I wasn't gonna, but here goes...

ahem... here goes...

In connection with THIS POST wherein I was venting. I know in the grand scheme of things, this is so, no big deal, hello, get over it. But, its just an example. This seems to go on every day in some vein. OY.

Here's one scenario and tell me, please, if I'm just being overly sensitive, crabby, cranky, irritable, etc...

Scenario #1: my lotion bottle is down to the point where I have to take out the pump mechanism and turn the bottle upside down to get lotion.... haven't we all been there? Is it just me? I mean, do you just throw out your lotion when there's a little bit left but not quite enough for the pump to pump? Am I just too cheap, frugal, enter your own adjective here... So, my work 'friend' sees me getting my lotion and has, on every occassion, said "hey, I have some lotion you could use" or "you just need to buy a new bottle of lotion" or "why don't you just get the scissors and cut that bottle open" among other really "helpful" suggestions. I am 41 years old and I've been perfectly capable of figuring out when I need a new lotion bottle. I find myself scraping the insides of the bottle with my fingers just to get every last drop because I know it annoys her. Am I terrible!!!?

And, yes, probably me just being overly sensitive.

PS - My sunflowers are getting ready to be flowers. I hope they are so pretty. I'm sure I'll share when they do.

... serene...

You've probably seen this photo before, but I came across it recently and remembered that I just love it. So, for this Friday, I share it with you again. We were in this tiny little boat in Belize, touring up some river, checking out the monkeys and snakes and birds and then on the way back across the lagoon (?) the manatees. *...sigh...*

I'll be dreaming of where to go next....

What will you be doing?

Oy! and Opinions: they go together like chocolate and peanut butter

Ok, just have to get this off my chest, to you who listen/read...

I'm quite an opinionated person. Just ask me. And, I'm quite willing to share my opinions. What I have a problem with (you knew this was coming, didn't you) is people who not only have strong opinions but make sure to tell you what you "should" and "need" to do. Its one thing to share an opinion, whether its a strong opinion or just an observation, its yet another thing when you push your opinions and thoughts on how 'stuff' should be done to everyone around you whether they've asked for your advice or not. It gets old, and quickly so.

There you go, my opinion of the day. Hmmmmmm I wonder if I should make that a regular topic "Opinion Thursdays".

PS - how tired are you of random Italy photos?

Just Watched: The Remains of the Day

I'm not sure if I had seen this movie before or not. It seemed familiar, but I don't know that I remembered how it ended. Does that happen to you some times? Any time? Maybe once in your life?

I really like Emma Thompson (she's so pretty) and Sir Anthony Hopkins (can you even look at him without thinking of fava beans?). Have either one of them ever even chosen a bad role? It was quite (and even 'very') weird and sad and a bit wonderful too, to see Christopher Reeves walking. He'll always be Superman to me (r.i.p. christopher).

Anyway, its a great film. The film is sad and frustrating and life. Its just life. People going about their business, not wanting to open up because of the possibility of hurt and for the mere fact of it not being the appropriate thing to do under certain circumstances - but mostly the first reason. I realize that in today's cultures (western? eastern? other?) inappropriate behaviour is not quite the same as it was in Britain in the late '30's, but its still part of life to be disappointed on occassion... and we go on.

We must.

saving grace

today its diet dr pepper. I'm not normally a diet soda drinker, but I've been missing my sparkling water (why don't they put sparkling water in cans?.... do they and I've just been missing out?) and we are having a small heat wave, Monday - 103, Tuesday - 105, Today is supposed to be 107. So, soda it is.

Favorite Brothers

Mister, Lu (please ignore the frightened look on my face...?!?!?), Bill (real brother), Petra, Aaron (other brother)

I have a favorite friend, Aaron, who/whom (*wink*) I've always called my brother. He's now officially a brother in law who I freakin' adore. He's as genuinely kooky as I am. We sing songs when we hike, much to the dismay of those hiking around us. We find things to be hilarious that others just don't see as even slightly funny. We share tiramisu at restaurants. We have a lot of similar views about our relationships and the world around us. He's easy going and fun to hang around. I call him "my favorite brother from another mother". Don't want to be dissin' my real brother who is my favorite from the same mother. Important distinction there.

