Happy Monday to You !

We are starting off this week with windy, windy weather.  It has not started to rain but it's on it's way.  This has certainly been an odd year for weather.  Jim and I love to be out doors and with this wind, no way.  I just keep hoping this will be the last storm and our spring weather will appear.  We do love to have our doors open and enjoy the fresh air coming through.
     I'm going to try my hand at making corn tortilla's from scratch.  I'm sure it's going to take a lot of practice on my part but from what I have read it's better for you health wise.  So will be trying my hand at it.  I'm enjoying making new dishes whether it's a meal, snacks or desserts.  I really am loving my kitchen.  I think it's very satisfying for me to make something by hand and know it's nutritious as well as delicious.  Besides with this weather it's the perfect time.  So far I have found a recipe for making french bread.  It's very easy and I love it.  I try to make sure I have it made when I have spaghetti.  Yum!  When I go to the store I have a recipe for whole grain bread.  That, I am really looking forward to.  I've tried some lemon cookie recipes from Giada  (I heard if you use her recipes you'll start looking like her).  They were delicious.  I do love lemon so any recipe with lemons in it I'm sure I will love.  I have a chocolate cake recipe which I got on my Kindle in "Amazon Daily".  It's called  "Nana's Hole cake". It's one layer, which is just right for Jim and I, and  fun to make, plus of course, it's delicious.  Tootles

Life, Living, Love, Sometimes it just stinks

Life, that is.  Sometimes when you can't explain, it makes it hard to understand and believe me I do not understand.  We go along happy as a clam doing our thing not bothering anyone, not causing any trouble but trouble your say, finds us and there you go, Wham!  Who knows why this happens ?  Well, I guess we do know who knows, don't we, but he is not giving out any information.  Anyway nothing that could help us and from what I have been told and heard he's not going to tell or explain anything until we are in front of him.  Now I ask you what good is that going to do us then.  We won't be able to do anything about it.  I know, I know, your saying that's the idea.  That is the way it's suppose to play out.  We are running around here with no clue of what we are actually doing and when we start to make plans there is always someone around who say.  You know that's the one joke he loves, is to hear you say, YOU are making plans.  So ok, now what ?  Let me recap here..... We are running around in life trying to live it with love, we don't have a clue why or what or how and no understanding of what is going on so we make a plan to figure it out or at least give us direction on which way to go and then, That is the Joke he loves to hear.  No wonder we look like we don't know what we are doing.  WE Don't.  There are times when everything seems to fall into place and like I said things are going smoothly and we are patting ourselves on the back at what great decisions we have made to get us where we are at, and then, Wham!  We didn't see it coming.  There were no clues, no memo's, no emails, no nothing.  We were blindsided and we were not paying attention.  For just a half of a second we looked the other way and missed it, we blinked.  We took a breath, let out a big sigh, turned our head and blinked never to go back, never to have do overs, never to find out what just happened and how was I involved.  Something to think about.  Something to ponder but never to be able to explain.  Tootles

Sunflower in Yuba City, CA

Hello to you on this cool and breeze morning in Cal.  We have enjoyed 70's (low 70's) but it seems every few days our weather turns cool.  Now for tomorrow we have rain in the forecast.  What!  We do not need more rain or should I say I do not want any more rain.  Well, nothing I can do about the weather but it seems some people are doing things with our weather and your weather.  Interesting, uh.

       I am very much in the mood to do some cooking and baking.  I really love to work in the kitchen, especially using my KitchenAid Mixer It's funny when I was first married I wanted nothing to do with it.  Mostly I wanted to go out to eat.  Restaurant, Fast Food it didn't matter, I just did not want to cook.  Once the children came along of course I was cooking.  I cooked just like my Mom cooked, fried everything, lots of potatoes and corn and green beans.  We didn't have a lot of salad not that I didn't like it, it was just not thought of.  I remember hating the clean up.  Especially the gravy pan.  Oh, it was awful and no dishwasher.  Of course it wouldn't have helped the gravy pan as it was a cast iron skillet and never, never put that in a dish washer.  I didn't really start to enjoy being in the kitchen, let alone cooking, until I became aware of nutrition and healthy eating.  How did that happen, you ask?  My husband and I had a business in a nearby town.  It just wasn't convenient to come home for lunch.  For awhile I brought our lunch, then we ate fast food, pizza, cafe's, restaurant take out.  Well, you get the picture, it became a nightmare just thinking about lunch.  Our waist lines were expanding and we were not enjoying the food so I remembered a health food store that had been in our area forever.  Decided to check it out.  I figured I had nothing to lose (except weight) and everything to gain (except weight).
      Anyway the first step into this store, and it was heaven.  I swear I was back a hundred years.  Why, you ask?  THE Smell.  It was wonderful.  So many herbs, oils, homemade bread, a lovely wafe of yummy smells was coming from the back right.  I swear it was like walking into your Mom's kitchen your hungry as a bear and dinner is on the table.  On top of that as I took a step, under my feet was a hardwood floor.  Beautiful, old and very well taken care of.  I follow the yummy smell and here is a Deli, on my right there is a long slab of wood, 2' wide and I would say 12' long fastened to the wall and floor with bar stools all around.  Between that and the counter you order from there are numerous tables and chairs.  Behind the long slab on the wall is a mural of plants in a green house, beautiful.  I feel like I'm home.  Corney I know but that is just how I felt.  It was home and I knew the food here was nutritious as well as being very delicious.  As I am standing there one of the clerks walks up to me and say, " Is this your first time here."  I say," Yes."  She goes into an office of some sort and comes out with a plastic bag of samples, hands it to me and says, "Hi, my name is Jesse and Welcome to Sunflower Natural Foods."  And as they say the rest is history.  That was back in 1991 or 92 and I have been going back there ever since.  It's like a small general store with fresh produce (mostly local), herbs of every kind in jars, vitamins and natural medicines, everything you would find in a grocery store but this one has the real product and it's not loaded with additives.  I love this place and feel so grateful we have it in our area.  It's located in Yuba City, CA on Market Street.  If you are ever in the area, stop and browse and try the Deli you will not be disappointed.  There really is a heaven on earth and I found it.
     My husband and I were there yesterday and as we were ordering our lunch they told us our Daughter and Granddaughter had been there the day before.  Not surprising as my whole family loves it.  So come and join is when you can and order a cup of herbal tea, you'll go back in time.  Tootles

