In know you wondered what happened to my background and my music will obviously I deleted the music and changed the back ground to compliment the beautiful  photo of the dessert flowers sorry about the blur that happens when you make some thing to big. But I like it any way. I thought I would give us a break from the music for a while also even tho I loved that song.. Silence is golden some times.

 It was a beautiful day and I did a lot of crawling on the grass doing this and doing that. cleaning up some of the perennials. It felt good to work out side,we even filled up the fountains so the birds could take a dip. and they did. It all started with washing windows early this morning then going to Red Lobster for lunch and having an expensive lunch! boy they are over priced at Red Lobster and the whole front curb and entering the door was loaded with cigarette buts I was shocked there must have been hundreds all over the place. I should write corporate and let them know how disgusting that looks. 

 Back to the cleaning I get to rambling and cant stop. LOL,  I don't have a clue where all that energy came from SCARRY..

The farmers were out in full force that is whats happening to the Golf Course across the road he is turning it into farm land again this year and his 4 million dollar club house that is fairly new just sits there again this year.

I snapped and resized this photo about an hour ago.

Thats all from me, Have a great night.

Hugs From Me

I cant remeber If I shared the sun rise so here is one from a few days ago.

Diane Louise

Hi From Me!

Its evening will almost and the Sun is still shinning, I love it.

I changed my header its kind of cool at least I think so, its a photo my cousin from Arizona took of a dessert flower and dessert rocks. I am a lover of the dessert probably because I live in the mid west and our Winter is finally over and its Spring finally..

And another reason I love the dessert its not something I see every day.  Now in my old age I appreciate nature I think that comes with the territory. doesn't it.

OK I wont bore you any more today was uneventful I cleaned some more I told you I was weird. LOL I  made Carmel corn I have been wanting to make it since before Christmas that's how long it took me to finally do it. Its not my original recipe that I got from my friend Janet I looked every where and cant fine it so I found one similar on the Internet and it turned out pretty good. I also toasted cashews and added them as well.

I made the recipe share tag today isn't it cute.

As you see if you are a  follower I like to create.

My Sister Aletha got me started about seven or eight years ago and now that is what I do a lot of the time, Im hooked.

CARAMEL CORN

1 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 tsp. baking soda

5 quarts popped corn

2 cups brown sugar, packed

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla and/or butter-rum flavoring

1 or 2 cups peanuts or cashews (optional)

Pop the corn according to package directions and transfer to a large bowl with the nuts, if using.

Melt butter in a heavy saucepan.

Stir in brown sugar, syrup and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until mixture boils.

Stop stirring; boil without stirring for 5 minutes or until a candy thermometer reaches 248°F.

Remove from heat. Stir in baking soda and vanilla or flavoring.

Gradually pour the hot mixture (CAUTION - boiled sugar is very hot and will burn!) over the popcorn, mixing well with a spatula.

Turn into 2 large baking pans.

Bake at 250°F for 45-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes with a heat-proof spatula.

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before breaking apart.

Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Makes about 5 1/2 quarts.

Hugs From Me

Busy day today I dusted and vacuumed did laundry.

 I know its Sunday but I have a busy week coming and wanted to get it done because that's me, what can I say.

 Here is the Blueberry desert Dorothy wrote out on a card for me in 1980 it was dated.

 I love that. 

 I happen to find the exact recipe on the Internet with a picture.
 Here is the share. from me.

How do you like my cat blue?
 I made his eyes blink cute isnt he.

Dorothy's

Blueberry Dessert

Ingredients Directions

CRUST:

 1 package graham crackers

 1/2 cup butter or margarine

 1/4 cup sugar

FILLING:

 2 whipped topping (8 oz. each)

 1 cup powdered sugar

 8 ounces cream cheese

 1 blueberry pie filling (21 oz. can)

Container: 9" x 13" baking pan or glass baking dish

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Crust: Mix graham crackers, butter or margarine and sugar together and pat into the bottom of a baking pan.

Bake crust for 5 min.

Filling: Combine one 8 oz. carton of whipped topping with the powdered sugar, and cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer until smooth. Spread over cooled crust.

Top filling with the blueberry pie filling and then top the blueberry filling with the second 8 oz. carton of whipped topping.

Chill in the refrigerator.

Its so Delicious

YUMMM

I have a few more I will share them another day.

Enjoy

Have a great night

Thanks for looking.

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

Today's Blog wont be a fancy one with lots of pictures and a recipe,

 although I should look up a recipe she wrote  out for me so many years ago but ma by tomorrow it was a dessert with blue berries I think its a blueberry pizza  its so long ago I don't remember that much about it. I have it in my recipe box with a few others she wrote out for me.

