Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris

Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris

Oct 17, 2017 · Leave a Comment

A book review of Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris. Post may contain affiliate links.

On a whim, I chose to read Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris. I hadn’t read one of her books in awhile. Once again, she proves herself to be an author that you can easily return to time and time again.

I haven’t read any of the other Aurora Teagarden mysteries, though I plan to. When I chose the book, I didn’t know it was a series. As I was reading it, there was occasional mention of an event that happened in the past. Many authors use this technique, but no one does it quite so well as Charlaine Harris. She lets you know that these characters have a history, but she doesn’t make it sound like some soap opera recap like some authors do.

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East Wing Martini

Oct 16, 2017 · 2 Comments

Vodka, Campari and Cherry Brandy make this East Wing Martini so unique and so delicious! Post may contain affiliate links.

This post is going to be short and sweet, kind of like this martini! As you know, my photography business gets crazy busy in the fall and this fall is no exception. Though trying to guess when the fall colors are going to be in full swing is almost impossible. We had a wetter summer than last year, but most of the trees in my yard are going from green to brown with no stops at lovely oranges or reds. Luckily I have this gorgeous orange cocktail, East Wing Martini to give me some fall color!

Click here to pin this East Wing Martini now!

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Sweet and Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Oct 15, 2017 · 18 Comments

You are going to love the sweet and salty combination of these Sweet and Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds!

Don't throw away your seeds after carving your pumpkin, you can have these delicious snack or appetizer in about 15 minutes!

Pumpkin seeds in an old brown bowl.

Have you carved your pumpkin yet? I hope not, because you will want to make these brown sugar pumpkin seeds.

When you carve your pumpkin don't throw away the seeds! I always save mine from my pumpkin and winter squash seeds - like butternut squash.

Really squash seeds require just a teeny bit of effort to clean them - and then they are so easy to roast.

Plus it sort of feels like you're getting something for free, right? Something that most people discard, you've made into a tasty snack.

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Cats and Driveways

Oct 13, 2017 · 16 Comments

What is it about driveways that make them so perfect for rolling around on?

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Chocolate Cherry Biscotti

Oct 12, 2017 · 18 Comments

Semi-sweet chocolate and tart dried cherries are perfect together in this easy Chocolate Cherry Biscotti.

Chocolate cherry biscotti in a vintage tin.

Have you ever made biscotti? They are my favorite thing to bake. They don't have to rise much, get light and fluffy, or do all those things that can go wrong with regular baking.

You mix them up, make logs, bake, slice, and rebake them and you have wonderful delightful crunchy cookies!

Like my Honey Lavender Biscotti, these have some whole wheat flour in them. Making them a little bit healthier, while not losing any of the yummy flavor!

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The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas

Oct 10, 2017 · 3 Comments

A book review of The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas. Post may contain affiliate links.

The Resurrection of Joan Ashby is unlike any other book I’ve ever read, and that’s a good thing. It opens up with some press releases about Joan Ashby. Her comeback as an author and about her previous works. I had to double check that this was indeed fiction, because it started out feeling a lot like non-fiction.

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Patchouli Just Sitting

Oct 6, 2017 · 40 Comments

So, I obviously had some trouble deciding what to call this post. It's basically Patchouli sitting in a mulched flower bed. That's it. Nothing exciting here, folks. Except that it's Patchouli and being able to get photos of her outside is rare because she is such a scaredy cat.

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Monarch Butterflies on Butterfly Weed

Oct 3, 2017 · 6 Comments

Monarch Butterflies on Butterfly Weed

This year we finally got around to planting some butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa.) We had bought some in the past from a local garden center, but it turned out to be goldenrod. Which is not butterfly weed! The goldenrod spread like crazy and I am still pulling up clumps of it.
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Coco Kitty Enjoying the Yard

Sep 29, 2017 · 27 Comments

Today I thought I'd share a few random photos of Coco kitty. Anytime I work in the yard or go out to take garden photos, she almost always wanders up. She is the only cat of ours that spends a good part of the day outside. Though as she has gotten older, she seems to be a little less tolerant of both heat and cold. She stays in when it's too hot or too cold.

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If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss

Sep 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment

A book review of If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss. Post may contain affiliate links.

If the Creek Don’t Rise is a glimpse into the remote Appalachian culture. The dialogue and the character development, pull you in and make you feel like you are a part of it.

The main character is Sadie Blue. Sadie is pregnant, and has been married for 15 days to Roy Tupkin. Everyone in town knows that Roy is bad news and now with the beatings that are occurring regularly, Sadie knows it too.

