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I am a married woman with children out of the home now developing my own interests, hobbies making my way through the heat of the experiences and days of my life. (Click on pictures to enlarge.)

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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Happy New Year!


Happy New Year!!
It is the last day of the year and tomorrow we ring in a new year. A clean slate. New possibilities, new experiences, new hopes and dreams. I am not one to make any New Year's Resolutions as I only seem to break them soon after trying to start them. Better to just make any changes as they come along. 
Do you make Resolutions?
I wish everyone a Wonderful and Fulfilling New Year, full of all your hopes, dreams and aspirations, good health and happiness!



Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas Decorations

Linking up with http://lisaschaos.com/
Three little Cardinals ornament.

Golden leaves and ornament on the Christmas Tree.


My sweet shot for the week!


Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Holiday Bokeh Party


Live, Love, TRAVEL


Decorating the tree became more fun when I discovered Bokeh way back when. Now instead of decorating, I just pile up things, like these strings of beads and marbles in front of the tree and go for Bokeh.
The beaded garlands eventually made it onto my tree after I had had my fun!
I want to try the stars bokeh of some of the photos I have seen. That looks very cool.
I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year!!
Check out http://jaymiblog.blogspot.com/ for more photos of Holiday Bokeh!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Chicken Cassoulet

Things can get kind of hectic around this time of year. Lots of things that need to be done before the big day and usually not enough time in the day to get it all done. 
Here, we have relatives visiting from out of town, my son from Alberta and my brother from Victoria. I don't get to see them nearly enough as it is, so I want to be able to spend as much time with them rather than cooking. Here is a recipe that fits the bill. Its done in the Crock Pot and cooks by itself all day while you are out and about. You come home to a complete home cooked meal.

Chicken Cassoulet 
12 Skinless Chicken Thighs
6 Chorizo Sausage links
1 large Onion, diced
3 stalks Celery, chopped
1 Red Pepper, chopped
1 Jalepeno, minced
1 small Head Garlic, peeled and sliced
Olive Oil
In saucepan, add olive oil and heat over medium heat. Salt and pepper both sides of the Chicken thighs and brown the thighs on both sides in the olive oil. After they are browned remove them from pan into the Crock pot.
Chop up the Chorizo Sausage into bite size rounds and brown those in the same pan as you just browned the Thighs. After they are browned remove them to the Crock Pot and add your chopped Onions, Celery and Garlic into the sauce pan to saute. Saute just until translucent and after add them to the Crock Pot. Add the chopped Red Pepper to the Crock Pot.
To the Sauce Pan add:
1/2 Cup Chicken Stock or Dry White Wine
1 TBSP. Dried Thyme
1 TBSP. Dried Rosemary
1 TBSP. Dried Oregano
1/2 TBSP. Dried Basil
1 tsp Smoked Paprika
1 tsp Fresh Ground Pepper
1/2 tsp Salt
2 TBSP Tomato Paste
Stir until mixed together and pan is deglazed on the bottom. Add this to the Crock Pot.
Add to the Crock Pot:
1- 28 oz Can Diced Stewed Tomatoes
2 large cans Cannellini Beans
Give the whole thing a gentle stir, pop the lid on the Crock Pot and cook it on High for 6 to 8 hours.
Dinner is done!
You can serve this with Rice or Mashed Potatoes if you choose, or just by itself with chunks of Sourdough bread to sop up all the flavourful juices.

I had to substitute one can of Kidney beans for one of the cans of Cannellini beans at the last moment because I could not find the second can! I still can't find that can of beans! It still tasted great with the kidney beans added. It is comfort food at its best!!





Sunday, December 18, 2011

Christmas Lights


The Newspaper publishes lists of beautifully decorated homes for people to go and visit. Here is one of the homes we stopped at last night.

Check out the large flowers on the front of the home all lit up with lights!
Linking up with http://lisaschaos.com/

Frosty the Snowman kind of looks out of place with our green Christmas! He needs some snow!

A carolling we go!

Santa has some new Wheels!

Merry Christmas to all!

Joyous Noel!

And to all a Good Night!

Friday, December 16, 2011

The Weekend in Black and White

Some of the Things I am loving right now:
My son Eric is visiting from Alberta for a couple of weeks. So good to see him! 
Happy to have my Photoshop back after the big crash a couple of weeks ago. I missed it!
The wonderful Ribs my Hubby just cooked for dinner tonight.
Peppermint Candy Ice Cream, which is only available at Christmas. That is a good thing too!
So many things to be grateful for!
Getting ready for Christmas is very slow this year. I have hardly even started yet!
I guess I still have time, and a few more shopping days left!
Thank goodness for that!!!
How is your preparations going?

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Tug Boats and Tin Soldiers

Check out http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/ for more Ruby Tuesday photos!
These were taken outside New Westminster Quay. The Tin Soldier is the world's largest Tin Soldier.

What child would not enjoy having this boat in thier back yard to play in. You would only go as far as your imagination could take you, but for a child that could be far and away!

Check out Midweek Blues at http://thedustycellar.blogspot.com/


Monday, December 12, 2011

Macro Monday

One of the Crafts available at one of the many Christmas craft fairs here in town.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Skywatch Friday

I still am waiting to see how many pictures my Hubby can retrieve off my crashed hard drive. These are a few I still had on my camera chip when the Drive crashed.
This is in Clayburn Village on the outskirts of the village in the farm area.
It was a cloudy and gloomy grey day when these were taken.

To see more photos of Skywatch Friday, please go and visit http://skyley.blogspot.com/

Monday, December 5, 2011

Ruby Tuesday Sweet Shots

Linking up with Ruby Tuesday at http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

A few Christmas Tree Ornaments for you!



Linking with Sweet shop Tuesdays at http://my3boybarians.com/