Some day I will share them.

 Today's Blog is a little something about Dorothy's final day.

1. 
   
   
2. 
   
   
   
   Today was the official send off for Dorothy.
3. 
   
    I don't know what to call it but that is what I am calling it.   We all met at the Cemetery office and we were taken out to the chapel and the Irish Catholic priest or was he a deacon not sure no one really had much to say at least I don't think they did. sorry it was kind of just a happening.   I talked a little to almost everyone some I didn't don't know why it just happened.  I really wasn't sad today.
4. 
   
    The picture on the box with her ashes and on the stand was the picture taken at the Church that Dorothy and I were going to when I first moved out here, we were together when the picture was taken and she asked Bill to make copies she wanted to send one to each of us as a Christmas gift. that's all she was able to give at the time.  and she sent all of us one for her last Christmas before she had her stroke. Now that's weird Mine arrived and I opened it and thought OMG she even sent me one. I thought they were for her kids. That's so cool of  Dorothy she was a very caring Lady.
5. 
   
    She's a caring angel. she is going to be busy now caring that's her she cant help it.
6. 
   
   Enough she is happy now and I snapped a few pictures just a couple so here they are  a little share from me. I will miss her I had no Idea how much until she died. I have to remind myself she is happy now. I know it,  we are all only here temporary. It was her time. 

This was on the Box with Dorothy's ashes on the front was her picture and on the back was this perfect poem.

Now when you read this Blog and see these pictures don't feel sad.

 Have happy thoughts its an Irish send off.
(remember.)

Here is a special flower for our Dorothy.

 I remember going over to her house one morning in Palos and there they were, these perfectly beautiful morning glories. Growing on her fence in the front.

 They were this exact color I never forgot them.

I was so impressed at how beautiful they were.

 This is for you Dorothy

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

P.S. dont ask why the 1, 2, 3, 4.
 I goofed hit the wrong key and for some reason I cant delete it.
 LOL

Good Morning!

I think you have seen this guy around the Internet. I like him and wanted to share if you hadn't seen his lovely face.

He's not my creation I don't know who's he is, but he's been around for a few years.

Its so cold here this morning 25 and sunny so I know that means it will warm up.

Here is a photo I took today of my crocus I don't have many they kind of fizzled out I thought it was pretty so another share from me.

I also changed my Blog back ground from black, I just had to have a warmer color it just wasn't me. I like black back grounds but I like color and change so it will no doubt go back to it again some day down the line.

Our Guy came early this morning about 6:30 to treat the grass we just gave him the job yesterday we always had a different one but since he cuts our grass and shovels our snow and now he is going into the lawn treatment business also we stuck with him. He's good and very reasonable.

I just came in from feeding the birds they were empty and I hardly got in the house and they were there already.

Here is a picture of one of my grand daughters she made a cake at our house and I found this photo on my camera I didn't know my husband took it. So don't get mad I didn't take it Brittney LOL

You cant see the cake to well but it looked amazing. wish I had some right now.

(Isn't she pretty)

I better get some work done instead of sitting here writing in my Blog it is fun at least for me I love it.

Almost didn't tell how our evening out with friends at the German restaurant went.

First off we went to the wrong place and no one from our group was there . So Bill notices the name wasn't the same so we talked to a couple of servers and mentioned the restaurant we were supposed to be at and they said it was a few blocks away so we left and found it right away about 2 blocks down the road. DAH that's a big DAH LOL

They were there walking in at the same time so it wasn't to much of a disaster. Will we had a blast we laughed and laughed and had a super fun time. The food was not bad only thing I didn't like was the German Potato salad I like my recipe better other than that it was good I ate Steak just in case you wondered cant go wrong with that, it was smothered in some kind of sauce, pretty good with mushrooms and onions..

German Style Rib Eye

4 slices rib steak (each about 200g)

salt and freshly ground pepper

melted butter or good cooking oil

4 medium onions

lard when frying in a skillet

a glass of red wine

4 tbsp cream

Preheat oven to 200 degrees C

Flatten the slices of meat lightly with a rolling pin or meat hammer. Score the edges so that the meat won't cup when frying.Season with salt and pepper and brush over with some butter or oil.

Put on the grill in the oven and sear the meat on both sides. Cook to your liking (rare, medium or well done). To test press meat with your fingertip. If it is still elastic, it is still rare. The firmer it feels, the more it is well done!

Slice the onions thinly into rings and fry in hot lard until crisp. Arrange the onions on top of the meat. It is preferable to fry the onions separately.