Here's Aaron in Belize with our tour guide - we got lucky and ended up with a guide that totally knew what he was #1 talking about and #2 how to give the 5 of us the best possible tour of the ruins of anyone. We arrived at this ruins (mayan maybe..... my memory sucks) and a huge tour bus arrived at the same time. He walked slowly and talked about stuff along the path up to the ruins, told us lots of stories about the land and the flora and fauna. We were a little irritated, at his slow pace. I mean all the other tour groups were already nearly done walking through all the stuff and getting to the top of the ruins and then it hit us, like a sledge hammer, when we got to the top and saw the view... He was going at this slow pace for a reason. He was waiting for the "tour" people to haul buns through everything and leave so we would have the place to ourselves, or at least nearly to ourselves. We ended up hanging out with him and chatting and asking tons of questions. It was an experience (and a life lesson really) I won't ever forget. I got to hang out with two of my very most favorite people on the planet, just the three of us and we got a private tour.

Hmmmmm I got side tracked there.

Do you have those people in your life that you wouldn't necessarily think you'd bond with, but you just do?

Just Watched: Twilight

I did not want to like this film. On the surface, I thought it would be something more in line with young teen girls. I figured it would be predictable and would lose my interest very quickly.

But, I did like this film. I need to read the book now. Well, its been on my list of books to read for a long time, but now, I'll seek it out rather than waiting for it to land in my lap.

It was completely predictable, and I was ok with that. I liked the suspense or rather lets say the intensity of young, first loves. Loves that haven't been seasoned and worn in like a favorite leather purse. Everything is fresh and brand new and electric. That is, after all, what often brings us together with potential partners, the 'spark'. I liked the premise even if I thought it funny in an obvious movie sort of way that only the Collins (am I spelling that right? or is it Cullens... anyway) only the Collins "teens" had funky cool hairstyles and trendy clothing. Well, maybe I'm not the right person to talk about trendy clothing.

I'm actually looking forward to the sequel now. I hear some of the less obvious characters become more involved and make things interesting.

Berry Tiramisu

SUCCESS!

I told you earlier I'd be trying for the first time to make tiramisu. And then while creating the post, I changed my mind mid-stream and decided not on traditional tiramisu but on berry tiramisu. The results are in and ... Yum! I took several recipes and many hints and tips from many people, known and unknown and created my own version, which, I am loving. This is a recipe that can be changed up to absolutely ANY flavor you want.

Peach and nectarine,

blackberry and currant,

orange and tequila and key lime,

lemon and ginger and strawberry

I can't even begin to imagine the possibilities, but if you have a flavor combination you like, this recipe can be adapted to it. Here's what I made, my own conglomeration. It may look daunting because it takes several steps to complete, but each step is so easy. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can (and should). TIRAMISU - MY WAY... TODAY

please ignore the fact that all the ingredients aren't here, its just a representation..... ° 5 egg yolks - room temp ° 4 Tbsp sugar ° 1/4 - 1/3 cup Amaretto ° 1.5 lb mascarpone ° 2 tsp vanilla ° 1.5 cup heavy whipping cream ° 2 Tbsp sugar ° 1 tsp almond or vanilla extract (optional) ° 36 savoiardi (lady fingers) ° 1/4 - 1/3 cup Chambord ° 1/4 c blackberry brandy ° 2 pints fresh raspberries ° 1 pint blueberries (or use whatever combination of any berries you love most) Start water simmering in bottom of double boiler. In a bowl whisk the egg yolks and 4T sugar until pale yellow and thickened a bit (~3 mins). Set bowl containing whisked egg mixture over simmering water, whisk in Amaretto. Cook (~5 - 7 mins) until thickened a bit (not as thick as pudding). Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This is called Zabaglione and can be eaten as a pudding with fruits or whatever.

please excuse the really quite horrible food photography,

we had all the shades closed because the temp outside was in the 90's. When you are getting close to the zabaglione being chilled for an hour, place mascarpone and vanilla in bowl and stir until creamy. In a separate bowl, whip the cream and 2 T sugar and extract, if you decide you want that extra flavor, until soft peaks form.

