Books, Books and more books!

I don't know if I've mentioned it, but I LOVE reading.

I've had a love affair with books since I was in 2nd grade.

Over the years, I've collected books from different authors and different genres. Of course, I've never had the space or the budget to collect hardback's.

So, all my books are paperbacks.

Which really doesn't bother me any. They read just as well as a hardback, cost less and take up less space.

Which brings me to my next point..........I bought a 5 shelf book cabinet last year. It's jammed full.....again.

I've even weeded it out once or twice.

So, I've started eyeballing the new Kindle Touch that Amazon is releasing later this month.

The idea of having ALL my books in one little computer is kinda neat.

But not.......I'm not sure I could get into reading from a little screen. I'm really sorta divided on this idea.

I guess the selling point for me would be space.

If hubby and I end up living in our pretty little Arctic Fox for awhile, then I would definitely be interested in getting a Kindle Touch.

Lost and Blue..........

I'm feeling lost today. 

Can't focus too much on what I'm supposed to be doing.......

mom and Aunt Carlene

I'm also feeling a little blue today.........my mom has been gone for over 4 years and sometimes I just want to pick up the phone and give her a buzz.

Gossip over coffee.........

share tidbits about her great grandson she never got to meet and the new one on the way.....

go drown some worms together and drink a few beers.

Love  ya mom

Back Home....Again!!!!

Nevada Antelope

Another weekend chasing the Antelope.

Never could get close enough for a good shot, so ended up coming home empty handed. Most of the herds we saw were on the other side of a fence......which means Private Property.

There are a LOT of ranches out this way.

Not to say we didn't have a great weekend.

Nevada Sunset

We always have a great time whenever we get to hang out in the back country.

More Nevada Sunset

The sunsets in Nevada never seem to amaze me. They change by the minute.

This weekend we loaded the quad and took it out for some play time.

 I'm so glad Jerry has no problem unloading the quad...............

Down the ramps, up the ramps.....................

 I LOVE wide open spaces that Nevada has..........

Dry hills.....dried grass, dried tumbleweeds and dried cow patties!!!!!!!!

 

Another AWESOME Nevada sunset!!!

 

Sicily

 Beth, at Beyond the Garden Gate is having a  TRAVEL NEAR AND FAR meme and I wanted to share our travel pics.

This is our BIG travel adventure!!!


Was I ever so excited???

My husband and I were flying to Sicily to visit our youngest son, Louie. Louie was in the Navy and stationed at N.A.S. Sigonella, Sicily.

We left Nevada early one September morning, almost a year ago to the day. We only got to stay 10 days there, but OH  MY!!!

Ruins at Agrigento

What fun we had.

Louie took us to see some ruins in Agrigento...beautiful even after all these thousands of years   

Mt.Etna

We took a drive up to Mt. Etna (a real, live volcano) and got to ride the gondola to the top...........

Louie

Strolled the streets of downtown Catania, had dinner a sidewalk cafe......

The street at the Ruins

An old old church, Catania

sipped espresso and ate a scrumtious cannoli at a little bistro.

Streets of Catania

And thru all this, we had so much fun visiting with our son, who it seems has grown into a man.

Over 100 steps all the way up and I did walk them.....all the way up!

HOW THE HECK DOES THIS HAPPEN!!! Louie is my baby, and now he is having a baby of his own!!!

Hello and Hey from Sicily

Girls Night Out

I was just over visiting Sall's Country Life and she talked about getting out to craft shows.

I started thinking about how busy most women's life's are. We are wife's, mom's, caregivers, cooks, wash women, pot scrubbers, chauffeur's, anyways the list goes on and on.

Sometimes it's hard to find time to socialize.

And, I was no different than any other women.............

So, last year, several of my friends and myself started a Ladies Craft Group.

Chocolate covered cherries for our Christmas cookie exchange

We meet once a month at a different house. Over the past year we have done some fun crafts. Fleece blankets, Christmas light decoration, cupcake decorating, made jewelery one month........

......then some months all we do is visit and gossip. No husbands, boyfriends, or kids are allowed.

Christmas cookie exchange

The refreshments are as varied as the women in our group. Most of us use this opportunity to try new recipes out. We've even gone out a few times for dinner.

Decorating Cupcakes!!!

It's a fun way to socialize with someone outside of your family and work.

more cupcakes

Lot's of fun and laughter!!!

Home again Home again

Whew..........


Loaded up the truck and made a quick run to Battle Mountain,Nevada for some antelope hunting.

Since we were just there for the weekend, we lived in the lap of luxury and forked out 45.00 $ a night for a motel room.

The shower water was hot and the room clean. That's pretty much all we needed after chasing the elusive antelope all day.

