A Fresh New Year

With a full and thankful heart, I am wishing you, my dear friends......

A very Blessed and Happy New Year!

See you on the other side!

Much love,

Sherri

Update

Hello my friends! I have missed you all so very much and will be so happy when this is behind me and I can get back to sharing in all of the bloggy joy, once again.

 A quick update. Tomorrow I go to hospital to have a procedure that will place a 'Smit Sleeve in my cervix. It will allow for the high dose 'internal' radiation to be done starting the day after Christmas. This is such a Blessing as it is the earliest possible time during treatment that it can be done and the tumor needed to shrink down to a certain size and it did...yeah!

Thank you once again for all of your support of emails, special thoughts and the many continued prayers...I do feel them and they keep me going.

I was so hoping to be able to come and visit you all but I have had to give in the inevitable fatigue that is setting in. On my 'good' days, I have to get things done as needed.

My sweetie is up North most of the time on a big project at BP refinery and can't come down every weekend. He will be here for Christmas and to take me to my first 'internal' radiation which will be a bit uncomfortable, I hear, but I will be medicated, so that is good.

 I will update as I can.

Much love to you all,
Sherri

Checking In

Hello my friends, sorry it has been so long since I checked in. This is taking some getting used to with the many ups and downs..actually not that many downs at all, but just trying to get it all organized..whew!

 Once again, I want to thank you for the outpouring of love that you have sent my way, with your special comments, emails and continual thoughts and prayers..I have truly felt them all and can honestly say I am sincerely content and calm in this place right now.

The pace of the rest of my testing is not rushed and I will just now be having a more complete CAT scan on Friday that will determine if a PET scan will be next. I chose Drs. and facilities that are not in our Preferred Provider Insurance but will still have excellent coverage once those extra 'hoops' are jumped through.

Sunday after church, I felt pooped but couldn't turn down an invite from our son and daughter in law to go with to choose their Christmas tree and watch as 'daddy' cut it down.

The family run tree farm had quite a set up with an area for the children to pet and feed some of the most adorable farm animals...the girls just loved it.

Here are the girls with our precious daughter in law....'bout ready to burst with our next granddaughter that is to be born any day now....yippey!!!

The girls have decided on the perfect tree..."Go ahead and cut it down daddy"!

It was a fun outing and a blessing in disguise as I am not usually down at the City House at this time and miss out on some special things quite often.


I have someone to introduce you to......that I will be spending some 'quality' time with for awhile.... 

 

This is 'Ida', yes I have named my Chemo pole and I will tell you a short story as to how I chose that name.

Years ago, when I was in High School, my great aunt Ida lived within walking distance of our home and so we could expect her to pop by for a proper cup of English tea from time to time.  She was fascinating and irritating all at the same time, if that makes any sense.  She also prided herself in having the powers of ESP (that would be the irritating part) which she took much more seriously than most of the rest of her family....except of course my grandmother (her older sister) who would state that Ida's predictions would most certainly come  to pass.

One fateful visit she has brought along a new 'gift'...the power of reading the life line on ones hand, since my hands just happened to  be innocently holding my fine bone china cup of tea...they were ripe for the picking...Oh boy, here we go I thought.

She started off looking at my wrist, to see how many lines I had all around..which counted  the children you would have.  She happily pointed out that I had 3 "good strong" ones and so would have 3 children....

I did have 3 children and so at this point will tell you in no uncertain terms that I have never believed in this business and never will...even though I had 3 strong children.

Then the palm was examined and there was much tsk, tsk tsking and clicking of the tongue and the bad news was pronounce..."You have a break in your lifeline...it is an illness in midlife but look, you survive and have a very long life."

Remember, I don't believe in this stuff but when you are told that at that age, you do carry it with and occasionally look at it and laugh and tell the story through  the years.  So my sweet husband was told many years ago when we were first together...well actually Auntie Ida probably showed it to him her very self on my very hand...Oh my, it is all coming back to me now. haha.

So, guess what my husband said to me not even hours after that first freaky exam by the midwife up in Mt. Vernon, when all we knew was I had a large tumor on my cervix and bled like a stuck pick when I got a simple pap smear and it probably was cancer......

He said..."That must be that break in your lifeline that Auntie Ida said  would be an illness in midlife and that you would be fine".....My sweet husband...

So that is the story of naming the pole Ida...if she got me into this mess then she is going  to have to go through it with me...hahahahahaha...life is funny.

I'd better get to bed.. I think I am feeling the radiation treatment  today.

Much love to you all..I will  try to check back in sooner.   xo

Let The Healing Begin!

Good day my friends! This morning I will begin the healing process with my first Chemo round. My sister will be here bright and early to take me and support me through all of the new experiences.

Of course, I need the proper 'fuel' for the day....along with the gallons of water that the people with a higher pay grade than myself, suggests that I drink daily.

Once I get all hooked up and settled in to my 'station', I will try to make the rounds to all of your blogs that I have missed.  Since they say I will be there for about 6 hours today, I should have time for many visits.

Thank you all for you prayers and well wishes, your support has been a tremendous blessing beyond words.

You can follow my on Twitter if you like...it's over on my side bar.

Much love to you all!

Sherri   xo

Update

Hello my sweet friends. Thank you so very much for your kind words and prayers.

 I really don't have much to report as I won't be seeing the specialist until next Tuesday. It has been difficult waiting to find out what will come but I have had plenty of time in prayer and drawing closer to Jesus.

I lost my appetite completely and had to force myself back to eating...

You won't even believe this...My sweetie was to go back up north on Saturday morning so he could get back to work but on Friday evening he told me he was having an appendicitis attack and needed to go to hospital..ugh. So we went and he had surgery and I picked him up to come home Saturday morning. That's how easy that operation is now a days.

