Here we are fall almost over  

 I took a few pictures during fall and I'm sharing them on my Blog below.

The fall colors this year were so beautiful you dont see fall like that in Florida.

 I had no Idea actually that never entered my mind at all. 

 Florida has a whole different kind of beauty.

So here I am enjoying a whole new experience all over again.

I hope you enjoy them.

Yes they had the fireplace going a few days ago just for a few hours .

These were made by my cousin they go with me where ever I live.

Night light just thought I would throw that in I like it.

 Artichoke flowers the neighbor grew I love them, we are going to grow our own next year.

I always draw a pumpkin for Halloween so this is my contribute for this year.

A couple of my pixel art drawings for the season.

That's all for this time until next time see you later.

Thanks for looking.

Christmas is coming next so sharing a favorite I revised.

I always post at least one recipe here is my share for this time.

Butter Pecan Cookies

 the Buttered Pecans:

• 1 and 1/4 cup pecan halves, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the Butter Pecan Cookies:

• 2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, melted until browned
• 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
• 16 pecan halves, for decoration, optional

Instructions

 

For the Buttered Pecans:

• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in chopped pecans and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 5 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Set aside until needed.

For the Butter Pecan Cookies:

• In a large bowl combine flour, cornstarch, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda; whisk well to combine then set aside until needed.
• In a small saucepan, over medium heat, melt the butter. Continue to cook the butter. swirling the pan occasionally. Keep a close eye here. The top of the butter should become foamy. And you should hear tiny popping noises. The butter will develop into a rich amber color, with tiny brown bits at the bottom. And it will have a slightly nutty aroma. Once the butter reaches this stage, remove from heat immediately and pour into a large mixing bowl.
• Add both sugars into the mixing bowl and whisk well to combine. 
• Add in vanilla. Beat in eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating until eggs are just combined.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour, stirring until just combined. Fold in the buttered pecans.
• Cover bowl and refrigerate for 4 hours.

To Bake:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (F). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. 
• Using a large cookie scoop, divide the dough into 3-tablespoon sized balls and place onto prepared baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches between each ball of dough for spreading.
• Firmly press a pecan half on top of each ball of cookie dough. 
• Bake, one tray at a time, in a preheated oven for 10 to 11 minutes. If any edges spread out while baking, use a spatula and gently press them back in as soon as you remove the cookies from the oven. 
• Sprinkle warm cookies with granulated sugar. 
• Allow cookies to cool on the pan for 15 minutes, then carefully transfer to a cooling rack. 

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Hello Friends welcome to July 4th 2021.Pete Passed away in May it was a total shock.

I'm going to attempt to do a Blogg its been a while I've started a few over the past year but something always happens so I dont get to finish. Like everyone the pandemic has been a scary challenge for Me as well, I know for so many of you. So far we are the lucky ones we made it this far. sad to say so many haven't.

TODAY 

I thought I would celebrate by posting the photo above that I created this morning befor it got to hot, its going to be in the 90s today and we dont have air in our sun room. I'm  posting  a recipe for the 4th as well. 

 

Cherry Pie and the 4th of July

Cherry Crumb Pie

Crust:
1 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 Sticks unsalted butter
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoons baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons ice water

Filling:
4 Cups cherries, pitted and sliced in half

or 2 cans cherry pie filling
1/2 Cup sugar
1/4 Cup all purpose flour
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Zest of 1 lemon
Pinch of salt

Crumb Topping:
1/2 Cup sugar
1 Teaspoon cinnamon
1 Stick unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1" pieces
1 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
Pinch of salt

To make the crust, combine the butter, flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a food processor with a steel blade and pulse just until it resembles course crumbs. Slowly pour in the ice water and pulse just until combined and a dough ball forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.

To make the filling, combine the cherries in a bowl with the sugar, lemon juice, flour, zest and salt.  As you mix you'll notice quite a bit of liquid puddling in the bottom of the bowl.  Strain the mixture into a colander before placing in the pie shell.

To make the crumb topping, combine the sugar, cinnamon, flour and salt in a bowl or food processor.  Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly and set aside.

After the dough has chilled, roll it out on a well-floured surface into about a 12" circle. Place in a 10" pie dish and crimp the edges.  Pour the cherry mixture into the dish. Cut the tablespoon of butter into several pieces and dot the top of the filling.  Using your hands, crumble the topping over the pie so that small and large clumps form.  Place the pie dish on a sheet pan (to catch drips) and bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 50 minutes or until the top is a light golden brown.  Allow the pie to cool completely before slicing. Makes approximately 10 servings.

My favorite pie it just goes with the 4 of July in my mind..

one of my favorite photo's.

Christmas in July 

because I'm into that.

Summer flowers 

We had one of the most beautiful back yards in our neighborhood as far as I was concerned.

Pete's favorite flower

 he loved roses but I was far from an expert when it took to caring for a rose.

I lost my Love in my senior years  Pete May 20th he was my first love when we were both teens. we rekindled about 10 years ago on Facebook and I moved in with him we lived in a retirement community in Florida 8 years,  after the sad death of my second love Bill our relation ship lasted 55 years. It was a wonderful relationship we just really connected we had an amazing life together. So now here I am starting a new life all over again. Its not easy starting over but it can be done. my family has been very supportive of me and my crazies. No one knows how hard it is being with someone almost all your life its quite an adjustment. at least for me it is.  I moved back to Illinois it all happened so fast its like a blur I moved back so quickly I didn't even have time to catch my breath no one forced me It was all me. I was ready it had become very hard trying to take care of everything inside, out side, my self and Pete who was sick for a few years he was struggling to survive. Pete wanted to hire people but I wanted to do it that's the way I am I didn't want to get bored living down in Florida.  

Lizzy our little yoriki who was sick We were going to the vet trying to help her survive. We lost her a couple weeks ago actually a month after Pete. she is united with Pete. Lizzy was 14 years old and I really miss her. Pete had her for 5 years befor I entered their lives.. It wasent all sad we had a lot of fun together Pete I and Lizzie. Also with the neighbors in the community that we lived in. I was so lucky to have experienced the retirement life in a wonderful community.

 

Our computer  arrangement set up in our kitchen.

where we bonded watched tv and enjoyed are life.

I  took a lot of pictures of animal life in the Villages

He is know as a wood stork and I love his graceful ways.

Above

 A sunset from last night 

we dont see to many way to many trees in our neighborhood.

Just a few random photo's I hope to add more some day.

THANKS FOR LOOKING SEE YOU NEXT TIME.