Take the zabaglione and mix in the mascarpone. When well incorporated, fold in the cream. Set aside. Mix the Chambord and the brandy together. Line a 9 x 13 (or whatever) pan with a single layer of lady fingers.

... dry cookies...

... cookies brushed with liquor...

Generously brush each cookie with the liquor mixture. Spread on 1/2 the soft creamy mixture, making sure to sort of push it down a bit between the cookies.

Then, another layer of cookies, brush them with the liquor, add the balance of the creamy stuff and decorate with your berries. Chill this for 3 -4 hours. I've not experimented (duh, this is my first time making this) but I've been told, this is best made the morning it will be eaten. If it sits too long, everything sort of breaks down and gets runny and icky. What flavor combos do you think would be delicious?!?!?!!!? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

BTW - HTML is very confusing and tricky and just dadgum frustrating. Just sayin'... what I mean to say is.......... Blogger can tick off a girl when it comes to formatting! The post looks one way and then after its published, it looks completely different. I've tried 52 times to make the list of ingredients an actual list and ..... arg! Is it just me?

L'eau

Its been nigh on two weeks since I gave up my sparkling bottled water. You know, I haven't missed it, much. Well, not as much as I thought I was going to miss it that is.

Its Friday, so glad. Woke up happy. Ready for the weekend. Hope to remember to take photos of the Tiramisu. Making apple crisp for the neighbor lady (my mom in law that is). Mister's off to an electric car drag race thing on Saturday. He's excited about it. I'll be at a bbq with the Tiramisu. Pick up our CSA groceries Sunday. That's about the list of things I'm gonna do. What are you up to this weekend? Anything fun? Boring?

Just Watched: The Other Boleyn Girl

photo courtesy of Wikipedia...

There are two film versions of this movie. I watched the original which was filmed for the BBC in 2003. It just seemed more authentic this way than to watch Scarlett Johansson in that type of period role. Anyway, I had read the book some time ago and I really like historical fiction.... is that a classification? I just made that up, I think. It was a good film, it skimmed over the top of the story, like most films which are made from books (and in this case, real life) do. The acting was good and the guy who played King Henry VIII (Jared Harris) was really great. He just looked like he really was KHVII. Not much really to report on this. A good flick, probably a chick flick and a good way to learn some history, if one does not already know the story of Anne Boleyn, the Other Boleyn girl.

Tetra Paks - Recyclable - Who Knew

... I surely didn't. I've yet to find anywhere on the packaging stating that tetra paks are recyclable, and yet they are. I was watching, of all things, How Its Made on the Discovery channel and they kept talking about the recyclable materials. So, I did what I occassionally do and Googled it and low and behold, they are recyclable, but not in all areas. HERE is a link to find out more information and whether they are recyclable in your area. Fortunately, they are in mine since I buy soy milk, almond milk, all varieties of broths, soups, square eggs and probably other things I can't even think of right now. I'm quite excited that I learned I can put them at the curb in the recycle container instead of the garbage. I can't take the credit for searching out and thinking of all the info. I just got lucky with my inet search and found a very information laden blog. Ok, here comes the "recycled" information from the website noted above. I probably shoud give it a plug for good measure. Its called, Low Impact Living. I thnk I'll add it to the sidebar too, for your (and my) future ease of finding it. (nice sentence huh.....) Check it out for interesting information you may not have considered in your low-impact life. So, check out www.recyclecartons.com to find out if they are recyclable in your area. If they are not, and you are interested in that becoming an option, you can always contact Waste Mgt and make that request. Who knows, your email may be the one to make it happen in your area. I'm easily excitable though.

