On Beer Cups

These are standard beer cups you can buy here. I never knew they had reliable measurements on them as pictured above!

Renewal of vows

Here is another funny for you today. I am enjoying online youtube church Sundays. Last Sunday a family were renewing their wedding vows after 10 years. They brought their 4 children along for the ceremony. Everyone was masked of course. What I am not happy with is the new blogger. It is so slow making posts on my computer. I think I will avoid the section where you add labels, so slow.

Fresh herbs

 

I thought this one was funny. Friend S stopped by the other day with some fresh basil and mint from her garden. They smelled so good. She has gone back to working at the school now that the year is starting up. She is an administrator.

Paint Party Friday - Rose Leaves

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! I have a pair of Rose Leaves paintings (12" x 12") in acrylic on canvas. I outlined the leaves with a Pentel colour brush. They are ready to hang!

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Still Life

Welcome to Rain's Thursday Art Date! The theme is 'Still Life' and I did an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in acrylic. I was going for a neutral black and white colour scheme.

The Get Together

 

This past weekend we were invited to a friend's cottage up north.  It had been rescheduled and planned for months so finally the 6 of us decided we were comfortable to meet for a visit and barbecue.  It was a lovely time but it was very windy that day which made for a very wavy lake.  We decided not to swim.  however the food was delicious and the wine flowed.  

There was a Greek food theme planned.  My Greek appetizer was well received.  The hosting couple barbecued chicken, pork and vegetable shishkebabs.  There was of course a Greek salad and potatoes.  There were cookies, honey cake and fruit for dessert.  

So hopefully we will all be okay.  You never know these days.

Smile Sunset

 

Daughter L sent this photo about a week and a half ago of this smile sunset she captured in cottage country, isn't it amazing?

It was close to midnight that night when she texted "We're Engaged!"  Husband M and I were taken by surprise, as was she.  After a perfect day (see the photo above) where her new fiance had been pampering her at his family cottage, he proposed under the Perseid Meteor showers after they made wishes.  She thought he was just in a good mood (as was she because she loves being pampered), but never suspected her long time boyfriend had chosen this day to propose.  We are so happy for them.

Well we knew there was a ring, just not when it would be given.

Black-Eyed Susan

 

I have a lot of these Black-Eyed Susan blooms in the garden at this time of year and cut these to enjoy inside.  They should last many weeks.

Sheep Scale

 

I will go with number 2!

The new aging

 I was reading this article on this 75 year old model Judith Maria Bradley and found it most inspiring.  I also followed her on Instagram @judithmariabradley.  She was discovered at 71 when a young man on a bike spotted her walking down the street and asked if he could photograph her.  He entered her in a contest and next thing she was featured in National Geographic.  Someone advised her to create an Instagam profile and she was discovered.  The article goes on to discuss her opinions on ageism and her life advice.  At 75 she has a lot of wisdom to share.

Paint Party Friday - Lantern night scene

I am showing a Lantern night scene for Paint Party Friday. It is an ACEO ( 2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in permanent marker.

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Night Scene

For Rain's Thursday Art Date, I am showing this ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") done in permanent marker, a 'Night Scene'.

Baked Tofu

 

I have to thank Denise for sharing this baked tofu recipe, it was fun to make!  It is a great

protein alternative and is quite flavourful once seasoned with your favourite spices.

A fun puzzle for you today

 

Natalia's Polish Buns

 Natalia posted a recipe for Polish Poznan buns, I decided to make them with a half whole wheat half white flour mix, they are good!

Better Late Than Never

 I made some homemade pizza using Sallysbakingaddiction's recipe.  It did not disappoint!  I remembered to put the toppings on after the sauce and cheese this time.

I may have said this before but I regret waiting till this time in my life to try making bread products. Kneading and shaping the bread is really fun for me! Well, better late than never!

My Disturbing Nightmare

I was outside in a muddy, wet field.  Opening this plastic grocery bag, I glimpsed a purple crocus flower. It seemed as if the bag contained some old artificial crocus pots, but then they seemed real and I thought I must plant the bulbs soon.  It must have been something I stashed away and had forgotten about.  

I noticed fast running water going down an open ditch drain and thought someone could get sucked in and drown in that.  The next thing, I am fighting to get out of there.  I managed to pull myself out but lost a shoe in the process and I was empty handed at that time.  So my bag and garden trowel was gone, as was my phone.  I saw my other shoe down the field.  

Then I return to this massive hotel.  I see my daughter and tell her I have to get to our room where hubby was waiting.  He would not know I had lost my phone. I get annoyed with my daughter, she says she doesn't have time to help me find my room.  I said I would be fine.   I have another bag on me now, full of fattening chocolates and nice candies.  I see many of these candies on tables at the hotel and I am wondering if I can donate mine, it would be less to carry around.  I do leave them on odd tables.  I get frustrated asking several employees for help phoning hubby.  They seem unable to help, one didn't know the correct internal hotel phone code.  Then I start up the stairs.  But I coudn't find stairs to get past the 7th floor.  I turn back, starting to go downstairs again and encounter a group of performers leaving the theatre.  One guy in an orange costume coughed near me and I wondered if I would get Covid.  I leave that area and still can't get help.  I start complaining and some of the employees start trying to help me.