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Broken Earth Petit Verdot 2010

Sep 23, 2017 · 2 Comments

A review of Broken Earth Petit Verdot 201 for Weekend Wine Reviews #351.

Broken Earth Winery Petit Verdot 2010

Broken Earth Winery, Petit Verdot, 2010, Paso Robles, CA. Wine Awesomeness. They say: Petit Verdot is a bold grape - super bold. This is why it is traditionally used in small quantities as a blending grape. However this bottle from Broken Earth Winery is 100% Petit Verdot from California! On the nose: aromas of dusty bramble berries and wet pine. Dewy tree bark and sappy pinecones. On the palate: Musty wood, tea and earthy notes. And then, possibly my most favorite sentence related to wine ever: This wine tastes like laying in a pile of freshly raked autumn leaves eating blueberries straight out of the carton while wearing a terrycloth, navy blue Juicy sweatsuit. I don't know who writes these wine descriptions at Wine Awesomeness, but I love them!

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A Day in the Life with Luxie Kitty

Sep 22, 2017 · 20 Comments

Since I work from home either blogging or editing photos from a photoshoot, I spend a lot of time with Luxie. We have a routine for our day, that makes us both happy. I thought I'd share a little of a typical Luxie day with you. We start out bright and early in the morning. After eating breakfast, I open up the door to the screened in back porch and Luxie enjoys the morning sun, the hummingbirds and the other birds at the bird feeder.

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Review of Sourdough by Robin Sloan

Sep 19, 2017 · 1 Comment

This is a book review of Sourdough a novel by Robin Sloan. Post may contain affiliate links.

A Review of Sourdough by Robin Sloan

You know that feeling when you read two really good books in a row? After finishing what was an excellent book, I started reading Sourdough by Robin Sloan and found myself again in an amazing novel.

The main character of Sourdough is Lois Clary. Lois works for a tech company called General Dexterity in San Francisco. She literally eats and sleeps there most days. Barely having time to eat, they slurp something from a tube.

One night, Lois decides to call a local restaurant for take out. She orders a spicy soup and meets one of the owners (a pair of brothers) as he delivers her food. He has an accent she can’t quite place, but the soup is amazing. It feeds not just her stomach, but her soul. She orders it so much, they nickname her “Number One Eater.”

When the brothers are forced to leave the US, they give her a gift crock of sourdough starter. Lois begins to bake bread. Not just any bread, but a special sourdough bread.

From there, Lois’s like takes a completely different turn. The rest of the story is told in part from Lois and in part from the brother’s emails.

This is the story of relationships, goals, determination. It’s brilliant and quirky. I loved it every bit as much as his other book, Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore.

I received an ARC of the book.

Picture Taking with Luxie

Sep 15, 2017 · 24 Comments

You know how some kitty cats don't like having their pictures taken? They make funny frown faces or turn away. Not Luxie. Luxie seems to know when a camera is around. This is what happens every single time I try to take photos of my orchids. She knows she's the prettiest kitty and certainly I want to include in her in the photos with the silly old flowers.

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You by Caroline Kepnes

Sep 12, 2017 · 3 Comments

A book review of You by Caroline Kepnes. Post may contain affiliate links.

I fell into this book with the first few sentences and found it insanely hard to put down. This is my kind of book. That first sentences that I was talking about is this, “You walk into the bookstore and you keep your hand on the door to make sure it doesn’t slam. You smile, embarrassed to be a nice girl, and your nails are bare and your V-neck sweater is beige and it’s impossible to know if you’re wearing a bra but I don’t think that you are.” It’s a pretty simple few sentences actually, but the clue is in that one small part, where he says that she is smiling because she is embarrassed to be a nice girl. With one glance, he is is already obsessed with her and already showing his psychotic belief that he knows what she is feeling and thinking.

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Black-Eyed Peas Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese

Sep 10, 2017 · 19 Comments

Black-eyed peas, butternut squash, and goat cheese make the perfect fall salad in this Black-Eyed Peas Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese. It's a gorgeous salad with fresh, bright flavors. The sweet butternut squash pairs beautifully with the earthy black-eyed peas and the tart and tangy goat cheese all in a tangy and spicy vinaigrette!

Crowder Peas Salad

I know what you're thinking... the recipe title says black-eyed peas salad and now I'm saying this is a crowder peas salad. Well, black-eyed peas and crowder peas are in the same family and can be used interchangeably in this salad.

I just happened to have crowder peas because my CSA gave me some, but my guess is that you all will find it much easier to find black-eyed peas than crowder peas.