Nevada Sagebrush

We went up the hill, we went down the hill. Thru the sagebrush, creeks and lots of dust.

Oh Give Me a Home.........

 We saw a total of 12 Antelope, oodles of jack rabbits, 2 coyotes, one snake and one fat ole horned toad.

Just barely enough water to splash!!!

 We saw a lot of fences and one old stone cabin/barn? Not real sure..........but it was really neat looking!!

Nevada fence.....I think the sagebrush is holding it up

Big old structure. Not sure if it was a house/barn or combination

No luck finding OUR Antelope!!!!

Home again, unpacked the truck and got everything situated for another work week.

Next week the adventure continues............

Ripple Afghan in Blueberry Banana......

the Proud Parents-Louie and Dominique

Started a new afghan for my new to be grandbaby..

Dominique is due the first of November, and I wanted to make a baby afghan that wasn't your "typical" baby afghan. When I saw this color, I knew this was what I wanted to use. It's working up so wonderful.....I just love the colors.

    I know little Arlo is going to think he's laying in a sea of water with all those colors.

This picture really doesn't give the colors full justice. And I just love the ripple pattern. This is so easy, I just might have to make a few more of them. Different colors.



























 

Oregon-Here we come!!!

Okay,

  The trailer is loaded,lawn mowed, litter boxes cleaned...........

Tomorrow morning we're gonna hook up and head up to Lincoln City, Oregon.

Gonna spend about a week sitting on the coast of Oregon.

With any luck, it will rain most of the time.

I'm ready for some cool down time.

It's been over 100 here almost every day. Not cooling down at night, either.

I'll be posting pic's as we go......

Moss Roses

I found some Moss Roses the other day at Lowe's. I love the look of the these beautiful plants. I ended up buying half a dozen to plant in my flower bed. 

Every time I go to Lowe's I end up with something to plant.

These blossoms are so bright and cheery they just jump out at you.

Sprinklers and Sunday's

What is it about the quiet on a Sunday morning? 

Early Sunday mornings around here are nice and quiet these days.

Except for the sprinkler.

Programed to come on at 1:00 a.m and 6:00 a.m. But even than, it's a nice kinda of noise.

Laying in bed and hearing the sprinkler's kick on and rain down. The air coming in thru the bedroom window is nice and cool for now.

In a few hours tho, that will change. The summer days seem to be flying by too fast.

Wanna grab on with both hands and hold tight.

Before we know it, fall and winter will be sliding in and settling down.

my BEAUTIFUL grandson

Photos and Memories

If you need it, it's here somewhere

Little Lost Feather

Red Hollyhock

Louie and Amber (the young'uns)

 A few years ago, my son and daughter took a trip to visit their grandparents. The kids got a little creative with their cameras.

Tuna Salad

It's been hot!!
Maybe not as hot as other parts of the country......but still too warm to do a bunch of cooking in the evening. So, when hubby decided he was a little peckish tonight, I put together some tuna salad.

Not your everyday tuna and pickle. I threw in some chopped celery, carrots and because they were just sitting there in a bowl, nice and crisp, some red grapes.

WHAT!!!! 

Yep, red grapes and they added a nice little crunch to my tuna salad. Served it with some leftover tortilla strips and called it dinner. Didn't have to heat up the kitchen at all.

I would have posted some pics of my beautiful Tuna Salad with Grapes, but two things happened:
My camera bit the dust last week and we ate ALL the tuna salad!!!

Maybe next time.....till than stay cool!!!

Peanut Butter Scones with chocolate and heath candy bits.

I like making scones for my husband's lunch. They are quick, easy and it makes for a nice snack in hubby's lunch.

So, I was scrolling thru different recipes and found one with peanut butter. Now, my hubby will eat peanut butter on ANYTHING!!!

What could be better than a breakfast biscuit with peanut butter in it? I added a cup of oats (keeping it healthy) about 1 1/2 ounces chopped chocolate and about 1 1/2 ounce of some heath candy bits.

YUMMMMM!!! Nice peanut butter taste with a touch of chocolate. I do believe this recipe will go in my recipe collection.

SUMMER PLANTING

GOOD MONDAY MORNING TO ALL:
I WAS AT LOWE'S YESTERDAY, AND ENDED UP BUYING SOME MOSS ROSE TO PLANT IN THE FLOWERBED. I CAN REMEMBER MY MOM'S FLOWER GARDEN HAVING THESE ALL OVER THE PLACE. SO, THIS MORNING, BEFORE IT GETS TO HOT, AM OUT DIGGING IN THE DIRT. ALMOST GOT IT DONE!! ALSO AM PLANTING SOME LAVENDER. I DO LOVE THE SMELL OF LAVENDER AROUND THE HOUSE.  

ALICE (SWEATING IN NEVADA)