You can also fry the meat in a heavy skillet. Flatten the meat slices lightly. Score the edges and sear in hot lard or oil. Fry for 3-4 minutes on each side. Season with salt and pepper, take out of the pan and keep warm.

Boil the meat juices together with a glass of red wine, let the sauce thicken and stir in the cream. Serve this creamy sauce with the Swabian roast steaks.

Utterly delicious and tasty meat recipe.

That's all from me for today.

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

The Girls watching the world go by.

They got there Spring hair cut last week. I thought I would share there picture.

I have been doing some art work in between cleaning and all that exciting house work we all do. YUCK LOL

This morning I made Bread, I'm waiting for it to finish baking this is my last weekend to be making the communion bread for this year I think LOL.. I think I finally havet it down pat, finally!! whoops time to take it out of the oven. Oh it looks perfect hopefully it is. Its embarrassing when its not.

Tonight were going out with our friends from the book club to a German restaurant. I was there a couple of times already its OK not my favorite but then I didn't pick it. Im not a big fan of German food to heavy for me but I will no doubt have a good time.  I think there were 14 of us going ma by 12 not really sure exactly .

We are going to be planning our trip to Vegas soon we haven't gone in a while I was looking at my pictures and it reminded me. I cant make up my mind where to stay, oh the big decision.. We will also be going to be visiting my Bro who lives a few hours away I know we will have a blast as always.

Right now we are planning Easter the family always comes over and we have a great meal its always fun more food than we should really be eating and I know that's the way it is during holidays.

OMG the weather is nasty!so windy you cant stand out there for long and as always no Sun! we have had out share of not so nice weather at least I don't feel guilty playing on the computer.  the girls Sally and Abbie had a hard time getting up today the dreary weather could be a big factor. Doesn't she look so sweet laying on her blankey. I had better close for now and think about getting ready to go out for dinner.

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

• 
  
  Its Me where have I been!
•  You don't really care I know you dont.
• 
  
   Today I went to help fold papers at Church with a group of Ladies, Bill dropped me off don't ask me why I think he is afraid I couldn't walk but that's OK . I walked home its straight across the field down and then up it felt good to walk. probably  about a block away. I was so stupid I didn't wear the correct shoes I have a habit of wearing slip on sketchers. We were only there about and hour and a half it didn't take long when there is a little group of us. I cant believe Im doing all this crazy stuff my Mother would be so happy she was a doo er at church also my Sister Dorothy she was the same I guess that comes with old age LOL. All I did was work never dreaming of getting involved with anything. I just never had the time or didn't take the time. Talk about Dorothy they are going to have a little service for her at the cemetery Saturday its going to be at the same cemetery where her husband Vince is buried and I will definitely be there. Thanks Jimmy for letting me know. I miss going and visiting her at the nursing home I feel like I should be doing that but she isn't there any more. Oh well I will get used to it. 
• 
  
   We have been working out side and sitting out the past few days its been half way nice although today its so dreary looking I cant stand it no sun today.  We  add a few pave rs by the gate to stand on, us going in and out of the gate kind of wears on the grass so Bill and I dug up some grass and buried a few pave rs. Were like a couple Polish workers out there, I laugh I call us a couple of Polish workers always doing something at lease I am. I raked up in a few places also I am just a clean nut I guess that is what they call some one like me who wants everything in order. OK enough about me for today. I have some art work to do on the computer and sitting here sharing whats up with me doesn't get my assignment done.
• 
  
  Here is my recipe share for today actually I made this yesterday and we are eating it today, its originally from my sister in law Virg its her recipe we love it and occasionally make it. I put it on my Web Page yesterday so here it is hope if you try it you like it as much as we do. She had it for all the kids parties birthday, communion, graduation things like that. a family tradition.  Im so glad I asked her for the recipe many many years ago..

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

Good Morning from me, good morning from me, good morning, good morning, good morning from meeeeeeeeeeeee!!

I hope you are going to have a great day I know I am because I insist on it LOL..

No bad Carma here.

I just added another cooking blog  to my collection! so funny because I rarely cook any more (My Husband is the cook these days, he likes it). I like to see what other people do cook.  It's really quite interesting to check them out. I do run a recipe group on the Internet and it gives me Ideas on what to do or share.

I also made a new tag this morning one of my favorite things to do as you know if you fallow me. It got me thru a long Winter and now here it is Spring and its not very nice out at least not for the past few days it hasn't been.

