butter & pearls

Have you seen this movie, ha, have you, ha, have you? I've seen it twice - once with Bob (who slept through the entire show) and the second time alone so I could enjoy it!

Yes, I'm married to a man who views going to the show as a cup of chloroform - an 'expensive nap' is what I call it!

Anyway, I loved the show! I watched the first time to enjoy the acting - Meryl Streep was just amazing as Julia Childs - nailed it 100%! The second time I watched it for the story itself. I just loved how happy Julia was - she wasn't pretending on-air, she was real and authentic. Geezzzz, I came out of that show wanting to go get my pearls out of moth-balls, rush to my computer to order her cookbook and soften the butter in the frig! When I'd watch her show I would just laugh and laugh - she seemed like a comedian more than a chef - and the show just cracked me up, big time - I laughed and laughed and laughed (that's good for over-all health) - so I like to do it a lot!

Julie, the girl in the movie, got a book deal based on the blog she kept about her experiences with Julia's cookbook. I looked it up on Amazon and unfortunately, the reviews are not good at all! I loved her character in the movie - fun, adventuresome, daring and in love with Julia and her cookbook - but, her reviews earned only 1-2 stars - not good!

Now, go see it - but don't blame me if, before you know what hits you, you've got a cookbook from Amazon on your doorstep! Call me, we'll cook - French-style!

simple things of summer - kinda earthy

After returning from our travels this past week, Nic invited us for dinner - it was so funny because she had it all planned out in her mind what she was going to have - like a week before we were to come! I asked her, "What can we bring?" "Ohhhhhhh, nothing!" she said.

She wasn't fibbing when she said she had it all planned - we walked into a feast. Corned beef and cabbage and RED POTATOES right out of the garden (my fav), zucchini bread - zucchini freshly picked as well, salad greens, carrots and spinach - you guessed it, right from the garden! Then to top it off, she makes this delicious fresh berry cobbler - berries courtesy the local farmer's market! I was feeling really healthy after that meal!

We watched a fun DVD from the library - have you gone to the library to see the things they offer? A great source of family entertainment and it didn't cost a penny. We headed outdoors after the DVD to enjoy the amazing weather we've been having - calm, warm (not hot) just perfect for us 'cold-blooded-types' (people who live in sub-zero weather). We dug in the garden while Tyler was shooting his bow and the things we uncovered were eye-popping and delicious! Baby eagles were testing out their new wings as they perched on a neighbor's house - so fun to watch as their nest is located in trees directly behind Ty and Nic's house.

I'm really into saving money. When we went to California, my goal was to spend 'zero' dollars! I didn't reach my goal - I spent $1 to take a guys picture! Haha - how funny is that? It's such a great feeling and over the past 5+ years I've gone from being a CONSUMER to being THRIFTY! I guess it's just that place in life you reach when you're comfortable with what you have and who you are! It's so liberating and freeing. I've walked out of many-a-store saying, "Oh, I'll think about it!" . . . that's me saying such dribble! Haha, me the 'once indebted spender'!

With all this thrifting and eating organic food is making feel so EARTHY! Now, where's my reusable shopping bags?

lazy days of summer

LOCAL-YOKLES: Where was this picture taken? If this picture doesn't FIT on your computer screen, click the picture!
Have a wonderful day!

locked out / FREE AT LAST, GOSH OH MIGHTY, I'M FREE AT LAST!

I'm actually at the library writing this - haha! Google, who I thought LOVED me, now says I'm an enemy trying to infiltrate their territory and has locked me out of the blogging world! Until I get it figured out (more like the 'geek-squad') I won't be able to access my blog nor will I be able to view your blogs! Oh wooooah, is me! I remember hearing the "Twitter" world was 'down' yesterday and SO many people were having withdrawls! How crazy are they! Well, now I'm locked out and I know exactly how they feel - feeling a little jittery and my eye is twitching! Hopefully, it won't be that long - but, I definitely will miss checking on all of you and my blog will be silent for awhile. 

thanks, google!

OKAY, okay, I'm back and in.  I did an unbelievable thing - I wrote 'google' a message and actually got through to them!  Ha - that's crazy! When I got home, I found that my trembling and eye twitching stopped when I logged in and was allowed to move forward!

just wonna talk

pictured: did you ever wonder where your canola oil comes from - I call this pic, "canola in the raw"!

I've been rushing and rushing for the past few weeks, I haven't been able to sit and just take a deep breath and chat!  I guess we could discuss the weather - it's feeling a bit 'springish' around these parts with a high of 68 degrees today and 63 degrees tomorrow.  We used our feather comforter last night to keep warm!  Ha!  We've also had some spectacular weather as well - lightening and thunder that dwarfs our 4th of July celebration, big-time.  Tornados have been spotted in nearby counties and high winds that have blown many 'tops of trees' completely out!   

It's been a fun an amazing week despite the travel and such. As we were zooming past the miles and miles of nothingness, I couldn't help but think how our ancestors had to walk past all those miles of nothingness - I couldn't help but ponder the hardships they endured so we could have what we have today.  

On our way home, we traveled a road that was new to us while we listened to a talk show describing 'zero population' and not leaving our 'carbon footprint' behind when we depart this earth.  I had to laugh because there were vast expanses of land stretching behind and ahead of us with no one in sight for hours in either direction!

This time of morning it's pretty quiet around here - Bob is off riding his bike for miles and miles!  His big race is next weekend, August 15th.  He hasn't missed a day of training in over a year - can you even wrap your head around that?!  I prefer my soft bed and pillow which has, by all rights, given me my soft stomach and butt - I must change my ways!  Three days a week he swims and three days a week he rides his bike.  He doesn't run as it's not good on his legs and hips (remember, he bionic!) but does that the day of the race!  I'll be there photo-journaling his adventure.

Be back in a minute!

satan sucks

Come and see for yourself at Heather's Etsy shop!

***Special Note - Misspelled 'werds' NOT included ! ! ! ***

walk with me down hollywood blvd

We'll start at Grif and Katrina's place and head down . . . 

there are thousands of stars names on the sidewalks of Hollywood  . . .

these murals were painted on the side of a building near Hollywood Blvd . . .
 

click the pics and see how many stars you can recognize.  I decided I was pretty old cause I could recognize and name many pictured here . . .

Kodak Theater plaza . . .

I do have to admit, I drool a bit over these bags . . .

You could have the scriptures read to you while you wait at the stop signal . . . 

this dude didn't look homeless or desperate - I think the dude was earning some extra money - I was diggin' the music . . .

Funny how these tours take people past stars home and all you can see in front is their high bushes . . .
homeless couple - click the pic, and notice her arms are all scared . . .

LOVE the bill of his hat - click pic and read . . .

ornate carvings in this door were pretty cool . . .

the graffiti was impressive . . .

 
we're back to Grif and Katrina's.  Although they live right on Hollywood Blvd., you can't hear the crowds of tourists in their apartment - super quiet and peaceful . . .

(photo credits- gub & berta)