yesterday and can hardly put it down.  The title is......"The Shape of Mercy", by Susan Meissner.  Get it right now.  It grabbed me on the first page and I am enjoying it very very much.  I have even downloaded two more books because of the reference link in the story.  The first is "The Crucible", by Arthur Miller and Christopher Bigsby which was 11.99, then "Great Expectation by Charles Dickens which was free.  It's about a college girl, who is very wealthy (well, her father is) but wants to make it on her own.  She takes this job for 11.00 an hour transcribing a book.  That's all I'm going to say at this time. Just find it in the free section click it and start reading.  You won't be sorry. 

Have I told you about the easy peanut butter cookies to make.......1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar and 1 egg.  Mix together drop by teaspoon full on baking pan, bake at 350' 8 to 10 min.   (no flour, how cool is that)
You can munch them while reading.  Maybe a cup of earl Gray ?  Stay healthy and enjoy good food.  Tootles

Flowers Everywhere

Aren't they beautiful.  I don't think there is anything more pleasing to the eye than flowers.  Everyone can look at them just driving in your car.  I always try to notice the many different colors and how they have arranged them in their own yard.  It gives me ideas.  Notice on what side of the house they are growing etc.  I want to get me Hydrangias.  The large blue flowers are so pretty.  From what I understand it has to do with acid in the soil.  I do want the blue ones but I also want the pink ones.  I have noticed they seem to always be on the north side of the houses.  The plant looks very healthy so that is where I should put mine but I really don't have room there so I think I will put it on the south side of my yard under the walnut and oak trees.  It's shady there most of the day. I did have around my little pond that were all white.  It was called the Moon Garden as when the Moon is full it shines on the white flowers and makes them glow.  It was really pretty.  Must do that again.  I'm not going to use the pond but I bet I could just make a small patch.  Our Granddaughter gave us a box of wild flowers several years ago and believe it or not every spring they still come up.  I thank her so much for that as we love them and told her that is a gift that keeps on giving. Ha! 
Oh my, is not this weather unbearable.  We have been getting in the 100's.  I do say, enough all ready.  I do not like this.  I mush prefer the cooler air especially in the 70's with a nice little breeze.  I know what you are thinking......I need to move. Ha!  Well, it's not in the cards right now.  I do have somewhat of an answer......we have purchased a pool.  That's right, it's 15ft. around and 4ft deep and fits our purpose.  I do go in the morning but when it's this hot I will not be in the sun so i wait until 7:00pm and it's in the shade.  We bought it at the store we all love to hate (walmart) .  Hey, it was on sale and I really really was hot.    As always, stay healthy and enjoy the food. Tootles

A New Month approaching

Happiness and laughter.  Now that's something I want in my life.  Don't we all really ?  Sometimes it's hard to let yourself relax and just smile and thank the good Lord for all your blessings.  I know, I know, we all want more don't we.  It would be nice not to have to cook everyday.  Don't get me wrong I do love to cook, bake and just be in the kitchen but I have to admit it would be really great to have a cook and just tell him or her what I would love to have and WaLAA! They bring it to me on a pretty tray with a flower and cloth napkin.  Oh, now that would be super.  Then of course, they would have to do all the dishes and clean up the kitchen.

Ok, enough about that want to get you up to date on our gym.  Jim and I are doing great, by that I mean we are increasing our challenge everyday and enjoying it more. The swimming is our treat after our hard workout but we are also working out in the pool.

I'm enjoying the new cooking channel.  I like the new people and especially some of the recipes.

Can you believe all the free books on the kindle.  Wow, I mean this is just great.  I almost feel guilty about getting them.  You notice I said almost. Ha!  Some of the stories a pretty good.  I really need to do a review on them as it does help when someone is looking.  Sometimes the subject matter is just not for me so I decline but that's ok, your not going to please everyone.

Hey, take care, stay healthy and always enjoy the food. Tootles

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Well, I guess you could say I have had a right nice vacation.  It has been some time since I have entered these pages to inform you of something great and grand.  Let's just say, I was away and now I am back.  Hey, I can do that and of course so can you. 

We just enjoyed a luncheon at the Gym.  They had an Appreciation Day for the Seniors.  It was delicious and I did try everything but now wish I had just stayed with the salads, which were very good, and the fruit deserts.  My stomach would have been most happy if I would have done that.  Instead I tried the Barbecue chicken with both sauces.  I got the steak for my husband.  A roll, baked beans and of course almond cookies.  So with this variety you can imagine what my tummy was feeling.  Why, oh why, do we do this to ourselves?  I don't know if it's because it's free or just being around other people and talking and not paying attention to what you are eating. Then to top it off there were two kinds of cake.....Fudge Chocolate cake and  Fruit Bowl cake, which was white cake with whipped cream and fruit.  It was delicious.  The Fudge Chocolate a little too heavy for this time of the year  But I must say all in all we had a very good time and my husband won at playing bingo.  Yea!  He picked 3 months of wellness free.  It's a 30.00  prize so we were happy.

