Scavenger Photo Hunt - The Theme is "Time"

I chose a picture from my favorite time of year - Fall.
I love the colors, the air, the change in nature and the
shadows. We drove by a little farm and saw all these pumpkins.
What is Fall without the bright orange colors of pumpkins,-and
they are so very photogenic! :)
Click on the picture for a larger view, this small one doesn't do it justice.
Happy Saturday!

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November 22, 1963. This Day in History

After so many years, you'd think that this date was like any other date, but not to me. November 22nd is still the day John F Kennedy was shot. At a party once, everyone asked each other, "where were you when Kennedy was killed?"
I remember as if it were yesterday. I was in 7th grade at my horrible Jr. High School, sitting in my music class at the piano. The intercom jingle came on and the principal at the school asked for a minute of silence and prayer because the president had been shot. We were all in a state of shock. An hour later we were told he had died.
Many people have different ways of dealing with shock and sorrow, but my mom had a way all her own. When I got home from school that day, I walked into the kitchen, and there was my mom on her knees scrubbing the oven broiler. She was covered in grease and she was crying. I asked her why she was cleaning at a time like this, and she answered that it was her way of dealing with grief. Like mother, like daughter because I too clean now when I'm upset about something, and believe it or not, it helps.
What bothers me the most, is that we will probably never know who really was behind Kennedy's murder and it bothers me that someone out there threw the whole world in a state of grief and sorrow and has probably never paid the price.
I believe we all have the right, to know who robbed the world of this great man, even though it happened 43 years ago.
That's my thought for the day. I'll just let it blow in the wind.

Scavenger Photo Hunt - The Theme is "Plush"

I'm not a very "plushy" person. The only real plushy things I have in my life are my kitties, and I've posted them a million times here on my blog. But I do have a scarf that has a bit of fur.. (not cat!) So here is my plusy picture!
Happy weekend to all you Saturday Photo Hunt participants!

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I'm Just A Hollywood Baby!

I grew up close to Hollywood, and hung out on Hollywood Blvd. as a teen. I thought it'd be fun to see if I were a product of my environment! *S* Guess I am.
I AM a movie buff!

Your Movie Buff Quotient: 66%

You are a total movie buff. Classics, blockbusters, indie favorites... you've seen most of them. Your friends know to come to you whenever they need a few good DVD rental suggestions.

Are You a Movie Buff?

Scavenger Photo Hunt - The Theme is "Growth"

Here is a picture of my son and his cousin 15 years ago (corner picture) and now.
They had a lot of fun trying to get the pose right!
Fantastic to see how they've grown and changed.
Beautiful boys in my opinion!
Happy Saturday.

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Scavenger Photo Hunt - The Theme is "Windows"

This is a picture of Sofie on her confirmation day.
Isn't she sweet? *S*
Happy Saturday everyone!

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Scavenger Photo Hunt - The Theme is "Dreaming"

After lots of food and games, singing and dancing, this little
birthday girl found a soft place to dream about all her presents
and her wonderful day.

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I'm just a kid at heart

I really am a kid at heart. I LOVE Fall and Halloween. I love the colors, the fun, the changing season. I love films like Hocus Pocus and Casper.
Don't ask me why, I just do. Thank goodness I'm not alone. I have a wonderful friend who is just as "young at heart" as I am. We send cards and e-cards to each other.
We've played on-line games and played jokes on each other! I feel like I've known her forever! Around this time of year we call ourselves "Witches in Arms" because we share our love of fun and games and Halloween. This is a card that my favorite Witch in arms sent me. Thanks Miss W. It stands next to the pumpkin on my table and I love it! I truly believe that if you leave the child in you behind,you don't just grow older,- you grow old. So take those memories with you, have fun,laugh and share - who knows, it just might be the fountain of youth we're all looking for! *S*
happy Halloween and Autumn.
L

Scavenger Photo Hunt - The Theme is "Lost"

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Here is my son and his uncle Jerry
lost in the maze at
Egeskov Castle.
The maze is gigantic,
especially if you're lost
in the middle of it.





Just to give you an idea of how huge it is - I've added a picture
of the maze taken from above.

Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Sleep"

Sorry I'm late...
Here are my two little girls sleeping on my desk.
It's true, cats CAN sleep anywhere!
I just have to add this little poem.

