Almost gone !

This is what I have left.  I think I might hold out and make a pie for Thanksgiving.  We will see.  I already made the crust it's in the freezer so I can do this anytime.  What fun it is to smell all of that cooking in your kitchen but it's not so good on the waist line so that is why I thought I would hold off a little.
     It's cooler weather and I love it.  I know, I'm sure I will be complaining in another month about it.  We really are never satisfied.  Tootles

Apple Orchard Pictures

 Is this not the most adorable home.  Don't you just want to go inside, make a fire, put the kettle on for tea and grab a blanket and a good book and curl up.  Oh, how I like the thought of that. 
     The smell in the air is pine at it's best.  You just automatically take a deep breath the minute you get out of your car.  The air is cool and crisp and you are so glad you decided to come.  I looked all around me and there are several building that you can tell have been there for a long time.  The boards are very wide and very dark.  It's almost like you have gone back in time to a much simpler life.  A time we all would like to experience.  That friendly neighborhood that helped each other and always knew just what you needed, even before you knew.  Don't you just love this yard.  Give me this any day.  Who wants the manicured yard that no one is to step in.  This is simple and charming.

 This is the other side of the home.  I didn't tell you the name of this farm or I should say Orchard........Noble Orchards, Jim and Laurie Noble at 7050 Pentz Road in Paradise, CA.  As we were leaving they put in our hand and said,  "Hope you can join us for our  Harvest Party Celebration our 89th Season, Tuesday, November 9th, 2010 form 2-7pm. 

     Can you imagine 89 years.  Boy, the stories that house and barn could tell.  It's a great place to go especially to take the kids and let them see what a farm, orchard looks like.  It's not showy, or fancy.  Like I said yesterday it's the real deal and I am so glad I ask the right questions and a fellow swimmer let me in on the nugget in Paradise.

Just look at this barn.  Now I wish I would have taken more pictures for you.  Hey, I just might have to go up there again and when I do, I will take a lot more pictures and share. 
     Enjoy, and I hope you are thinking about those apple pies you need to make for the Holidays.  You can always make some now just to get in practice for Thanksgiving and Hey, Christmas is just around the corner.
     I wonder if I can find the chocolate farm.  Can you imagine an orchard of chocolate drops hanging on the tree.  Maybe.  It could happen.  I just might be the one to go looking for it.  Ha!  Tootles

Happy Sunday to all of you !

     I have enjoyed this week-end.  First Saturday morning .....Well, I should start Friday morning.  I got a big tip from one of my fellow swimmers, at "In Motion Fitness".  We were talking about food, as usual and she told me about how she makes apple butter in her slow cooker (you know, the crock pot, why they thought they had to rename it, I will never know).  Well, I wanted to go do it right then. You know how that is, you do not want to wait for anybody, anytime or anything but I had no apples.  The great thing was she told me about this really cute farm (if a farm could really be called cute, that is), it's up in Paradise, CA.  Yes it is a real town and has it ever grown since I was a teen, I guess so as it's almost 50 years, any who, this place is the real deal.  We found it off Pentz Rd.  You drive in the driveway and it's a little one lane road which goes beside a rock house.  There is parking in the front yard which we decide to take because we have never been there before.  We start walking down the one lane and can see a barn which is open at this end.  There are shelves, and boxes and boxes of apples.  Many, many kinds.  Also they are selling Olive Oil that is local and some sauces.  I pick up the Olive Oil and get black berry sauce.  We are moseying (hey, we are on a farm) over where one lady is giving slices of apples to try.  Jim and I do so and after the granny smith, red delicious, she gives us gala.....wow that was real good.  We buy half a bushel, they smell wonderful.  Off we go with our loot and head for home.  Then Saturday morning I get up slice apples, slice apples, and then slice apples.  I made one big apple pie with a crumb topping, 5 small pies.  I had no more pie plates so just used the crust.  Rolled out the dough in a circle, added the apples in center with sugar and spices on and lapped the dough around them in a circle.  Hey, it worked fine.  I think that is how I am going to make them from now on.  Before all of this I put about 15 apples, sliced in the crock pot and 11 or so hours later I had apple butter.  I couldn't finish the apple butter on Sat as our electricity went out so just halted the crock pot and started it up again on Sunday Morning.  Let me tell you it is wonderful.  Here is all you do.......
     Peel and slice about 15 apples, add to crock pot.  Mix 3 to 4 cups of sugar (depending on apple sweetness), 2 tablespoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.  Stir.  Put crock pot on high for 1 hour, then stir and put on low for 11 to 12 hours.  Then the last hour leave lid off and stir with wire wisk to mash up apples.  I used a potato masher.  It will have become dark and thick and that is just what you want.  Put in sterilized jars, leave 1/2 an inch from top, place lids on and waalaa your done.  Apple butter is great over vanilla ice cream, add to pancake mix (about 1/2 cup) serve with pork chops.  Just use it like you would jam.  Believe me you will think of things yourself, it's delicious.  Tootles

Wow, have I been away or what !

