Wednesday Memes on New Year's Eve

Have a great New Year's Eve! 

A sign of the times

So I use this port wine for cooking in various recipes.  We got another bottle from the liquor store only to see that it is now reduced in size (1 L vs 750 ml)  although the price is the same.  Also the smaller bottle is no longer glass, but plastic.

It is a sign of the times. 

A touching tribute

 

This family published a full page Happy 90th Birthday wish in The Toronto Star recently and I thought it was so touching to read.

I thought you might enjoy it too!

Sunday Smiles - The good deal

 

Daughter L got these cute little shoes for Grandson C the other day.

It was a good deal $20 for 2 pairs so she couldn't resist.

We are polluting the world with Amazon boxes at the same time, sigh.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

Christmas Gift

 A few weeks before Christmas our real estate friend dropped by with these kitchen utensils which I started using right away, I had been looking for new spoons and these are silicone, all new!

Friday Art - Hiding

 Welcome to Friday Art!  This is a photo my cousin took of her cat 'Hiding', so cute!  ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil on cardstock.

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday.

Enjoy your Boxing Day.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Gratitude Art Theme and Okra with Red Onions and Tomatoes

Merry Christmas! 

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date's Gratitude theme.  I used a dove as a symbol of gratitude.  Here is my ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") on cardstock in watercolour pencil.

For the Dinner Date I had made some roasted okra with red onions and tomatoes a few months back.  I think these are Christmas colours aren't they?

Wednesday Memes on Christmas Eve and on deleting comments

I have been deleting comments I receive from people I don't know as I am unsure if I will get a virus on my computer as happened to me recently. It is hard to know who the legitimate commenters are.

 

Amaryllis

 

So I got this beautiful amaryllis plant from friends.  It started blooming and I am enjoying it.

If you follow this blog you may remember I have 5 or 6 bulbs I have been nurturing over the past year or so, seeing if I can get them to rebloom.  So more amaryllis plants I really do not need!

Carrot and Potato Tots with mozzarella

 

I had made carrot and potato tots for Grandson C using cottage cheese a few weeks back.  Then I decided to try them again using shredded mozzarella cheese.  This worked much better as the tots held up well with this cheese. They were easier to form and can be held firmly.  They are so good, and easy to make.  It is a great idea for an adult appetizer especially in the holiday season!  Daughter L thinks it will go with a nice dip such as yogurt  with hot sauce.

After all that, we have decided to postpone this snack until C is maybe 9 months or older as it may still be a choking hazard right now.

Here is the recipe:

1 medium potato peeled

2 medium carrots

1/2c shredded mozzarella cheese

Boil potato, carrots until tender. Drain and mash while warm.  Mix in cheese. Form into 1 tbs cylinders as pictured.

Bake 350F 20 mins, flip and bake for another 10 mins.

Sunday Smiles - Bok Choy harvest

 

At the end of November my neighbours next door dropped off this bag of fresh Bok choy greens picked from their garden.  It has to be washed well as it is full of other leaves and debris, but you do feel closer to nature when you clean these off.  Husband M doesn't agree.

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

Shake Shack

 

We were in mid-town Toronto a few weeks ago and noticed that there is a Shake Shack hamburger restaurant in that area.  Their smashed burgers are delicious served on a yummy potato roll.  The burgers are small and a bit pricey however.  Their custard milk shakes are awfully sweet. But I would eat there again.  It is a U.S. chain.

Friday Art - Sandhill Cranes

 

Welcome to Friday Art!  Showing some Sandhill Cranes ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in watercolour pencil.

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - 'White' Art theme and Salsa Verde

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date's 'White' art theme! Here is my snowman ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") acrylic on canvas.

For the Dinner Date, My friend S had given me some of her unripened green tomatoes back in October.  She suggested I do a salsa verde, as I had already tried green tomato soup.  It was a success! It went very well with tortilla chips,

I used this recipe.

Wednesday Memes

 

got the one above from Mary.

Aspirin pill fob

 

A few days after we enjoyed that special thank you dinner from husband M's friends, he was at lunch with this friend and some other guys they know.  The wife sent a bunch of these pill fobs for the guys, they contain an aspirin for heart attacks.  I suppose you can attach it to your car keys or whatever.

It was a thoughtful token.

Thoughtful Card and a Dinner Treat

thoughtful card

 

sweet potato soup

chicken

unsweetened dried mango

Husband M's good friend had suffered a stroke back in August.  His wife had heard about my broken shoulder which happened around the same time.  Anyway I think they were under the impression I am still healing and they wanted to bring us a home cooked dinner to thank us for our kindness at the time of his accident.  They had really appreciated our card and daughter L's healthy home made muffins. In fact they were so hungry in the hospital they gobbled all the muffins. 

So at the end of November, they brought over some delicious (gingery) sweet potato soup, chicken, sticky rice, crackers, cookies, and these unsweetened dried mangos that we really liked.  Apparently a family member makes and markets these at Whole Foods and other markets.  We will get more of these for sure. Oh and I received a lovely get well card pictured above.

What a great start it was to the Christmas season!

Sunday Smiles - Apples

 

My friend S dropped off a bag of red delicious apples from her sister's farm a few weeks ago.  It is the time of year where they have an abundance of fresh apples, they make a lot of apple pies too.  Some of these apples are smaller, maybe slightly scarred, not good for selling but totally fine for us!

Linking to Gillena's Sunday Smiles.

The 6th month Birthday

 Daughter L made this watermelon cake to celebrate Grandson C's 6th month birthday a few weeks ago. I love the idea of a healthy cake. C loved eating the watermelon.

Friday Art - Puffin

 Welcome to Friday Art! This is my Puffin ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") acrylic on canvas.

Linking to Nicole's Friday Face Off and to Gillena's Art For Fun Friday.

Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date - Conifer Trees and Steak

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art and Dinner Date's Conifer Trees art theme.

 This is my ACEO (3 1/2" x 3 1/2") in acrylic on cardstock. 

For the Dinner Date, T-bone steaks were on sale so here is mine.  I like it cooked medium how about you?  We cut a piece off for Grandson C and didn't use any salt and pepper or salty sauces on his and he liked this cut of meat.  Flank steak had not been a success.

Wednesday Memes