Just Watched: Bee Season

Wow, not what I expected. I often see blurbs or trailers for movies and if I find them interesting will add them to my Netflix Queue. It will literally sometimes be a year or so before the movie gets to the top of my list and by then, I've completely forgotten about it. Anyway, once I got this movie home and realized Richard Gere was in it, I was sorely disappointed. I'm just not a RG fan. Nothing against him, just not into his movies, they (for me) tend to be fluff. Then I saw that Juliette Binoche was in it and decided to give it a go. I adore Ms. Binoche, a serious talent and so pretty too! Who didn't like Chocolat?!? Oh, maybe that was because Johnny Depp was crazy tasty in that film. Anyway... I was pleasantly surprised when I watched this movie and it had depth. The little girl searches for her father's approval and when she doesn't get it, she moves along at her own pace, going about her own business. When the father finds out her amazing achievement, she soon is the focus of his attentions and that is when the family's natural balance is disturbed (pun intended - was that pun....... anyway). All life goes perfectly well and simultaneously awry. A heartbreaking, sad movie about a family finding their way. I really liked this flick and would recommend it. PS - lots of "anyways" today, not sure what that is all about

Planning Tiramisu

Tiramisu. Elusive. Delicious. Far too difficult to make at home. Or is it? I plan to find out.

Since first tasting this delicious Italian dessert, who knows when, I've *loved* it. Even at restaurants that serve tiramisu, a really good tiramisu is hard to find. There are only about 4,302,209 versions, to date and I am sure more to come.

I have friends who love tiramisu so much, they had it as their wedding cake. Interesting!

One of my favorite people, Aaron, who happens to be my brother in law, also loves Tiramisu. Whenever we are together at a restaurant which serves this delectable treat, we order it and split it. Well, since I am very dairy intollerant, what happens is he orders it and I take two bites. But, those two bites are SO worth all the pain and suffering which will enevitably come later. Anyway... While we were in Italy recently, Aaron and I did the exact same thing, the splitting of the tiramisu at every restaurant that had it on the menu. We had FAB-U_LOUS versions and versions that I took one bite and said, "its all yours". So, during that trip, I decided, I can make this. If someone else can tackle it and succeed, so can I.

I've been doing a lot of looking around the internets and there are so many recipes. Some call for raw eggs, some call for zabaglione. I have no problem with raw eggs in that Mister and I buy eggs from chickens which have been veg fed, organic, free range, massaged and treated to a trip to Disney Land. I just feel they are totally fine. And, who here hasn't ever eaten raw cookie dough, which most often will contain raw eggs.

Despite that ramble, I have leaned toward the zabaglione versions of this recipe (zabaglione = cooked eggs). I'm making this for the first time for a BBQ. Hopefully it will turn out and be tasty and the gathered few will ooh and ahhh and go for seconds.

As I write this, and I am sure this is not a new idea, I think that using Amaretto instead of the sweet marsala, making sure there is vanilla in the zabaglione, and instead of layering in the cocoa, a layer of fresh raspberries would be amazing too.

... we interrupt this regularly scheduled blog post to inform you that between the time I wrote the above and actually making the recipe I decided its summer and I really want to do something with fruit and I can't remember when I had an original idea so I Googled berry tiramisu and, well, everyone already knows about this. SO, I will be attempting THIS RECIPE for mixed berry tiramisu from Epicurious. I read a lot of reviews and will make some personal modifications too. I'll be making this on Saturday, so I'll let you know how it all turns out. Maybe I'll remember to post photos.

Friday Photos

Just some early morning pics

...clover...

...soon to be poppy...

...building as background...

...the demise of a poppy...

...soon to be sunflowers...

what was in your morning?

Plain old ordinary water...

but I feel better about it.

Just Watched: 30 Days of Night

Not sure why, it must have been recommended by someone, not remembering who, but, a freaky film that I would not recommend to the average person but maybe yes to those who like main stream horror films. Icky, freaky, creepy and a bit predictable. I hope I don't have nightmares, Oy!

