Monday, November 28, 2011

Hello!

I've been unable to post to blogspot - I just get stuck with the hour glass every time I try to access my blog. So, I am using a different computer and went in and removed the background image hoping that would help. I will try to get on my two computers at home tonight and see if that helps. In the mean time....hello!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Thank You Veterans

I recently visited the National Cemetery near Bushnell FL. On special days, such as Veteran's Day, they line the drive with donated casket flags. I am considering driving up there again today (about an hour north via interstate) to donate my dad's flag. I like the symmetry of it flying at the cemetery where my father-in-law is buried.




It wouldn't be Veteran's day without some photos of my two favorite vets. The first photo is hubby Jerry receiving a medal in VietNam. The second photo is my Dad in his army uniform - he served in Korea during that war.
Thank you to all veteran's, current or past, wheither you served two years or an entire career, wheither you came home safely or paid the ultimate price. Many, many of us appreciate your service to keep us al safe. Bless you.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Fabulous Cupcakes

I always joke that the only thing I've ever won is jury duty but I can no longer say that because I won BEAUITFUL cupcakes!







Not only did they look fabulous but I hear that they were tasty as well - red velvet with a cream cheese frosting filling. Aren't they FABULOUS!?!?!?

Made by http://www.decadentdiva.com/



Sunday, October 30, 2011

Halloween Party 2011

Last night we went to my friend Christina's Halloween party. Tonight the dogs are doing an online doggie party.

Jerry as a Greek man turned to stone.


Me, as Medusa.


Daisey as a pirate's winch.


Eddie as a tiger. He went completely crazy with excitement when i put the costume on him and it was everything I could do to keep it on him much less get a decend photo.


Woody as a spider and unhappy about it. He did get better once I got it off his eyes.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Odd Sightings

Mom & I saw some interesting sights while traveling between our accomodations in Inverness and my aunt's house in Beverly Hills. First was this giant pink elephant - not sure what that has to do with auto sales & repair.


Next, was a forrest of bottle trees. I've seen A bottle tree on another blog but never a forrest of them.











I was lucky to get these photos because the lot next to this yard was covered in ant hills and i could see the little critters crawling all over the ground - I felt like I was navigating a mine field trying to avoid stepping on them.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Inverness Florida

Mom and I spent the weekend in Inverness. We went to visit my Aunt Mary and Uncle Larry in nearby Beverly Hill which, incidentially, makes them the Beverly Hillbillies!
I stopped and took some photos at City Park and the nearby old-town historic district. The sun was so bright that some are not worth sharing. The first is the City Park and Cooter Pond mascot. I was reading a sign that says next week is their local Cooter festival. For those that don't know, a Cooter is a turtle.

The trees were covered in Spanish moss. Normally it looks cool to me (as in temp) because it sways in the breeze but with Halloween decorations out, it looks kinda spooky.

Here's a close up of some that fell out of a tree. I didn't touch it because someone once told me it has these little red bugs in it, similar to fleas. I don't know if that's true but I want nothing to do with biting bugs thank you.

There is a gazebo, board walk, and what I would call a small lake but it is a pond.

Photo taken from the gazebo - you tell me, pond or lake?

You don't have to tell me twice!

Looking up at the gazebo construction.

The trail is measured and marked.





Next we headed a block or two away to the old town. It has a courthouse that is on the registry of historic places. This is where the sun was glaring so I couldn't even see what I was shooting. This is the best of the worst.



Ending with a lovel oak covered in Spanish moss.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Happy Birthday Dad

I decided to make a birthday cake for day last night to take to work today - Oct 14th is his birthday and he loved sweets. I'm calling this cake "Murphy" because anything that could go wrong in making this cake, did go wrong.




It was supposed to be a flag cake but I was hesitant with using too much food dye that the layers ended up more like pink and aqua. The layers wouldn't come out of the pans so they were broken in the process which is probably a major contributor to it falling apart.

For some odd reason, the middle layer ended up wider than the other two layers (the undyed layer of white cake). I didn't know until I layered it and it hung over the lower level. Tried to fill in the gap with frosting but the frosting had it's own issues.

Made a whip crema frosting but when I folded in the whipped cream it curdled from the key lime juice in the buttercream mixture. I've made this before with those green limes without this problem but the key limes were a problem.

No sooner had I assembled the cake and it began to fall apart in the fridge.

My dad would have grinned, taken a bite, and said it tastes good to him!



Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Cupcake Giveaway

A Ratbone friend of mine, who is an excellent cake decorator, is holding a cupcake giveaway. Even if you are not interested in receiving her newsletter you might want to visit her site and see the fabulous work she does. She donated awesome cupcakes to Ratbone for a drawing in February to raise funds for doggie dentals.

http://s168152964.onlinehome.us/decadentdiva/halloweencupcakes.html

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Flossie Manning Bailey

4/19/17 - 9/28/11


Mom and I are going to Arcadia tomorrow afternoon to attend the funeral of my Aunt Flossie. She passed away Wednesday afternoon. She was 94 years old but fell victim to pnumonia and other side effects after breaking a hip recently. She was a great lady and will be missed. It's doubly sad to realize that she was the last of my dad's siblings so the whole family is gone now.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Eddie Does Taco Bell

Gonna need a minute to decide.

Yeah, I'll have a chicken taco please. Hold the lettuce.


Hurry up already...we're starving here.


Hold up...yup, smells like chicken taco to me!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Sweepers

I recently watched a television show about people who make a living, yes make a living, entering and winning sweepstakes and contests. Since they aren't all cash prices, these folks often sell their winning to make cash. The successful ones treated it like an 8 hour a day job. It was interesting to learn that this could be done online 24/7.

Soooooo, being the curious and slightly cynical person that I am...........I started entering sweepstakes online and will do so until I win something. So far in life the only thing I have won is jury duty ;) It will be interesting to see how long I have to do this before I actualy win something. I've entered for gift cards, vacations, golf clubs, books, dvd's, fancy dog beds, artisan dog bowls, dog food, tickets, kindle, i think you get the idea.

One thing I did before entering was to set up a second e-mail account because I knew my e-mail would be bombarded and that has worked out well. I've also made a committment to a half hour at least 5 days a week (the pros say the weekend is best because less people enter and there are many short term contests).

I will let you know when/if I win something. I'm not giving up my job, I just want to see if even I can win something. Dog food would be nice :)

Monday, September 5, 2011

Sarasota part 3

My last post from our quick trip to Sarasota - tree roots. Actually these were taken on Longboat Key. There were many trees like these. They were cool and spooky at the same time. Click for larger image. BTW, these trees make me want to be a better photographer.




Sarasota part 2

We saw this painted aluminum statue yesterday while driving around Sarasota but it was raining and there was too much traffic at the time to pull over in an area where I don't know the streets. So with the sun shining today we set out to find it again. Turns out it's not hard to find a 26 foot sculpture.




After looking it up online (to find out how tall it is) I discovered the donation was controversial. Interesting. Apparently some questioned if it was even art.


I've always been interested in WWII-era things (music, clothing) and can see why they are called The Greatest Generation.

Sarasota, part 1

Mom & I are in Sarasota visiting my Aunt Flossie - she is 94 and recently broke a hip and then developed pnumonia while in the hospital. While she's weak, I found her in much better condition and spirits than I would expect for a 94 year old with these medical issues. We decided to spend the night here and visit her again this morning before heading back home.

Last night we had dinner at Da Ru Ma. I couldn't resist the name! Jerry & I used to eat at a restaurant of the same name when we lived in Anchorage. I believe it was our special place although we never really declared that title. We often went there after one of us had been traveling and it was out first meal back together. The Da Ru Ma here offers Teppenyaki and it had a Vegetarian Hibichi dinner so I was happy. Full and happy.


OK, I've mentioned that I am not a great photographer and I don't seem to be gretting any better with practice so the photo above may look strange with the confusing shadows. This is a photo in the ladies room at Da Ru Ma. The sink stands were twisted bronze schulptures, possibly of mangroves, and the basins were some sort of metal. They were actually quite stunning and deserved a better photographer.



My family, bless their hearts, has been cocerned about me finding something to eat when we go out every Saturday night. I think they are having much more trouble adjusting to my vegetarian diet than me! lol.......anyway, here are two examples of just how easy it is to eat vegetarian even if the menu does not offer vegetarian dishes (other than salads). Above is my dinner from Rumba Saturday night - side of garlic mashedm, sauted veggies, and black beans.


My plate from Golden Corral last Saturday - cornbread stuffing, green beans, corn, fried cabbage, mac & cheese, and pinto beans. Yummy southern cooking!




It was raining hard yesterday so I had to pass on some local photo ops but hopefully today I can get some interesting shots of Sarasota to share.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Green Thumb Sunday

Daisey on the patio wondering what I am doing
What's left of my succulent garden after two years in what turned out to be a bad spot for succulents. My beautiful big jade tree did not survive the winter.



I've moved my succulents to the screen porch, and the orchids out to the key lime tree, so that I can better control how much water they receive.

This pot is actuallty broken but i like it so much that I am going to plant some string of pearls in it anyway. When my succulents were outside, something kept digging them out of this pot.

Orchids in key lime tree



My "pot" garden ;)



My backyard is a series of border gardens really.


The jasmine arbor freshly cut back.


Another bromeliad border.




Why is Blogspot adding these crazy spacings between my photos? I go to keep going back and deleteing the space but it never leaves it as I set it.