     I think it has almost been a month since I was here.  You know life just gets ahold of you and you have a hard time getting lose.  There are just too many things that go on, in which you, yourself, have no control over.  That is where I have been and I hope to never end up there ever again.  Have I ever missed being here.  This is the place to be.  It's home, its comfortable and homey.  Just where I want to sit back, put my feet up, have my earl gray tea, steeping in my favorite cup, beside me.  Oh, I think this is the closes to heaven I can be, without actually being there.  Now then, let's get down to talking. 
     Our election is over here in CA.  What a race it was.  Let's just say, some people found out the hard way, it doesn't matter how much you spend it does not guarantee you will be elected.  The more you spend does not mean you will win.  I think some people forgot our country should be run like were a family.  The adults in Washington, (Now don't start laughing) are like the parents and each state is a child.  They set up money for each of them along with programs and such.  It's sad really how some people in office think it should be run like a business.  Think about it, wouldn't we all be a lot happier and our country would run smoothly but (there is always a but) then how would the wealthy keep getting more money.  What surprises me is some of the people I have met at swim class, who are retired teachers, retired professors, mostly professional and what I would call intelligent.  Well, I do get fooled by how they do not think for themselves.  If they hear it on TV and this man said it, then It must be true.  Come on people.  No matter what he, she or any one has said, take it all in, ask some questions and decide for yourself.  Nine times out of ten that person was twisting the real facst and you were not getting the full or real story. 
     Ok, that's it for me tonight.  I'll be back on the soap box tomorrow. 
     Happy Birthday Mom, where ever you are !        Tootles

I have not checked Amazon's Free Books Today. Yet.

     It's been hard but I have resisted. So far that is.  After all the day isn't over yet.  I want to stop being greedy and before I click, read about the books first.  I still can't believe I acted like that and want to get back to enjoying reading and the anticipation of a new book.  Wish me luck. 
     Well it is Friday and tomorrow is Jim's b-day.  We are having cake.  Yea!  I love cake and a Birthday is the perfect excuse.  He picked out white cake with dark chocolate frosting.  Yum. 
     Well, arnold has just passed the budget and I am wondering just who will be hurt.  You can bet it won't be the wealthy and to top it off he is going on vacation to Russia.  Russia, why ever is he going there on tax payers money.  Maria should hide under her bed. He certainly has terminated CA.
     Well, on a happier note I am feeling great.   I went to the gym today and worked out along with swim class.  It sure does make you feel super and keeps you in good spirits.  Let me tell you, it works.  Have you found a gym yet ?   I can't stress enough how important it is, of course along with eating right.  Tootles

My Kindle is Loading

     Every time I turn it on, it's like it freezes, then blank screen, then reloads itself.  I think maybe I need to put some of my books in Archives.  I do have over 1000 books on it so I think I will move some of them.  I really have no other complaints.  I mean I love my Kindle but I do think it has brought out the greed in me.  I knew I loved getting books and I was always happy to pick up paperbacks at the grocery store or discount store.  Once in a while I would buy 2 or 3 at a time, but mostly just one.  And I would wait for that best seller to come out in paperback as well.  Again, once in a while I would splurge and buy the hardback the day it would come out.  O.K.  that said, I have to admit now I feel so greedy.  I mean I check Amazon daily to see how many new free books can I load up.  I don't always check to see just what they are about.  Isn't that awful !  What the heck am I doing.  You know when I first received my Kindle maybe once a week at the Kindle store on the Kindle, the headline would be A FREE BOOK.  That would be so exciting and I would read the article about it and get the book.  Then it came more frequently and I was overwhelmed as I didn't want to take the time to read about each book, I just snapped them up.  Then I found I was getting so many books I couldn't keep tract of all of them.  That's when I received the update.  Now I have folders.  I can put all my books in folders.  Do you know I have 16 folders and one of them is titled.....Free books to read.  I have over 400 books just in that folder.  Have I went overboard or what ?  I think what I need to do is stop the insanity and read about the books first.  If I am not interested in that particular subject matter then DO NOT get it.  I just do not like to see this greedy side of myself and want to go back to getting excited about .......... A new book.  As Dr. Oz's would say,  "Make Sense" ?    Tootles

Flowers in Our Yard

I believe this is an Amaryllsis.  I just know it's the brightest flower in our yard.  What a show piece.  I swear you could look at it all day long, sometimes I just about do.  I wanted to get a shot of it to show you.  You know most of my flowers have been given to me by various people and it's like I have friends all over my yard.  Now that is a scary thought (just kidding). 
     Last night we had a wild and crazy rain.  I'm not kidding.  First there was this bright white flash, I just happened to see, out of the corner of my eye, through the window.  Then about 3 seconds later bamm!, a loud crack of thunder.  Wow !  This is so strange as I'm in Northern CA. just north of Sac. so we do not get thunder storms.  Your talking to a girl born and raised in Kansas.  I know what a Thunder and Lightening Storm sound like.  Believe me many anights I spent with my head under the covers only to bravely peek out of my upstairs window, to be Zapped by another round of thunder and lightening.  It was thrilling and scary at the same time but last night I have to say for the brief time it was in our area, about 30 to 45 minutes, it was a doozie.  Thunder, lightening and them a downpour of  rain, made me even miss the good ole' days of Kansas.  Ha!
   Hey you might want to check out another site I've been working on....Arcanes Portis Aveo on the Kindle blogs.  I'm enjoy myself very much and love sharing with you.  Tootles