In fact, I never ever did finish watching this movie. I got about 1/2 and hour into it and the creepy blood spattering started and I lost my ability to watch it further. I may have watched, and subsequently even liked, this film if I had had someone to watch it with. Its SO not Mister's cup-of-joe. I could not pay him or ply him with anything to make him sit down and watch a horror flick. I have a hard time getting him to watch much of anything with me, he's just not a movie guy and when he does watch a movie, he wants to watch things like, Who Killed the Electric Car (one of the best movie of all times, in my personal opinion) and other documentary's of that ilk. Oh, he also likes classic comedies: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (another super hilarious film); just about anything Monty Python and he also likes a lot of films by Pixar. Eclectic taste, but, there you go.

Ok, so back to the film. If this is your genre, its probably the movie for you. If you are so-so about it, I wouldn't bother.

PS - I'll let you know if I do (have nightmares) though. (that'll bring the readers back...tell them your nightmares........)

More about Me

Untouched,

albeit cropped and enlarged at times,

photos.

I call them SOOC.

I hope that's accurate.

tid bits: I like to drive, and I like to drive fast. Hence, I own a Jeep, it keeps me slowed down a bit. But not always. I do, sometimes, drive the Jeep like its an Alpha Romeo. I've been called Mario on more than one occassion, in a good way, at least that's what I'm telling myself. (No, not Mario like in Mario Cart, but as in Mario Andretti.) Most of the time I'm very mellow in the Jeep. Once in awhile, I'll be driving Mister's little Honda and there's no stopping me. I just can't control it. Its a 5 speed and has zip and is little and a great stereo and if Mister happens to be in the car with me, he always wonders why I complain about his driving when, according to him, I drive way faster than he does. I'll admit it, its a control issue (mine that is). One day I'll own a Porsche Boxster and that will be fun. I like heavy music. I like most music, but my favorite (and I really like to drive fast to this music...) is stuff like, Linkin Park. Don't judge! I grew up in a small coastal town and listened to a lot of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. Oh yes, I also jammed to Bryan Adams and Michael Jackson, but, it's the heavier stuff that my soul really craves. No speed metal or anything like that, but Metallica (old Metallica) Yes, for sure, Yes. I eat eggs for breakfast nearly every day. During the week, its Reddi-Eggs and on the weekend, I splurge and have real eggs. Sometimes with toast, most often without. I like my eggs with spinach (or any other green that we have in the fridge at the moment) and mushrooms and garlic powder and onion powder. I use the powders because, well, its a texture issue. I have an obsession with the color orange. And right now, orange poppies in particular. This just started in the last two years. I'm not sure how long it will last, but its here for now. Do you just love these orange poppies!! They sit outside my office window. Lovely. Actually, there are only two poppies in the entire wine barrel, I planted them a bit late and only two of the bunch bloomed. But, photograph them enough times and its a patch, a veritable field of poppies for your viewing pleasure. Mosquitos will fly two counties to bite me. And, I swell up to quarter sized welts and the bites itch like, like, I can't compare it to anything, but its a lot of itching. I currently have two mosquito bites. When I remember, I use Burts Bees Lemon Grass Insect Repellent. Its all natural, and it works. I figure if you are going to slather something on your skin, it may as well not be DDT. So, there you go, a bit about me you may not have known. Anything you'd like to share that I might not know about you? Anything? Anything at all?

Just Watched: Saving Grace

In my humble opinion, the theory of the movie was much better than the execution of it.

Brenda Blethyn is super-fantastico. She's right up there, for me, with Judi Dench and other women of that genre, too many to mention (and my mind is empty right at the moment... that doesn't help much... anyway). So, I see that Ms. Blethyn is in what seems might be a comedy and just need to rent it. Unfortunately, its just not that funny.

