A Dream Came True

This past Tuesday my Granddaughter phoned to say that their Thanksgiving plans to go out of town were canceled due to illness of the host. Then she asked if she could come and pick me up on Wednesday and spend Thanksgiving with them and then she would drive me back home on Friday. I do not know if I can put it in words how thrilled and grateful I felt. I was so excited!

In the process of getting a few things together to take I decided to prepare some Chicken Honey Lime Enchiladas that we could have for dinner Wednesday evening. I had grocery shopped the day before.

I did not get a photo of the finished dish but it looked very nice with the browned melted cheese on top. I also baked some 7 Layer Bars that seem to be popular on the blogs lately. Yummy!

I did not take many photos but after our great Thanksgiving dinner I had to take a photo of this sweetie helping mommy to load the dishwasher. This was the first time I was able to meet this little gal. She and her brother are so much fun and sweetness. They were always busy, busy and busy. There wasn't a quiet moment unless they were sleeping!

Mommy and Daddy are constantly teaching such things as please and thank you which I think is so important but it sure takes a lot of effort. And the little ones have a zillion questions. They truly have great parents. Thankfully. 

The Great Grands are the same age difference as my boy and girl were. But they sure seem to be more advanced because of all the technology. It is certainly a different time ! ! !

And Friday she brought me home, two hours-plus drive each way. So much driving but she was so happy to do it. Little Carter kept us company riding in the back seat on all four trips. He was such a good boy. And, I had such a wonderful time. And, I felt very loved!

Upon getting home I was greeted by my Holiday Cactus putting on a beautiful show of lots of different color.

I hope all of you had a Great Thanksgiving. We have had a rainy weekend which is lovely.

Mary

Operation Christmas Child

My Granddaughter is the most wonderful mama. Just a little Grandma bragging - she is only 24 years old and has her BS degree and two precious little ones.

She took the children (my Great Grandchildren) to the workshop in their area to pack Operation Christmas Shoeboxes. And, they had a great time!

The comment she wrote  was - One of the greatest things we can do for our children is to teach them to be selfless. 

This fine boy is certainly growing up fast. He just finished his first season of playing soccer!

For more 40 years Samaritan’s Purse, an international nondenominational organization, has embraced the story of the Good Samaritan and reached out to children in need around the globe with its Operation Christmas Child program.

Often referred to as Operation Christmas Shoebox, the program sends the holiday boxes filled with stuffed toys, school supplies, crafts and toiletries, to children of need around the world.

Once packed, boxes are collected nationwide and shipped to more 100 countries and 12 million children, where they are distributed by local pastors. Some pastors use the opportunity to reach out to orphanages and other areas where children are at risk

OperationChristmasChild Website Maybe next year if not this year.

Are you Holiday shopping?

Take care.

Mary

7AM - What Is That Horrible Loud Noise

Oh! The tree trimming service guys are here and there are a lot of them with their red hats. Here is a man in the bucket with his red hat.

I took these photos from my garage side door. They are working at the house across the street from me.

They are trimming along the driveway that goes up the hill to the main house and behind the building you see in the photos. This is not the first time that I have seen tree trimmers up close but this project is like something I have never seen before. There are about six very large trucks/vehicles lining the street including the telescoping bucket truck, shredder truck and others. See the red hat in the next photo?

The trees are huge and I have never seen trimmers bring down large portions of the tree in this manner.

And, I don't think I have ever seen trimmers at the top of fully extended telescoping equipment. At least not this close!

That's a long, long, long way up into the sky.

See all the red hats at the base of the tree on the ground.  This process went on for hours and I occasionally went out to watch. And, each time I watched with amazement.

And, now, a little look at my fig tree as the leaves are falling and winter is setting in.

Hope your day is going well. Please send positive energy to the tree trimmers that they will be safe and finish the work without incident. It is such dangerous work!

Mary

It's Raining Cats And - - - But No Dogs

What a darling little girl! And, she is with a precious cat that looks very similar to my last cat, Puff.

Please meet Puff, a sweet and gentle gal that I was blessed to have from the time she was 8 weeks old.  She brought so much joy, love, fun and comfort to me for 18 years. In May 2008 she left to join precious Pixie (Yorkshire Terrier) at the Rainbow Bridge.