ipad or Kindle ?

My first thought is, Kindle, of course.  I own one and I am thrilled to have it.  In My Hand. I still cannot believe I have all these books.   In My Hand.  I'm not a big spender so when I do purchase it's because I really, I mean I really like the Author or the book itself speaks to me (Don't ask).  Let's just say I don't have a lot of money to spend but like the saying goes, if I have 10.00 in my pocket and it's between a book and dinner....I just started a diet.  So that being said when Amazon offers free books, I swear I think I have died and gone to Heaven.  It's Christmas anytime of the year or I just keep getting presents.  I have always been a reader, always read everyday.  Especially, just before I go to sleep, always reading and believe it or not I am able to read even more.  I try to take it with me and when ever I have a minute I open it up and read.  It's great and I love it.  NOT to say I do not have a conversation with people.  If someone is around they have my attention.  I'm talking about when I am alone or not with anyone to speak of (you know what I'm talking about).  It's not like I'm shopping and out pops the kindle (like all those people with cell phones hanging on their ears, are they that important they can't even go shopping without someone getting in touch with them.  More about this later).  I respect my time and honor my self so that when I am reading I'm enjoying it very much and not offending anyone.  I'm still astounded how much I love and enjoy it.  Believe me I could go on and on and on and on about the Kindle but I will stop for now and talk a little about the ipad.
     I have to be honest I don't know a lot about the ipad.  At first glance it seems to be very impressive.  The looks, how it's set up and just in general.  My Son, has one on order so will be more informed after he tells me what all it offers and how it's working for him.  But for right now this is what I know.  It's bigger than the Kindle.  In color, Has Safari, A keyboard, You may take notes. The app store.  Now I know there is more but right now I just don't know what it is so I'm just going to comment on this much.......Well bigger isn't always better but I will keep an open mind.  Color might be nice in some books and blogs.  Has Safari, well Kindle does have access to the internet and it isn't fast but you can check your email, I can send emails from it and I am able to send text messages thanks to GoggleVoice. (thank you goggle, I love it).  I have to admit it's not that much fun getting on the net but the fun part is and I will shout, IT'S FREE.  Now I do have a keyboard on the kindle but it is very small and I really don't hold my hands as I do like I am typing now.  It's the one finger use and really for what I use it for it's ok.  You can take notes on the kindle, I must admit I have not yet. Nor have I highlighted. The app store, no, Kindle does not have that.  Perhaps that would be useful I know my husband has an iphone and has lots of apps which he enjoys using.  My understanding is for the most part the books will be 14.99 on average. I don't think I have heard about any free books.  So they lost me there.  Here is what I am thinking right now.  If you are a reader and that is what you use the Kindle for then I'm in favor of the Kindle.  But if you read sometime but go on the internet a lot, check your email a lot, look up facts, info, or entertainment a lot,  You type up notes etc.  Then by all means the ipad is for you.  As for myself I just don't know for sure.  The jury is still out. Tootles

Book Review and more

I just read the book, "The Girl Who Chased the Moon", by Sarah Addison Allen.  I loved it and was very upset at the end.  Why, you say?  Because it ended too soon.  She could have kept going and made it into a long book.  I never want the books that I'm enjoying to end.  I mean I really get involved with them so when I start getting toward the end I slow down, yes, because I don't want it to end.  I know, I know that is just crazy but what can I say, anyway I was enjoying the book very much and with a blink of an eye it was over.  I had finished it on the second day and I was not reading it constantly.  Oh, I was so sad.  Never fear as I can assure you I will be reading it several times more.  Hey, maybe she'll come up with a second book to follow or better yet a second book to follow "Garden Spells".  That is very good.  She, the author, has  a way of writing that makes you feel safe, warm and that nice things really do happen and on top of that there really is magic in the air.  I have also read "The Sugar Queen" by Allen.  They are all great reads. Enjoy

SPRING TIME IS HERE !!