There were too many, coincidences and unanswered questions at the end of the film. They weren't those interesting unanswered questions that you ponder with your friends and lovers, but those types of questions at the end of a film where you scratch your head and think "well, now that just doesn't make a lick of sense" and "did I get up and get a snack or run to the loo and not remember because, something major was skipped to get from point A to point B".

In the end, I would not recommend this flick.

Withdrawals - the water bottle debate

... and is it really a debate at all or just a convenience we don't want to give up?

Anyway, in lieu of my recent post about addictions, I am also addicted to sparkling water. Mmmm, MMMMM, mmmmmmm! There is something special and tantalizing and infinitely more refreshing about sparkling water than plain old tap water. Its light on your tongue, it quenches thirst like tap water can't (or at least that's my opinion) and it comes in flavors if you want to jazz up life a little. I don't drink much soda, but when I do, its the fizz I'm looking for. Bottled sparkling water satisfies a craving I have without all the sugar and caffeine. Neither of which I really need more of in my life. I buy Trader Joe's brand sparkling mineral water by the case. I always, always recycle the bottles. But there's something like 90% of all water bottles end up in land fills.

So, Mister has been gently haranguing me for quite some time to give it up and I am finally there. I have decided, I am ready to face the withdrawals and the crying and the wimpering (I'm not sure Mister is ready...) of not getting to have my daily bottle of satisfying sparkling water.

The water bottle controversy is huge right now, or maybe it always has been and I'm just listening to it more. All you have to do is Google 'water bottle controversy' and wow, 97,300 hits. I can't go into it all here, I'm just not that savvy on the right words to use but the short version is:

there is no regulation on bottled water (its just water, its not really all that special, marketing just makes us think it is);

tap water is exponentially less expensive when used in conjunction with a reusable water bottle;

90% of water bottles end up in land fills;

it takes more water to manufacture the bottle than is actually inside the bottle to be sold;

companies, like Nestle, have gone into areas and actually depleted the water table to the point of drought-like proportions and then they just pick up and move to another location (i.e. the N.W.) and start all over again;

it takes a huge toll on the environment to bottle and then transport bottled water all over the country;

in the olden days (like 1978) we all went on picnics and hiking and took road trips without the aid of plastic water bottles and we all miraculously survived;

it would cost less money and last much longer than a shipment (or 2,397) of bottled water to improve the water / sewer infrastructure in those places where the tap water isn't necessarily all that tasty;

an in-home water filtration system would cost less money in the long run and produce much better tasting water than any bottled water, anywhere......

holy schmoly, I could go on and on I guess. So, I'll stop.

(Alison - maybe you, being the expert on the topic of water, could provide more accurate information than my ramblings from what I remember reading and hearing over the last year or so.)

My long-winded point being, I'm going to give up bottled water.

I'm going to miss those sparkles.

Marigolds

Marigolds

... getting ready to bloom, compact, rolled up, yellow cylinders of beauty, waiting to pop

... would you ever guess this was the result of those tiny, yellow tubes.. TGIF.

Have a super weekend.

L'Arc de Triomphe

Its the largest round-about in the world. That's all I knew about it before we went to Paris. Oh, and that I wanted, ney, needed to see it. Experience it. It is quintessential Paris. La Tour Eiffel, Le Champs Elysees and L'arc de Triomphe. Don't ask me, its just what has been in my brain since I can remember.

We walked up the Champs Elysees with our ball caps on, it was sunny, and we felt very touristy. At certain points, we actually took off our ball caps in order to better blend in (in case you are wondering, my cap had Crater Lake and I think Mister's had Smith Rock emblazened on them). And, BTW, we didn't blend in. We may as well have spared our eyes and put the caps back on for as much as we 'blended'.

The traffic was astounding and for a city girl beautiful and I had much fun standing in the middle of 6 lanes of traffic taking photos. I'm easily amused though. Don't you worry, there was a little island to wait in the event you didn't get fully across the street when the walk sign changed to don't walk, you can actually see one similar to where we were standing when we took the photo in the photo above.