I've made this salad with crowder peas and I've made it black-eyed peas and it's delicious with either! It would also be good with white beans or black beans, or really any of your favorite beans.

Ingredients in this Black-Eyed Peas Salad

Butternut Squash - though any winter squash would work. Acorn or delicata would be perfect.
Olive oil, salt and pepper.
Black-eyed peas - fresh or frozen. Canned if you can't find frozen.
Red bell pepper - can use orange or red.
Jalapeno pepper.
Marjoram & Parsley - can use thyme or oregano.
Goat Cheese.

Ingredients in the Sweet and Spicy Vinaigrette

Apple Cider Vinegar - complements the fall flavors in this salad.
Honey.
Lemon - zest and juice.
Crushed red pepper flakes - add a little heat.
Salt and Pepper.
Extra virgin olive oil.
Canola or sunflower oil - can just use more olive oil.

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Upwell Rosé 2016

Sep 9, 2017 · 2 Comments

A wine review of Upwell Rosé 2016 for Weekend Wine Reviews #350.

Upwell Rosé 2016

Upwell Rosé 2016, Lodi California. Wine Awesomeness. 100% Tempranillo. They say: on the nose - rhubarb, watermelon rinds, yellow citrus. Strawberry stems, salty toasted pumpkin seeds. On the palate: Powdery white flowers, fresh pressed watermelon juice, slight brown pinecone sappiness. This wine is made using sustainable harvesting methods. Medium to light body, clean brine on the finish, ultra quaffable.

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Luxie on the Porch

Sep 8, 2017 · 19 Comments

When so many people are in harm's way of hurricanes this year, I feel bad talking about our gorgeous weather. But we have had spectacular weather for early September. Chattanooga is hosting an Ironman competition this weekend and the weather will be absolutely perfect. The high Saturday is supposed to be 81 and the high on Sunday will be 79 with mornings in the upper 50's!

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Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

Sep 5, 2017 · Leave a Comment

This is a book review of Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker.

Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

If you are looking for a psychological thriller that always keeps you guessing, you’ve found it in Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker.

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Patchouli

Sep 1, 2017 · 22 Comments

Can someone tell me how it is September already? It seems like only yesterday that I was so excited about the beginning of the year, all the to-dos that I was going to accomplish, the decluttering that was going to happen. Here it is September and I feel like I've barely accomplished anything at all.

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Zinnias

Aug 29, 2017 · 7 Comments

I know that I've already posted about my zinnias this summer, but I can't help posting about them again. They are seriously the hardest working flowers in my garden. The hardest working and I put the least amount of effort in them. I bought a couple of three dollar packets of seeds and just tossed them around in the flower bed. Barely worked them with in with a little hand tool. That's it. Took about 5 minutes of my time and they are definitely the show stoppers in my garden!

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Hungarian Summer Pickles

Aug 27, 2017 · 14 Comments

Crispy and slightly salty these Hungarian Summer Pickles are fermented not pickled! Post may contain affiliate links.

Hungarian Summer Pickles

I have canned pickles, frozen pickles, and made quick pickles. Up to this point, I have never fermented them. Well, I can scratch that off my list. Last week, I tried two different ferments (the other one, I'll post on Wednesday). Fermenting is not for the faint of heart. It gets pretty ugly pretty quickly. I kept googling fermented pickles to make sure everything was looking okay. It gets cloudy, and you have skim off a scummy foam from time to time. But when it is all said and done, you have a pickle that is so different from regular vinegar pickles. They are crisp and slightly salty. Unique.

Click here to pin these Hungarian Summer Pickles now!

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Love Over Money Green Eyes Grüner Veltliner

Aug 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment

A wine review of Love Over Money Green Eyes Grüner Veltliner, 2016 for Weekend Wine Reviews #349.

Love Over Money Green Eyes Grüner Veltliner 2016

Love Over Money, Green Eyes, Grüner Veltliner, 2016. Kremstal, Austria. 100% Grüner Veltliner. Wine Awesomeness. They say: on the nose - juicy, green pear jelly beans that have been tossed into the bottom f a bottle of Minute Maid lemonade. On the palette - caramel apple rice cakes with acidic lime notes that the sting the back of your jaw. Grüner Veltliner is a native varietal to the hills of Austria. This bottle is a prime example. Crisp and clean with a biting acidity. First you might notice notes of pear lemonade, then dried dill and supple-sweet apricots left to dry in the sun.

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Kitty Cat Excitement

Aug 25, 2017 · 25 Comments

That moment when you spot something on the dining room floor.

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