Wednesday, February 29, 2012

"Go get Nottie and call me!"



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We
adopted
Wally's best friend.
Nottie,
from
in 2009
for us,
going
to
an animal shelter
was
quite
an
emotional
adventure
as
we wanted to adopt
ALL
the animals


Annie
sat in front
of the
cages
and cried...
so many puppies,
middle aged and older dogs
needing
homes
and love

we seriously
wanted to
adopt them
all

we brought Wally with us
to choose
a friend
after
a bit of
hesitation,
Nottie and Wally sniffed
and
chose
each other

we think
Nottie
was a
barn dog
that had to
fight for food
and
attention..

adopting
isn't always easy...

some animals
(like people)
have issues

LOVE HEALS

Wally loved
Nottie and Nottie loved Wally...
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Nottie missed Wally when he died...

but
Love heals
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yup,
it does
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twice the love
came
when
we got Huckleberry and Phinn

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and
they adopted
Nottie
as their
"Nottie Mommy"
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quite a trio
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_MG_1206


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a contented and
LOVED
smile

love heals

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the
"go get Nottie and call me"
is when
Annie and Andrew
were
tag team
baby sitting
Nottie
and Nottie
decided
to chase the wild turkeys
in our neighborhood.
Annie's friend
heard
her tell
Andrew to
"go get Nottie and call me"

Monday, February 13, 2012

Blarney, Blessings and the Irish Hills

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been
the foresight to know where you're going
and the insight to know when you're going too far.

a wee
Irish Blessing
to
begin
our
hike
John
and I
thought
the
sunny
cool
day would be perfect
for a hike
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the hike
actually starts
(or ends)
right behind our house
and
goes
up
and up
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and follows
the hills
canyons
and valleys
west
behind
Costco
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you can see
SLO
hidden
behind
the foothills
of San Luis Mountain
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it's
pretty
rocky and rough
along the way
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we followed
the Froom Creek Trail
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babbling creeks
and
waterfalls
break the quiet
of the
deep canyons
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evidently
folks hike
these hills
and forage
for Chanterelle mushrooms
IMG_0835

they say when
the
weather
is cool
and moist
there are hundreds of Chanterelles
hidden
under logs
and
tree roots
IMG_0836

you would
have
thought
that we found
the
'shrooms
but
no,
just happy
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the poppies
are
just starting
to
pop
IMG_0849

waterfalls
trickle
down
throughout
the canyons
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and after
about
five
miles
of trails
you end up
(or start)
behind
Costco
IMG_0860

and
return
to civilization

May brooks and trees and singing hills
Join in the chorus too,
And every gentle wind that blows
Send happiness to you.


Sunday, February 12, 2012

Red hearts for those you LOVE!

Breakfast
For
Those You Love

….

A year
or so
ago
I
read about
Red Velvet Pancakes
from
Caroline,

the
creator
and chef
in
one
of
my favorite blogs

I have
pondered
those
RED VELVET PANCAKES
and have salivated
just
thinking
about
them….
so
Pre-Valentine's Day

Sunday

was the
perfect
day
to
test
them out

We
used
a
recipe from
andl
…doubled it
as we had over forty guests for breakfast

and
used our cute
heart pancake molds
IMG_1933

to make
the
perfectly
delicious
chocolatey

Red Velvet Pancakes
IMG_1935

PANCAKES:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk (or make your own buttermilk)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon red food coloring

Whisk the dry ingredients
(flour to salt)
and set aside
Whisk buttermilk, eggs, vanilla,vinegar
and
red food coloring
and
carefully
mix the dry and wet ingredients
together
until
just incorporated
(do not overmix!)
Spray the heart mold with PAM
as the batter sticks
and
cook pancakes on a 400f f. griddle
as you cook pancakes

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Happy Brithday, Boog!

as
he celebrated
his
24th
birthday!

and feeling
the
need
to be
self-indulgent
again….

Happy Birthday
#25,
Andrew!
EK_0009

I
am
so
proud
of this kid!
although not quite perfect,
he is
an
educator
(aka teacher)
-
passionate
thoughtful
caring
brilliant
and
IMG_0636
he
has
this
great big smile
that warms my heart
IMG_0796

I
love
and
celebrate
YOU
today
and always!
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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

food glorious food

you know
when
you
have
a
really
delicious
meal
you want to
scream
from
the
mountain tops

and tell everyone about it!


yesterday
we
had
one
of
those
meals


for
lunch
IMG_0765

love the
brick
facade
IMG_0766

and
the
choices
on the menu,

unique
combinations
of flavors

fusions
of goodness
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really...
LOOK!

a grass fed beef burger
with
bacon
and
Cambozola cheese
and
carmelized onions

really?

yummm


and
IMG_0768


Beluga black lentil
tacos
with
gingered carrot puree
coconut cream
toasted coconut
cashews
and cilantro
….really?
yes,
REALLY?
IMG_0773

o.u.t.s.t.a.n.d.i.n.g.
!!!!!!

and
then
I had
Kale
and
Brussels Sprouts
salad
oh…so GOOD!
IMG_0776

John
had
Thomas Hill Organics'
take
on the
Vietnamese Bhan Mi sammie
with
Pork Belly
….it was divine!
IMG_0775

the local wine list
rocked
with really lovely
wines
by the bottle
and
by the glass
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simple beautiful touches
IMG_0769

were everywhere
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a
cheery
fountain
IMG_0771

lunch
was
amazingly
delicious

..farm to table
organic
fresh ingredients
and
so
affordable
IMG_0777

Thomas Hill Organics Bistro
Paso Robles

can't
wait
to go
back!