When you finally make it to the Arch, you have to walk around and around it until you get to the one street that has the underground tunnel that will take you to it. It is large and imposing and sturdy. Sturdy is the first word that comes to my mind when I see it. Like, there's nothing that could possibly topple it. You know. I mean the Eiffel Tower, easily toppled, not this monument.

And it also had something to do with Napoleon and commemorating the tomb of the unknown soldier. I thought about getting all smarty pants and Googling L'arc and giving you lots of fun and interesting historical facts about it, I changed my mind. Here's just some pretty pictures, enjoy and move on with your day. Have a super one though.

Petunias and No-Bake Cookies

Petunias in flower box, Venice Last night, I planned to met up with a fabulous woman friend. I got home, changed my clothes. When Mister got home from the grocery store, I kissed him, told him I was off to hang out and would be back in an hour or so. I had then planned to make dinner and cookies and we'd spend the balance of the evening together. I grabbed Mister's car keys and sped off (within posted speed limitations) down the road, the 3 minutes to my destination. We hung out outside in the splendid evening weather and ended up spliting (ouch) a bottle of super delicious Montes Alpha Syrah and chatted and chatted. That's a lot of wine for me on a weekend, and especially on a Tuesday night. When the bottle was empty, I said my farewells and jumped in the car. I looked at the clock and holy shmoly, we had chatted for like 3 hours! I sped the 3 minutes home and Mister was waiting for me "where's my dinner wife?!" Fortunately for him, he's funny and cute. We went out for mexican food at 9 and were home by 9:45.

I've been obsessing about no-bake cookies for like a week. So, at 9:45 last night, I made the most delicious no-bake cookies in like 15 minutes flat. Mister thinks I'm crazy, but he'll enjoy the deliciousness tonight, you can bet on it.

No-Bake Cookies (in 15 minutes or less) (well, if you are half looped and on a mission, that is)

dump into a large mixing bowl:

• 3 cups quick oats
• a couple large scoops peanutbutter (Adams doesn't work in this recipe, at least it never has for me, so I use Jif creamy) (and I don't measure, the actual recipe calls for 3/4 c, but I usually use at least twice that, I never measure, I love peanutbutter) anyway...
• 1 pkg sweetened flaked coconut (you can omit this, but it adds wonderful texture and flavor)
• 1/2, or so, bag of semi-sweet choc chips (again, I never measure this, I just dump some in)
• 1 tsp vanilla (I used my home made vanilla this time... fun ... well, for me, no one will know about it but me... and you now)

then bring to a boil, and boil for 1 minute (60 seconds of rolling boil)

• 1/2 c earth balance margarine (or butter)
• 1/2 c milk (I used almond milk)
• 2 cups sugar

then pour this boiled liquid over the dry ingredients and mix, mix, mix. drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool / harden.

Delicious!!!!

PS - I'm really thirsty today

Twitch, Twitch

I'm mixing things up a bit today. A bit of a Twist, if you will. I want to hear from You, about You, what's on Your mind, what's bugging You, what do You love today, what funny/interesting/frustrating thing happened to You on your way to/from work today? Anything Any old thing. If you had (and you just might) two minutes to create your own post, what would it be today? Leave it in the comments section. I can't wait to hear from you.

Great Pyrenees

This is Berna. While in Orvieto, at the Fattoria di Vibio, a working olive farm, there were these four amazing Great Pyrenees. I'm an animal lover, animals of all types and sizes and these dogs (puppies as I call all dogs no matter their age) were so amazing. These pictures are of Berna, the 2 year old "pup" who followed people around, looking for a food hand out. She was the youngest of the four and the most frisky and playful. Then there was Lucretia, the oldest matriarch. No photos. She was more aloof and had a wound we found out was most likely from a wild boar. Seriously, wild boar. There were two others whose names have slipped my mind. Here's one of them. No, its not snowing, that's dog fur, everywhere. That's all I've got this morning. Large white puppies.