Cloudy Day = Happy Day

Finally some clouds in the sky.  I get tired of always having a sunny sky.  Maybe fall is here.

                                                    Pas De Chat enjoying the day.......

               
                                                     Now for some DEXTER time....

         Probably only the productive thing I did today.  A recipe from my friend Mary.  

HAM 'N' CHEESE POTATO BAKE

1 package (24 ounces) frozen hash browns

2 cups fully cooked cubed ham

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 small onion (I used green onions)

2 cups sour cream

2 cans condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted

pepper

In a large bowl combine potatoes, ham, 1/2 cheese and onion.  In another bowl combine sour cream, soup, and pepper.  Add to potato mixture and mix well.

Transfer to a greased 3 qt. baking dish.  Sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until bubbly and potatoes are tender.  Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

It was yummy and perfect for a cool weather day.

 It's "Project Runway" night.  To honor the designers here is an antique lace dress collar.... and to honor fall, notice the spider web detail in the middle of each flower.  Such intricate hand made work!

Ribbon Ladies

Ribbon Ladies were hand made in the 1920's as a crafting project.  Paper dolls were cut out and embellished with ribbons or lace.  I was so happy to purchase these two beauties in Iowa.  They are very hard to find here in Arizona.  These special ladies have also been decorated with real hair and framed beautifully while being matted on black velvet.  Real treasures!

New Obsession

DEXTER!!!

How did I not ever watch "Dexter" before!  This is the best show I have ever seen!  My son has been telling me about it for a few months and I figured when I had the time I would eventually get to see it.  So recently my husband ordered Seasons 1 - 6 and guess what....we are obsessed with watching this crazy, bloody, brilliant, interesting show.  

I think having a show marathon is the way to go.  This way you don't have to wait the entire week to find out what happens next.  Plus the watching can be on your own schedule.  What a perfect perk for being an empty nester.  

My first TV obsession was when the "Soprano's" came out.  Then it was "Lost" (we spent one summer staying up all hours), "Mad Men", "True Blood" and the last one has been "Breaking Bad".  

I thought "Breaking Bad" was the most original, brilliant, entertaining show until now.  "Dexter" wins.

Well, back to another episode!

http://www.sho.com/sho/dexter/home

Wine Feast

My 2 oldest sons and their girlfriends came home this past weekend.  I took this opportunity to have a wine and antipasto dinner.  We bought a variety of wine from our trip to Iowa and I wanted to share this delicious red variety with people who I knew would appreciate good vino.  I sent Chuck to the store to buy all the food for the antipasto since he is the true Italian who grew up with these foods.  He loves to put together trays of olives, meats and cheeses.  He wraps the prosciutto around breadsticks, cuts the cheese just so and makes sure we have melons which compliment all the other foods.  Afterwards coffee and biscotti.  The problem we both seem to be having.......making too much food.  It was like we were having a party for 30 or more!  There are so many leftovers, it's not going to be a healthy week for us.  Our 2 youngest (20 & 17 year olds) are so busy with their own lives.  Our daughter is in college and coming home less times than before.  Our youngest son who is a senior in high school is in several bands and always busy with practice or gigs.   The adjustment to the change in our lives has been a little difficult.  I find myself still making huge dinners, that means lots of leftovers which we never seem to be able to finish.  Note to self:  START MAKING SMALLER MEALS.

Return of the Javelina

A few weeks ago, I posted about my squash plant and how it was thriving.  I have been tending to it faithfully every day.  You may think this is ridiculous but it is so hard to grow a garden here in Prescott.  I always go outside with my morning coffee and check on it's progress.  Low and behold the javelina returned in the middle of the night.   They ate all the leaves, flowers and most of the stems.  I know it was those pesky critters because of the hoof prints and I found a chunk of their hair.  I also noticed the last of my apples are gone from my tree.  I think they shake the branches to make the apples fall.  It must be a tough life for a javelina always having to scavenge for food.  Maybe next year I will have rock garden instead!

The Ultimate Sandwich

Here you go folks!  The ultimate sandwich I made for dinner.  My son said it's the best he ever had.  A friend gave me the recipe and now I will share it with you.

SUMMER SUB SANDWICH

1 package 3 oz. cream cheese (use the whipped kind)

1 loaf 20 inches unsliced French bread halved lengthwise

6 slices deli ham (I bought Trader Joe's Rosemary Ham)

6 slices provolone cheese

1 jar 4 1/2 oz. sliced marinated mushrooms drained

2 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced

1 small onion thinly sliced

banana peppers

2 cups shredded lettuce

Spread the cream cheese on bottom half of bread.  Layer with the ham, cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes, onion, peppers and lettuce.  Replace the top.  Cut into 2 inch slices.

GO DIRECTLY TO JAIL

There are a few things I fear.  Spiders, driving a stick shift, using a sewing machine and the fear of going to jail.  The last one is my biggest fear.  I can't imagine anything worse than having my freedom taken away from me.  Year after year of the confinement, boredom and not seeing my family.  I don't know how someone can survive being in prison, especially one wrongly accused and convicted.

I'm excited to begin reading "LIFE AFTER DEATH" by Damien Echols who was sent to prison as a teenage for a crime he did not commit.  Thanks to Eddie Vedder for posting this new book release on Facebook and thank you Barnes & Noble for mailing it to me so quickly.  I can't wait to get started!