Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I made these oatmeal chocolate chip cookies the other day and was very happy with them.  Natalia's recipe  called for only 1/3 cup of sugar which is a good thing. I added a pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon of vanilla to the recipe, using brown sugar and unsalted butter. Wouldn't you know, I forgot to flatten the walnut sized balls before baking but maybe you don't have to, the cookies were crumbly and delicious. Unsalted butter makes a difference as opposed to margarine.

Coffee Talk

neighbourhood tree

Friend S and I were having coffee at McDonald's the other day. We sat next to an older lady who joined in on our conversation. We were talking about the merits of frugality and the lady thought it was good to be somewhere in the middle when it comes to all the saving. At some point you have to try to enjoy your money. She thought of her parents who were frugal due to growing up in wartime. She said they were surprised at how much money they left behind. Her dad just had a regular job at General Motors all his life.

The lady said she was 70 years old now, retired and trying to eat well although her weakness is sweets and muffins. She spoke of this fasting diet which has worked for her in the past but she isn't on it anymore. This diet recommends eating for 6 to 8 hours a day and after say 6 pm, you fast until the next day.

It was a pleasant conversation with a nice lady.

Paint Party Friday - Pear on the Sidewalk

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! I did a 'pear on the sidewalk' using a photo I took as a reference. It is a greeting card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2") using my permanent markers. It's a harbinger of fall.

Hope They Fit

 neighbourhood flowers

Some weeks ago I was in the lineup at the cash at Walmart. A young man stood behind me holding a lot of clothes. I couldn't resist asking if it was someone's birthday. He said no, in fact he was trying to buy some clothes for his wife. She was expecting their second child very soon and had nothing to wear, nothing fit and she was in no condition to shop for herself at the moment. He said in frustration that it was so difficult doing this kind of shopping and he was hoping some of the clothes would fit. He had no idea what she would like. I told him that kids grow up so fast and he should enjoy these moments. He agreed, already seeing how much the first child had grown in so little time. I wished him all the best before I had to move on.

Scribble Picnic - Black and White

Welcome to Scribble Picnic's 'Black and White' theme! My piece is done on heavy white paper
 (8 1/2" x 11") in blendable permanent marker and washi tape.  I have this one roll of washi tape that I've been using for years and it comes in handy from time to time!

Harbinger of Fall

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' turns pink in the fall and will darken in the coming months. It's a common plant around here and nice to see at this time of year.

One of my sisters lives in Miami, my 'travelling' sister, I will sometimes post her photos of exotic destinations she has visited.  They lost power during the storm but survived.  They have electricity from a generator but no cell or wifi.  The back fence of their house is gone, but the front fence is fine.  Apparently many trees in south Miami are down and the roads were blocked yesterday.  I hope the power can be restored soon.

On Goldenrod

Golden rod plants grow as weeds in North America. They are prized plants in
Europe and have become an invasive species in other parts of the world. The young leaves are edible. I took the photos above near a walkway where they were growing wild.