Cats sleep anywhere
Any table, any chair
Top of piano, window ledge
In the middle, on the edge
Open drawer, empty shoe
Anybody’s lap will do
Fitted in a cardboard box
In a cupboard with your frocks
Anywhere, they don’t care
Cats sleep anywhere

Happy Saturday!

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Comfy"

What is more comfy than a kitty in a basket?

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Eyes"

The eyes are the windows of the soul.

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Looking Up"

My little kitty guy loves to admire himself in the mirror.
It looks as though he's looking up more in the mirror than
at the camera. Happy Saturday!

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Food"

This week's theme is perfect for sharing recipes! This is a photo of Ris a la mande,which is a traditional Christmas desert in Scandinavia. It's a creamy rice pudding with chopped almonds and a delicious cherry sauce on top.
One whole almond is usually hidden in the pudding and the finder gets a little present.
Here is what you'll need:
A bit of gelatin. (optional)
3 tablespoons cold water
4 cups milk
1 cup short-grain white rice, or arborio rice, uncooked
7 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 cup heavy cream, for whipping
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup blanched almonds, chopped
1 whole almond
**********
Meanwhile, place 2 cups of the milk and the rice in a medium saucepan. Stir over moderate heat until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in the dissolved gelatin, then the remaining 2 cups of milk, the dash of salt and the sugar.

Transfer the rice mixture to a large bowl. Freeze until mixture is cold and thickens but does is not set, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.

Whip the cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the rice mixture. Fold in the 1/2 cup chopped almonds, and the one (1) whole almond. Place in a serving bowl and chill in rerigerator.

When ready to serve, spoon Ris ala mande into individual dessert bowls, and if desired, sprinkle a little ground cinnamon or nutmeg and sliced or slivered almonds over the top of each individual bowl and serve with Homemade Bing Cherry Sauce or a spoonful of canned cherry pie filling. Refrigerate any left-over pudding.

Homemade Bing Cherry Sauce

Ingredients:
1 can (17 oz.) Pitted Bing Cherries
3-4 tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tbsp. cornstarch
Dash of salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 tsp. almond extract or almond flavoring, optional
Water, to add to Bing Cherry liquid from can

Instructions:
Drain can of pitted bing cherries. Reserve liquid. Pour liquid (that you drained and reserved from can) into a medium saucepan, and add enough water to liquid to make 1 1/2 cups. Cook on medium heat, adding sugar, cornstarch, and a dash of salt. Cook and stir mixture until thickened and clear. Add the cherries, the lemon juice, and if desired, 1/2 tsp. almond extract. Pour sauce over individual servings of the Ris ala mande.

Note: Very Important!
Don't forget to put the 1 whole almond in the pudding.

Thanks to Diana Baker Woodall.

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "On The Road"

I often go for walks down little country roads, such as this one.
Kinda makes me want to sing "Take me home, country road". *S*

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Blue"

I was walking in a little village and saw this garden table and chairs just "there" in the middle of no where! They sure are blue!

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What kind of cook am I?

I found this little quiz on my friend, Wystful's Blog
and thought I'd take it!
I'd say it was pretty accurate! (brag, brag!*S*)
I have learned to be a good cook, but only because "fast food" hadn't invaded Europe when I moved over here! I learned to clean a chicken, bake bread, make my own salad dressings, marinate meat, make jam and fruit juices and lots of other things. You don't really need to use a lot of time to make good food, you just have to have the need to EAT good
food, in my humble opinion. Nothing has to be perfect, you can often play it by ear; taste your way to great recipes or go online and see what others have written.
I don't waste time on souffles and food that keeps me on
pins and needles - I make everyday food, but it's fantastic what a little spice
like thyme, rosemary or oregano or paprika can do to a dish.
Fresh food will always taste better than frozen, pre-made or processed food.
(and it really doesn't take much longer!)
I'll be writing some easy recipes here, so come back soon!

You Are an Excellent Cook

You're a top cook, but you weren't born that way. It's taken a lot of practice, a lot of experimenting, and a lot of learning. It's likely that you have what it takes to be a top chef, should you have the desire...

Are You A Good Cook?

Scavenger Hunt - The theme is "Youth"

I love this picture of my 9th graders on a field trip in london!
They had a blast.

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Scavenger Hunt - The Theme is "Funny"

I won't be here tomorrow, so I have to post this today.
This is an old picture of my son. He was missing his two front teeth,
so he put 2 plums in his mouth instead ! pretty funny huh?

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Blowin' in the Wind is on Vacation! Yeah!