One of the ladies that I have meant at the gym, Kathryn Robinson works at the community radio station.  It's KZFR at 90.1.  It's a great station and I love the variety of programs.  Kathryn subs for the Story Telling.  I got to check her out last week and she is perfect.  Her voices for all the characters is right on.  I'm so glad I was able to catch the show and by chance I have been listening to a number of them.  Hey, that is how we expand our horizon and enjoy new things.  She is just one of the super people I have had the pleasure of meeting at the gym.  How lucky I am.  See I told you to get up out of that chair, turn off the TV and get yourself down to the gym.  I promise, you won't regret it, in fact it will open up a whole new life for you.  Here's to a whole new Life !!   Tootles

A Good Morning to you !

What can I say another bright and sunny day.  We must treasure these days as we seem to be having more and more rain and windy days.  What's up with that ?

Well the land beside us, which had been left to grow weeds and numerous assortments of little furry things, has now been plowed many times and just yesterday they have put in an orchard of peach trees (we think).  Let me tell you we are thrilled as we live back off the road and when the trees get to growing you will not see us.  Plus I'm sure it will be cooler.  It should only take a couple of years.  At least now the land is being used for something, much better for it and us.  Now we will be surrounded by orchards, pretty cool uh?

The Gym is doing great.  I swear I love it more and more each day I go.  I love to work out and now I look forward to swimming.  The teacher is wonderful.  She is so attentive and caring,  I swear it's so cool just being in the class.  There are men and women, although so far that I have seen there are only a couple of men.  The women are great.  Some just want to chat, and that's is Ok, but I also want to get my work out done.  The water makes me feel alive.  Of course when I'm in the water I'm normal.  I can walk, jog, use weight (water weights, that is), swim, float and and use all there toys.  It's great.  The hardest part is getting to and from the pool.  I have this fear of slipping and falling.  I just have to be careful and watch where my feet go and stay on the mats.  They have put them in the locker room throughout so that is a relief.  I still haven't lost any weight yet but I can say everything is firming up just not the tummy.  WHY?  Don't worry I'm not getting discouraged and I certainly won't quit besides I'm having too much fun.  Tootles

It's Monday, YEA !!!!!

Hello.   Some people do not like Mondays.  Well, I am not one of them, I love Mondays.  It means I get to go back to the gym and I have added something new.  I am now in Swim class.  That's right !  Isn't that great.  I swear it is so exciting and fun.  I have met some interesting, fun, and remarkable women not to mention the instructor.  She, Kelly is great. Talk about making you feel welcome and so glad you came.  I have been shown all the equipment we can use and she has instructed me how to use it.  I swear I am like a kid again.  I am having so much fun and getting in shape and healthy to boot.  Now, who could ask for more.  You know, I was never a great swimmer, mostly I stayed in the 4' and played around with my friends.  What's really funny is, I did take swimming lessons and yes if I should be in a position of starting to drown I could swim out of it (in a pool, not the ocean) but once I passed the class I never went in the deep again.  All my friends did but not me.  We had a large tower in the middle of the deep where you could go up and dive off the high dives.  I have never been up there.  Once when we were all playing tag or something some of them were going up to the high dive.  Well, I was following along and started to go up the ladder.  Let me tell you I took one step up that ladder and froze.  I knew with out a shadow of a doubt I would never go up that ladder.  I stepped down and got on the landing and realized I was very afraid of heights.  I never really knew until that moment (I was 11 or 12).  As far as swimming in the deep, it just wasn't my cup of tea.  I didn't want to dive so why bother going there.  Hey I stayed in the 4' and had a ball.  Now with this swim class, I have the best of both worlds.  There is this one belt you buckle around your waist and it keeps you floating.  Your shoulders never go under water so she has you bike with your legs all around the pool, even in the deep.  Plus  we have these barbells that are made out of styrofoam and if you put them under your arms you can also float around.  There is also a board made from styrofoam you sit on, it helps keep your balance.  I can't tell you enough how much I love it.  I sure hope if any of you out there are thinking about joining you have done so.  It's your insurance policy for the rest of your life.  You'll meet new people and just plain feel great.  Tootles