Today Im going to get my handy Pink Fluffy out (thanks Rob I love it, really I do!! Its more fun using my pink fluffy.) and finish dusting and vacuuming to get that over with for the week. I have a busy week coming up so I don't want that hanging over my head. Im a nut I dust once a week rain or shine always have. I know Im crazy but what can I say that's just me. I even crawl on the floors when washing the floors I have a mop as you know but I am old and have crazy habits that are hard to break (Maybe some day I will go for therapy ) LOL.

Here is my recipe share for today.

 I worked for a short while with a girl who made these and she was my first experience with anyone from Viet Nam.

 What a Sweet Lady

  Here is her amazing recipe.

We loved them

Spring Roll's
makes 12

Ingredients:

•1/4 pound barbecued pork,

•3 dried black mushrooms

•1/2 cup mung bean sprouts

•1/2 medium carrot

•2 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper

•2 teaspoons dark soy sauce

•2 teaspoons oyster sauce

•2 tablespoons chicken broth

•1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

•a few drops sesame oil, to taste

•2 tablespoons oil for stir-frying, or as needed

•12 spring roll wrappers

•1 lightly beaten egg, or 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water

•3 cups oil for deep-frying, or as needed

Preparation:

Cut the barbecued pork into very thin strips. Soften the dried black mushrooms by soaking in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes. Squeeze out any excess water and finely chop.

Rinse and drain the mung bean sprouts. Peel the carrot. Shred until you have 1/4 cup.

In a small bowl, combine the dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, chicken broth, granulated sugar and sesame oil. Set aside.

Heat a wok over medium high to high heat. Add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil is hot, add the barbecued pork. Stir-fry for 1 minute, then add the vegetables. Stir-fry for another minute, then push up to the side of the wok. Add the sauce in the middle. Heat briefly, then mix in with the pork and vegetables. Remove the wok from the heat and allow the filling to cool.

Preheat the oil for deep-frying to 360 degrees Fahrenheit while preparing the spring rolls.

Lay a spring roll wrapper in front of you so that it forms a diamond shape. Use your index finger to wet all the edges with the beaten egg or cornstarch/water paste. Place approximately 2 tablespoons of filling near the bottom. Roll over once, tuck in the sides, and then continue rolling. Seal the top.

Deep-fry the spring rolls in 3 to 4 batches, cooking until they are golden brown and crispy (about 3 minutes). Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

 

Hugs From Me

Diane Louise

Thanks for stopping by!

Good Morning Winter Is Back!

Its Saturday and  all the floors are washed the toilets cleaned,(I know you wanted to know that) Beds made, dishes put away from the dish washer, laundry almost completed! so now its break time. I was on a roll this morning I don't know where it came from but it happened. and its only 10:30am. plus I vacuumed the furniture I do that on occasion also.

Winter is back so happy about that (just kidding). Its only in the 30s and raining and I don't know what the wind is but it is really blowing out there. I have been doing some drawing as I always do and working on a page I make for the group I own with my sister and an internet friend. Yesterday I made the communion bread for the weekend at Church one more weekend and my month is over. I had it rising on the stove and I never thought it would rise, will my grand daughter Brittney had an emergency there oven broke.  She brought the cake she was working on over and finished it up here! plus made another cake while here and decorated it for a friends birthday, in the mean time I had to wait to use the oven so my bread rose and rose and rose it was Hugh LOL I couldn't believe it,at first  I thought there was something wrong with the yeast because it wasn't rising.. OMG I couldn't even put it into a zip lock to take to Church I had to wrap it in foil.  I got it there just in time Erica the Church secretary was just leaving and locking up when we pulled up with the bread. Other wise I would have had to bring it over this morning and I wanted to get it over with.

Have to get ready the girls on there way over with Arbys for lunch!

Here is my Recipe Share in honor of St Joseph Day

It  was two days ago Im late.

 I forgot actually that's the day I had the clonscopy and St Joseph Day wasn't on my mind.

Here is a great recipe in honor. I hope you like it, I love Italian food one of my favorites.

Italian Cream Cake

Dosent that cake look fantastic!!

Italian Cream Cake

recipe courtesy Southern Living Magazine

serves 12

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1/2 cup shortening

2 cups sugar

5 large eggs, separated

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup flaked coconut

Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 cup chopped pecan, toasted

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 (16 ounce) package powdered sugar, sifted

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating until well blended after each addition.

Add vanilla; beat until blended.

Combine flour and soda; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in coconut.

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter.

Pour batter into three greased and floured 9-inch round baking cakepans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool on wire racks. Spread Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.

Nutty Cream Cheese Frosting:

Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla at medium speed with and electric mixer until creamy. Add sugar, beating at low speed until blended. Beat at high speed until smooth; stir in pecans.