Saturday, June 23, 2012

Our Garden growing And Books or Kindle ?

 These are our lovely Peaches.  Now, they are not freestone which I really love the best but I must say they do have a sweet flavor.  I want the freestone to put on the barbecue.  I''m sure you have seen the recipes which show them  and they talk about the caramel glaze.  I guess you cut them in half and, of course remove the seed then place them on the grill.  That's the only problem with these peaches there is no way to cut them in half.  You have to cut around the seed.  They look so pretty hanging there in the tree.
 Next is our artichoke.  They are so yummy.  I tried a new recipe, I think I already told you about it, where you cut the stem off the bottom place them in foil put garlic inside the leaves, pour olive oil over and sprinkle with salt.  Wrap it up put it in the oven for at least an hour and you have a treasure of taste.  It is so good.  Of course, the first thing you always have to do is soak them in water.  That, is to get the earwigs out believe me they are in there hiding. I also just boil them and dip them in mayo but the other method really gives them a great flavor.
Then we have the tomato.  You can just see one starting to turn.  I swear there is nothing like a tomato from your garden the flavor is so good, nothing like the tasteless ones in the grocery that seem to turn to mush.  It's obvious they have been frozen.  Hey, if you can't have a plant yourself then go to a farmers market you won't be sorry.

We also have grapes and wild berries but will show you them another day.  It is great having them in my yard.

So have you read any good books lately ?  Speaking about books and I do mean the one with pages that you actually turn yourself.  Well, I do miss them.  Yes, I do have a Kindle and yes, I love it But.......  I have to admit it's great but I am going back to the book.  I regret buying some of the books and getting them on the Kindle.  Yes it is convenient but I want the feel of the book back in my hands.  When I'm reading a good part I always rub the pages.  I take my whole hand and caress the page and you just can't do that with a Kindle or any other ereader.  Don't get me wrong I think there is a place for them and I will continue to use mine.  Let's say going on vacation, although I never take a book on vacation, I'm too busy seeing the sites and maybe picking up a new book to read later after the vacation is over, but I know some people want several books to take.  Well, here you go, load them on the Kindle and your set.  Another place is Schools.  Let's get rid of those back packs.  Have you lifted one of those.  Hey, go up and ask a student sometime if you can hold his backpack (well, in this day and age, maybe not such a good idea) but if you could you would not believe how heavy they are.  Talk about back problems later in life.  Anyway that would be a great place.  Yes I know there would have to be some regulations about them but, Books for Schools are not cheap and let's face it a lot of them have ended up in mud puddles.  Well, anyway that is my take on it and I must get going so I can order my new book from Amazon.  I will hold it and love it and smell it and pat it and squeeze it and place it on a shelf when I am done reading it so that whenever I look at the spine I will remember what a great feeling I had while reading it.  You just can't do that with a Kindle.  Sorry Kindle.  Tootles

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Come in and sit awhile

Hello and welcome.  What brings you by on this lovely day as summer begins ?  We are very lucky as the weather has been springlike.  Although we did have a couple of days that reached 100 last week, and believe me we did not like it, that is forgotten.  Now we are enjoying just being outside.  So as I said before come and sit a spell and let's chat.


Friday, June 8, 2012

Welcome !

 How is your day going ?  Here at the Dusty Cottage it is going great.  I'm still eating the Paleo way and my tummy is very happy. I do have to admit it is somewhat of a challenge.  So far I have been able to overcome and move on, so to speak.  You see not only am I eating the Paleo Way but after reading in both the books I have, about Paleo.  I have discovered the nightshade vegetables are not so good for you.  That is for some people.  It seems some of us have a gene that has a problem with a eating nightshades and I am pretty sure I am one of those people.  I won't go into that now but let's just say that has scratched off some of the veggie's I ate a lot.  They are potato and tomato.  There are more but those are the ones that effect me.  I do miss potato but hey, I'm doing fine.  Just like today I made a soup for lunch.  I added a couple of chicken pieces, cooked, to my veg soup.  I started out with the usual....onions, garlic, carrots, mushrooms got a good caramel crunch on them then....and here is the really super part
I just learned about.  I slice zucchini with a potato peeler and it looks like noodles. I added them along with curry, basil, cumin and salt and pepper.  Talk about yummy !!  It was delicious.  I plan on having that a lot.  So slowly I am getting use to and loving it
This sweet doll is Sade Blake.  My Mom made her for me.  I love her too pieces.  The picture above her was in my Mom's things and I just love it, especially the colors in it.  Tootles

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Eating Well.....

I am enjoying my new eating program.  I have been trying some new recipes from an app I pick up, it's called Fast Paleo.  It was rated 4 and 1/2 stars and I have to say it's pretty good. A lot of detail went into it.  However, as I stated I have tried some new dishes and were not impressed.  Don't get me wrong they are yummy to some people I am sure but just not to my liking.

 This is Edgar, he is spending time on our roof of our barbecue area.  He is big, soft looking, has a sweet face but you taking your life in your hands if you attempt to pet him let alone pick him up.  You steer clear, walk around and under no circumstances do you go near him. 

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Paleo Eating

Have you heard of it ?  It's as old as time, you might say.  Some call it the Cave Man Diet.  It's eating vegetables, fruit, seeds, nuts and meat.  Some seasoning are fine.  Well I have started it and I must say I feel great.  There have been a few times I went ahead and gobbled down a slice of bread or half a donut and let me tell you I noticed the difference.  Strange, you say?  You bet, but true.  I am still in shock.  About What, you ask ?  Let me explain.

I have always had this weird tummy.  I say tummy because it started when I was in 3rd grade.  The Dr. visits and so on.  He said I had an ulcer.  This went on for several years until I got older and fixed my plate myself.  I was so tired of it all I didn't eat a lot.  That seemed to help.

Life went on, decades passed, illness came and went and here I am reading about how bread and all white food is very hard on your digestive system.  Now keep in mind I am a bread lover.  I even make my own bread.  So this was a little daunting for me.  Did I really want to do this and what if I had no more problems with said tummy ? Then what ?

Well after two days of only eating veggies, fruit, nuts, seeds and meat I was pain free.  I shouldn't say pain.  It really wasn't like I had bad pains it was more like my tummy was like a fist that would not release.  It was be bloated, full of gas (how charming), and just uncomfortable.

Now I am doing my best to stay with the plan.  Not to lose weight (all though that would be wonderful) but to just feel great.

I have a meat for breakfast with an egg.  Poached, or light oil  and some fresh fruit
Lunch salad with all the things I love....avocado, tomatoes, red onion, along with chicken or what ever is left over.
Dinner veggie, right now we are having artichokes from our garden, yum yum.  I put them in the oven with garlic, olive oil, lemon juice wrapped up in aluminum foil for about an hour at 425.  So Good !  Along with that I have some kind of meat, chicken, turkey, some beef or whatever you like.  Have a salad with it and you are set.

No more stuffing myself on chips, crackers, cereal, bread, rice or beans.  Let's face it they are fillers if you don't have the real food.

Hey will let you know how all this is working.  Tootles

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

What a Beautiful Picture !

I took this on our way into town as we were driving along the freeway.  What a glorious sky.

Spring is here.  We are having a great day, the weather is warm, just enough breeze to keep you cool and enough clouds to enjoy the sun when it shines.  I'm fixing up my patio now and will have pic to show you later.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Statue's of Nature

A Farmer down the road from where I live is taking his walnut orchard out as you can see.  I was driving by and was struck by the beauty of Standing Statue's.

Working Hard !

 Exercising every other day. I have a positive  attitude. I do hope I improve but I am luckier then a lot of people. Thank the Lord God.  Pr...