WOW, we are getting lots of wonderful rain. It started yesterday. And, after a few days of sunshine more rain is predicted. I love it other than the fact that my roof is covered with lots and lots of leaves. Thankfully, the down spouts are flowing well.

Yesterday I put the crockpot on and tossed in the ingredients for an old standby Polish Sausage Stew with sauerkraut. I have posted this a few times in the past. It's just so easy and sauerkraut is good for me.

I prepared single servings for the freezer. All it will need when I take them out to cook is some shredded Monterey Jack Cheese. Oh, also I will probably get some apple sauce for a side.

This is really good as a "rainy weather dinner" along with some warm Artisan Bakery Bread.

Unfortunately, I am still having great difficulty with Photo Editing and getting my photos onto my Blog. I think I need a one-on-one tutoring. My frustration level is not helping me to focus and wrap this transition up.

Hope your weekend is going nicely.

Mary

Late Coming To The Party

But, maybe not. I did not know that there are three different kinds of holiday cacti. They are Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus and Easter Cactus.

These photos are from my home from years past. This year all three plants are setting buds and there are three blossoms that are open. OH, SO BEAUTIFUL! This years photos to come to you when the plants are in full bloom.

Some of the following information is from the website, Gardening Know How

The three common holiday cacti, named for time of year the blooms appear, include Thanksgiving cactus, Christmas cactus and Easter cactus. All three are easy to grow and have similar growth habits and care requirements.

Although these familiar cacti are traditionally available in shades of red, today’s holiday cactus varieties come in magenta, pink and scarlet, as well as yellow, white, orange, purple, salmon and apricot. Although all three are native to Brazil, Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus are tropical rain forest plants, while Easter cactus is native to Brazil’s natural forests.

The three types of Christmas cactus plants (holiday cacti), are primarily recognized by the time of bloom. Thanksgiving cactus blooms in late autumn, about a month before Christmas cactus. Easter cactus displays buds in February and blooms around Easter.

Different types of holiday cactus are also differentiated by the shape of their leaves, which are actually plump, flat stems. 

I have not been able to distinguish the type of cactus that I have by the leaf shape. They all look the same to me. And, maybe they are all the same!

 Thanksgiving cactus is often known as lobster cactus because the edges of the leaves are hooked, giving them a claw-like appearance. Christmas cactus leaves are smaller with smooth edges, and Easter cactus leaves have a more bristled appearance.

Unlike regular, desert-dwelling cactus, holiday cacti are not drought-tolerant. During active growth, the plants should be watered whenever the surface of the potting mix feels dry to the touch. Drainage is critical and the pots should never stand in water.

After flowering, water the holiday cactus sparingly until the plant completes its normal dormant period and new growth appears. A period of relative dryness is especially important for Easter cactus, which isn’t a tropical plant.

Holiday cactus prefers dark nights and relatively cool temperatures between 50 and 65 degrees F./10 and 18 degrees C.

Holiday cactus is easy to propagate by breaking off a stem with two to five segments. Set the stem aside until the broken end forms a callus, then plant the stem in a pot filled with a mixture of sand and sterile potting mix. Be sure the pot has a drainage hole in the bottom. Otherwise, the stem is likely to rot before it develops roots.

I hope you enjoyed this little info post about a lovely holiday plant. I sure enjoy my holiday plants.

I also have 3 Amaryllis Bulbs that are starting to "show some green".

Do you have some holiday special plants?

Mary

Look At These Two Cuties

I WANT THEM!  But, I know that I can't have them. I miss my doggy Lily so much!

A couple weeks ago I weakened and took a look at the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rescue Western Region Website. In my opinion they sound like a top rate program. The dogs are fostered in loving homes until their social  and medical issues (if any) are treated and stabilized. Most of the dogs are older and have medical issues as special needs dogs. Some of the stories of their history are heartbreaking. The requirements for adoption are very extensive. They will not ship dogs and you must live within driving distance of the dog so you can visit the dog at their foster home and be assessed for compatibility and issues associated with adopting their dogs. A dog may cost anywhere from $150 to $650. As you may know, that is so much less than buying from a breeder.

When I looked at the website I was super surprised to see a dog that I adored and she lived close enough to my address.

This is Miss Daisy. What a charmer. She is less than a year old and deemed healthy by a Veterinarian. Her history is unremarkable and her owner (a senior lady) found that she no longer could care for her.

