Say Cheese!

Head over to Tootsie Time to see everyone's flowers!

If you love cheese...and lets face, who doesn't?...be sure to visit

Hilmar Cheese Factory if you're ever in the vicinity.

It was one of our yummiest stops.

It is the world's largest single-site cheese and whey products manufacturing facility. The have the prettiest visitor center, inside and out.

It was still decorated for the holiday's when we visited.

There is a self guided tour of the factory with windows so you can see it in action along with lots of interesting factoids and hands on attractions.

And while there you must visit Daisy!

The grounds are just gorgeous.

They include waterfalls,

small...

and large....

that you can walk under...

bridges too!

Lovely gardens...

and interesting figures.

My daughter, friend and me.

I'm linking up with Tootsie Time for Fertilizer Friday.

I'm Baaack!

Hello everyone out there in Blogland!!

My company is gone :~(

We had a great time catching up and goofing off :~)

I missed all my friends in here,

but I'm back now...so here we go!

We visited several interesting places during our "goof off".

But I'm starting with our visit to the beach.

We stopped to see the Otters in Moss Landing that I mentioned here.

They weren't anywhere in sight :~(

So we mosied onto Moss Landing Beach....

We did a little beach combing.....

and pondering.....

Happy New Year!!

Ok, so Maybe I'm not ready for all the celebtation yet, but I WILL be!

I have all the Christmas Decorations down, even the lights..yay me!

I'm probably rushing things a bit but good friends from out of state are comming for a visit and I want to have everything back in place...

more or less anyway ;~)

 I will be taking a break brom blogging while they are here,

but should resume by the middle of the month.

Will you miss me??

I know I will miss you, so I will be popping in to get my fix!

When I come back I'll have lots of pictures to share from our exploits.

In the meantime I want to share some New Years images with you.

Wishing everyone a Healthy Happy New Year!!

Be safe and keep warm..

see you next year!

Big *hugs* to all!

Here are the Paper Towels!!

We celebrated Christmas with my oldest and his girlfriend a few days ago.

To accommodate schedules for everyone we usually have "several" Christmases.

My oldest gave me a most heartfelt gift.

A bundle of Paper Towels!

Now, any of you who watch Family Guy will understand this.

I had the best laugh I've had all year!

As daughters, wives, mothers, we women try our darnest to always provide the makings for the "Best Christmas Ever".

Some may not understand what it takes to put on the festivities.

 When Family Guy came out with it's Christmas Episode

it portrayed this to a tee and became my

"All Time Favorite Christmas Cartoon" to watch during the Holidays.

Here is the clip of when Lois loses it....

If you get the opportunity to see the entire episode, do!

Thanks to my loving son I didn't end up "losing it".

Thanks Brandon and Tanya!! I love you!

I want to wish everyone a Magical Memory Making Merry Christmas!

and Healthy New Year!

Happy Monday!

I'm sure you, like me, have been running around like crazy trying to get all the last minute things together for the Holidays.

You deserve a break!

Grab a cup of tea, coffee, soda...

take a seat and enjoy all the themes for a Monday.

It just may re-energize you...

hey, a girl can dream can't see?

It's Mosaic Monday over at Little Red House.

I chose to use some of my Snowman Collection for today's Mosaic.

Gotta love Snowmen!

Over at Anything Goes Here it's Vintage Christmas Monday.

This is an old quilt someone made for my hubby back in the day.

We use it as our Christmas Tree Skirt.

Even though we had used for 30 some years,

it still makes me smile each year when I pull it out.

These Three Wisemen and Music Box belonged to hubby's Grandmother.

The Wisemen are such a great larger size and

have gems here and there that sparkle at just the right times.

The Music Box still works and plays Silent Night.

Wishing everyone a Magical Memory Making Merry Christmas!!

Fertilizer Friday! 12/18/09

It's time once again for Fertilizer Friday over at Tootsie Time

where we show off our horticultural talents.

I gathered up the courage to venture out

to the backyard to see what I could see.

Not expecting to find much since our Cold Winter Chills have arrived,

I did, however, find one common theme.

No not frost bitten plants!

I discovered several colorful orbs

jumping up and saying over here, over here!

As I approached I noticed one of my larger Roses

had several rather large burnt (no pun intended) orange Rose Hips.

Boy, are they plump!

I turned around to then find a couple lonely Cherry Tomatoes

left on a rather limp vine.

One is trying so very hard to fully rippen!

Then further over I noticed the two Oranges we have are just about ripe themselves!

Orange they looking proud?

;~)

Near the Orange is a "wild rose".

Such sweet small cherry red Hips it has.

Just as I turned to head back into the warm house,

I spied the Heavenly Bamboo.

Looks like perhaps the birds have enjoyed some of it's berries!

So there you have it. Not any blooms per se,

but nonetheless, color in the Winter Garden.

Birds Not Raccoons

Thought I would post an update on the Raccoons.

I haven't "seen" them since Cyndar was attacked.

The only thing askew is a few rocks around the top of the waterfall.

But it doesn't appear they have actually entered the pond.

Sardines were placed in the trap but nothing has been touched. I think "if" they have been back they are very cautious. The surely aren't as bold as they were, thank goodness!

So, I think, between Cyndar, unavailable food, fishing line surrounding the pond and the motion activated sprinkler they haven't been back or if they have very little. It also has been pretty cold recently, so they may also be sleeping/staying warm in their hidey home...where ever that is.

But come Spring I need to be on my toes....I have a bad feeling there my be little ones they'll need to feed.

It's kind of funny...

the backyard seems to be taken back.

The birds have returned in full force.

Loads of singing and chirping has been taking place.

I think they feel more at peace now without the coons too.

Yes, they are much more comfortable now.

They love to scrounge for bits/bugs under the leaves 

The Goldfinches love Niger Seed

The House Finches love the Millet

and Canary Seed

Once again the yard is full of welcome visitors!

Tasty and Easy Stuffed Rolls

Along with my baking I made some Stuffed Rolls.

Mom used to make these for Christmas Eve

They were inexpensive, easy and you could make them ahead of time.

When I was younger my Aunts, Uncles and Cousins would come over to celebrate on Christmas Eve. We would make tons of these for that night.

We would eat then sit and wait to hear a special bell at the back door.

There was a special guest that would always stop by....

YES! Santa would come to OUR house!

He had his sack of gifts for all us kids.

Later, after I grew up I realized it was my Uncle who played Santa for us

and then my Sister's son...for my children... and my cousins children.

~~Ahh, great Memories~~

But without further adieu, 

*The Stuffed Rolls*

(recipe circa '70's, note typed recipe card!)

Gather all your ingredients.

I substituted ground turkey for the hamburger

because that's what I had on hand.

Mix it all up good

Add to bun

Place onto wax paper

Roll up and twist ends

They fit right back into the bun bag for the freezer

Anytime you want some pop them into the microwave and heat a couple mins.

Handy snack for the older kids to grab.

When my oldest Son owned his Computer Shop,

he would take these for lunch in the winter,

fast and easy to heat and eat.

We will be enjoying these when we celebrate Christmas with our kids

here at home on the 19th.