Finally I wake up unhappily, feeling disturbed.  I thought it must feel like this when you have dementia, where you can't find your room or remember the room number.  But I attribute this dream to the previous busy, tiring and eventful day.  On the good side, I sometimes remember my dreams these days since I started using my sleep machine!  Dreaming is important as a part of good sleep.

Paint Party Friday - Froggy Wind Chime

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! I painted my old froggy wind chime for you today. It is an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") in acrylic outlined with a PITT pen.

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Swiped

I decided to go with a newer definition of 'swiped'. On Tinder and perhaps other online dating apps, 'swiping right means you approve of a male/female after judging them by a few picture and a short bio. "Swipe right" can be used anytime you make a good choice or approve of something.' This is according to the Urban Dictionary.

 So my ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") depicts a 'swipe right' on an online dating app.  My daughter was shaking her head at me, 'Mom!  You  are not supposed to know these things at your age!'  I just chuckled and had fun with this one.

On Maybelline

Adam posted an interesting fact on Maybelline which made me curious to learn more about the company's founding. This is what I found.  The company was started in 1915 by Thomas Lyle Williams in New York.  He noticed his sister Maybel using Vaseline and coal dust on her lashes.  He went on to develop a cake Mascara.

Here is more about the founder himself.  He had a brief first marriage which produced a son.  He ended up with a male life partner Emery Shaver.  it seems his son died only a few years after Thomas did.  One of his descendants has written a Maybelline book here.

A Greek Appetizer

We are invited to an upcoming summer party where I was asked to bring a Greek appetizer as the hosts will be doing a Greek food theme. In preparation, I checked at my grocery store for potential ingredients.  I noticed there weren't any bags of pita chips there so I decided to try making my own. You slice pita bread into triangles, mix some olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper and oregano in a bowl, then brush on top of the pita, and bake for 7 minutes. That's it! 

Then I tried making some Tzatziki sauce to go with them. I used this recipe.  I will be making Pita Chips and Tzatziki again, such a delicious snack.  

I will do this for the party and also get some hummus to go with it.

Funnies and some news

Social distancing measures have been set up at our church, you should pre register for a spot and of course wear your mask. I have not physically been to mass myself but have started watching their service on youtube by clicking on their website. Yesterday they had some younger adults being baptised.  I have to say it is very convenient watching online.  I will make an online donation every so often.

Small Steps

I wanted to show you my improved eggplant melt. Like a pizza, I put the toppings above the cheese now and you can see exactly what the ingredients are, small steps!  So there are olives, sliced tomatoes and red pepper toppings over mozzarella.  Oops I forgot the onions...next time.

Three words

One of my sisters shared this meme. Can you find the 3 hidden words? I was able to.

Paint Party Friday - Leaves ACEO

I am showing some Leaves, an ACEO (2 1/2" x 3 1/2") for Paint Party Friday.  I used permanent markers and acrylic on a purple cardstock background.

Rain's Thursday Art Date - Abstract

For Rain's Thursday Art Date, I did a couple of ACEOs based on a fire rainbow I saw in a video. Yes they really do look like this but at the same time they look like abstracts here don't they?

My apple pie

I had a couple of supermarket pie shells in the freezer and decided to make an apple pie using some tart granny smith apples. This recipe did not disappoint. It is easy if you have premade pie shells what can I say. The baked apples in the middle did sink a bit below the centre of the crust maybe I should've cut a vent in the very centre as well.

Owl long legs

When I saw the meme above I was amazed to know that owls have these long spindly legs under their feathered skirts, did you know that? This link also has interesting facts about their eyes being tubular in nature designed to hunt prey as opposed to being round. And did you know that their heads can spin 270 degrees?

Cauliflower Bites

Buffalo Cauliflower

Daughter L gave me this recipe for Buffalo Cauliflower bites.  It is really simple. However I will use a lot less hot sauce if any next time.  Otherwise it is good!

I found out you can cook and eat both broccoli and cauliflower stems and leaves.Here is the link. I tried the broccoli leaves which I roasted with the rest of the broccoli and they are delicious. I always knew you could eat the broccoli stalks.

My frozen blueberries snack

Daughter L gave me this idea for a frozen blueberry snack. You simply pour some milk, add a bit of cream into a bowl with some frozen blueberries. It is delicious and tastes like ice cream!

My August 2020 Calendar Page

Welcome to August! I am sharing my monthly calendar page with you today. It features wheat sheaves. The quote by Tennessee Williams says 'The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks'.