My heart weakened and I submitted an application not knowing if I could afford to have another "love bug" ! But, I said to myself, "I'll put it in God's hands". Needless to say there were many many applications. And, she was adopted by a family with children and two other Cavaliers. In matching a dog to a new owner, the welfare of the dog is top priority. By the picture of her with her forever family, it looks like she will be very happy in her forever home.

And then, much to my surprise, shortly thereafter, another dog showed up on the website that met the criteria.

And, this is Mr. Henry. What a handsome fellow - he is.

Again, under a  year old and healthy. I think it is quite unusual to see these two puppies appear on the website at this time. Most of the dogs are older and have medical issues and expenses.

I did not apply. At this time it is not meant to be for me to have a dog.

Henry, also was adopted by a family with children and cavaliers.

The truth is that I really should not consider another dog because I have always followed my criteria which is:

 #1 --- Live long enough to take care of them which could be more than 10 years. That means I would be 87 years.

 #2 --- Have enough money to provide proper and complete veterinarian care.

 #3 --- Be able to provide enough exercise and outdoor activity to keep the dog interested in life and healthy.

When I brought Lily into my life I had to think long and hard about the decision. Even at that time I had the same concerns. At first I thought there was no way I could have another dog. However, it worked out beautifully. And, I feel very thankful. I think gratitude will have to be my focus and not sadness!

It's a beautiful sunny day here in California and I hope you are enjoying your day wherever you are.

Mary

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You

Forever!

Mary

Why People Get Dogs

I miss my precious Lily so very much. She was so special, especially during some very difficult times for me during the time I was blessed to have her UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. She left eight months ago and my feeling of loss is as strong as it was on that day.

Hug your pets and your people, too.

Mary

White Chrysanthemums and an Azalea

The rain this year has really helped my garden to grow and my flowers to bloom. 

 These first two photos are from a one gallon plant that I bought on sale from a reject (clearance) table for very little money. I have been surprised at how large and healthy the plant is growing.

 And, the next two photos are from a 4-inch potted plant from a few years ago. It has been a vigorous plant growing to (believe it or not) six feet tall and a very prolific amount of blooms.

 As you can see if you look closely the blooms are a little different - more rounded than the others  at the top which look a little more like spider mums.

Another little bargain table plant. This 4-inch potted Azalea has grown nicely and is already blooming.

Well, this is my floral update.

Can you see that I found a new photo editor that I think I like. Just playing around with frames to learn Picmonkey.

That's it for today.

Mary

In The Kitchen Again - Cooking

* I am being very challenged with finding a Photo Editor Program since Picasa is no longer available that I can use without complete frustration !!! Can anyone suggest one?

Now, let's look at some Artichoke Chicken. It is so simple and good. You can find the recipe at the website The Girl That Ate Everything.

ARTICHOKE CHICKEN

4 to 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 (14 oz.) can water-packed artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 garlic cloves, minced

Spray a 13x9 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Salt and pepper chicken breast halves and place in the dish. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese and garlic. Stir together until combined.
(I also added a handful of chopped pecans. Sliced water chestnuts would be good, also).

Spread the artichoke mixture over chicken breasts. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until chicken juices run clear and top starts to brown slightly.

Oh, I also sprinkled a little paprika on top just before putting it in the oven.

Doesn't this look good? Since I am cooking for myself I am not staging a pretty plate to photograph for you. I plan to eat the Artichoke Chicken with green peas and sweet potatoes. That will give a colorful vision.

Remember to VOTE tomorrow.

Blessings.

Mary

Have You Eaten Buffalo

Recently I was invited to my neighbors home for dinner on a Sunday afternoon. She prepared a Buffalo Roast and it was very good.

It was a really nice dinner of grass fed, rich and slightly sweet bison roast, braised until tender and juicy, nestled in a bed of many fresh organic vegetables like asparagus, carrots and mushrooms. Additionally, she served twice baked potatoes and a few side dishes. Her seasonings for the roast were exceptionally nice for a very lean meat. Red wine was a great accompaniment.

I didn't think it was appropriate to photograph so this is a google photo which looks very similar.

We had a nice visit and got to know each other. She travels a lot with her work and is not home very much. Additionally, she has two other homes, Tahoe and Napa Valley.

It was a fun evening and dinner was lovely.

I hope you had a good weekend.

Mary