Yes, I know that I am shouting but I am so happy the weather is so nice.  We have been outside a lot and enjoying the sunshine.  We even have our chairs on the patio where we can see the sunrise.  It really is beautiful.
     

What a Week !

Wow, and wow again.  Well, not exactly a whole week but close enough.  I will remember turning 62.  I spent the day (March 9) with Jim.  First we went to the Bidwell Mansion in Chico,CA.  It was great.  We have gone through it before but it's been several years and a lot has changed.  Mr. Bidwell is the main man who started Chico among other things.  Anyway won't go into all that detail, look it up if your interested.  His home is big and beautiful.  What has been added on the tour is the kitchen, cooks and maids quarters.  Pretty cool and we enjoyed it very much.  The style was, a women had to have an 18" waist.  What?!  They even started girls at 8 years old wearing the corset so they could reshape their ribs.  Reshape, heck, they deformed them.  How awful for women and so glad we are over all that.  Not that I"m that happy about some of the styles for women and girls now.  To go from deforming yourself to all out flaunting your body is quite a stretch.  Anyway, getting back to the day.  After the tour we went to Spiteri's Deli.  What great sandwiches they have.  Best place in town for a lunch.  The day itself was just a little cool for Ca but at least it wasn't raining.  Then we decided to go to the movies after all it was Tight Wad Tuesday.  We had decided on "Avatar".  So we are in line and Jim sees it's in 2D.  So he asks and it was not showing in 3D now as they had moved it out of that Theater.  Evidently not every theater is able to show 3D.  Well we really wanted to see  the movie  "Alice in Wonderland" in 3D.  So we picked that.  Now bare in mind this is not one of the movies you can get on the discount for Tight Wad Tuesday.  So we ended up paying full price. Yikes!!  Not something we usually do.  I will say the movie is great and enjoyed it very much.  We came home and had a great cup of coffee and talked about our day.   Tootles

Today a Special Date for me

A Special date.  Today is the absolute last time I will be able to say I am 61 years old.  Now that I am in my later years I realize the importance of such a date.  We all, when we are younger seem  to be hurrying the hours to go by, so that big date of a new age is upon us.  Well, I for one have realized, hey, you have a whole year to celebrate that age what about the age you are leaving behind never to experience it again anyway not in this life time.  It's not that I don't want to get old.  I'm not one of those people who cringe at the thought of gray hair (mine is white) or who count the wrinkles on the face.  Unless of course you would like to hear about my neck.  I mean what is up with women's necks as they age.  Not all of them it seems.  It's hard to look in a mirror sometimes.  Sometimes, ha, how about every time I look in the mirror all I see is this strange thing below my chin, or should I say chins.  I mean come on, it's bad enough that we have to age and now more than ever watch what goes in our mouths but to put this horrible excuse for a neck in plain site is just a bad, bad joke.  Of course I try to hide it behind scarfs.  Yes, most of the time (I hope anyway) I am able to just look fashionable with my flowing scarf blowing in the breeze.  Sometimes it blows too much and. "OH, NO, well you know what I am getting at.  I am determined to fix it, lose it, or just continue to hide it.  Now getting back to celebrating today, the date of March 8.  It's the last time I will be 61 and it does make me sad to be leaving it behind.  I can't really say anything major or really exciting happened this year to mark it's passing.  Just that I can no longer state, that is after tonight at midnight that I am 61.  You know we could turn the numbers around and say I'm 16.  Now wouldn't that be a kick, being 16 again.  After half a second thinking about it,  NO, No thank you.  Yes, it would be good to do over some things but I don't think you can pick and choose which things you would like to do over.  I'm mean lets face it, it just wouldn't work and besides who says it would be better.  Maybe it would be a whole lot different and just maybe it would be a whole lot worse.  I am pretty happy with where I am right now.  I like, no let me say I love my life right now, right at this moment and I wouldn't want to change a thing (well, maybe a few things) but on the most part nothing.    I just want to try and remember this day and think back over this year and remember some of the things, maybe not headline worthy, but things I did do this year to remember and celebrate. 
I just hope somehow this year I helped someone and didn't even know it.  That's the best, I think.  Just for the rest of the evening I will celebrate life, my life and hope and pray for the following year to stay as happy as I am now.  Keep smiling, and hope who I'm smiling at gives it back.  Sometimes that is all any of us need is for someone to give us a smile.  A warm smile, that says, "Hey, I see you there and want to wish you a very good day".  You know the smile I'm talking about.  Not the one the clerks, checkers, sales person gives you with there bleached white teeth that are so abnormal and odd it's frighting.  They do not even look you in the eye as you purchase your items but those teeth are shining bright.  It's even hard to get anyone to look you in the eye anymore.  It use to be if you pulled into a parking space and someone was sitting in the car next to you, it was automatic when you got out of your car you said, Hi, or How are you , or something to acknowledge that a person was sitting there, you saw them and gave them a greeting.  Now, oh my God, people are almost afraid to even look there way let alone say something.  It's strange, very strange.  I could go on and on about this but I won't tonight.  I will continue this at a later time because for the rest of this evening I am celebrating my last day of being 61.  Tootles