He's is back at Little House and back to work. He will be coming back down next Monday to be with me for the appointment on Tuesday.

My heart is full to know that I have so many wonderful friends in the blog world..Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Much love to you all. xxoo

Prayers Needed

Hello my friends.  I will be away for a bit...I am going to the City House today to get settled in for a surgery..The female parts must go...Not sure if Chemo will be involved.

Please keep me in your prayers.

I will keep you updated.

Much love to you all.

xo
Sherri

Christmas Gift For $4.99

Good day to you my friends! Once again, a great price from Slickdeals.net.

I probably should make it clear that I have 'no' connection to any of these magazines or this website, I make

no money or even receive any thanks from the companies. I just can't let a good deal like this go by without

sharing with you all.

I love getting my Bon Appetit in the mail each month and take advantage of these deals every time they

come up. With this one, I will now receive it through August 2014..Yay! Most everyone would just love to

get this every month and at $4.99 you can't beat the price for a great Christmas gift....that keeps on giving!


Here's the info: Go here and enter code 7387 in the box, it will show the discount at final checkout.  If it is a

renewal, make sure to mark that box.

Remember - This deal only lasts one day!!!!

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May you all have a sweet day!  xo

Rainy Portland Day

Happy Monday friends, I hope you all had a great weekend. I know I have not been around much lately and will need to keep a low profile for awhile as the pesky shoulder/arm/hand issue is still giving me problems especially when I go to use the mouse and keyboard.

I was able to drive down to City House on Friday to attend a 3rd Birthday party for our little granddaughter Eden on Saturday...it's always a joy to see all of the Grands in one spot.


What's the best thing for a mom and daughter to do on a rainy Portland day?

Why that would be....go to Fabric Depot and add to the frilly stash and then off to Starbucks and get a Pumpkin Spice Latte!

See you soon, have a lovely Monday! xo

Few Words Wednesday

Words of warning.....

When you really love popcorn and eat it at least 3 times a week........

Don't drop your Stir Crazy lid...it will crack in many, many places and when you go to order another, you

will find that it cost more after shipping and tax than it did on sale at Bi-Mart before Christmas...


Fingers crossed on the freezer tape.      xo

Oh Deer!

Happy Monday friends and I have some cheery photos to share with you to start your week off on a sweet note.

Friday afternoon I went in to Anacortes proper for my chiropractor appointment.and it just happens that his office is right next to Red Door Thrift and two blocks from Kiwanis Thrift.  I know what you are thinking...and no, I did not choose this Dr. because of location.

After only finding a tablecloth at the Kiwanis, I got into 'Big Blue' (our pickup), started to pull out and what should I see....

.....it was two deer.  I scrambled into my purse to get my point and shoot camera all the while thinking that they would run off and I wouldn't be able to share this with you.

  As you can see this is a city neighborhood with businesses all around too, so this is very unusual indeed.

At this point, I thought they would bolt across the street to get away from me.

But no, they went back to the parking strip.  I slowly let the truck idle and got some more shots with each second thinking they would certainly run off.

At this point I started talking to them and they still didn't care.

My voice seemed to calm them enough to start doing a little grooming.

Never did they become fearful as they strolled along taking a taste or two in each yard.

Here they are at the end of the street where I bid them farewell and turned the corner...How fun it must have been for the children that would soon be coming home from school, to see these sweet visitors.

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I hope you too have a happy surprise today, my friends.  xo

Chicken Fort

Happy Friday friends!  I hope this finds you all well and ready for an enjoyable weekend.  We are preparing

for our first storm of the season.  Living by the sea, acutally, inland waters, we have many stormy days

through the year but the first one always seems to take me by surprise...strange, I know.


After going to the salon yesterday to have my roots, ahem...I mean the blond highlights touched up, I came

home to fortify the fort that I have put together for the chickens in their run.  I hear you all laughing...

and you are right, those shutters will probably not stay in place forever.  Eventually I will figure a better

solution, but for now it will keep them dry and give them a bit more room under the little wood shelter.

I do hope the chickens appreciate the fresh straw also layed down...Not a good thing to do with a bad shoulder!!

Look how cozy it is in there, if I were a chicken I'd be very pleased....You'd think....

But, appearently, this is where they would rather seek refuge...under Mom's fort...go figure.

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Hope you all find your special place this weekend too!  xo

Few Words Wednesday

                                                            *  My Little Corner of the World  *

Hello my friends and happy Tuesday! I hope your week is going well so far.

This will be a very short post today as I seem to have developed, over time, a painful situation in my

shoulder/neck/arm area..something like a tennis elbow...Is there such a thing as Computer Shoulder?

I'm off to see the chiropractor this afternoon to see if he can't wrench me back into shape.

What are you all up to this week? Any fall decorating going on around your nest?

Whatever you are up to, I hope you have a good one! xo

Thank You!

A quick post to say a big "Thank You" to all of you for leaving comments of help and encouragement. So

many of you reminded me, that blogger gets persnickety and wants us to sign out at times. That trick

worked and I am so grateful.

I also wanted to share the very first pears on one of the trees that I bought my hubby over a year ago.  They

are very small but oh so pretty...Hopefully we will have a bigger crop next year.

Speaking of the Mister....this is his delicious breakfast......and perhaps lunch and then for dinner he will be

having some gourmet Swanson's Chicken Stock and then, maybe some more jello for desert!

He has an early morning appointment, an 'intimate' date you might say..Just part of a routine physical but still,

not very pleasant.

I am thinking up a special menu for tomorrow night, something he can look forward to and perhaps keep his

mind off of  'The Special of the Day'.


Thank you again my friends and have a very Blessed Sunday!  xo

Help

Is anyone else having problems with their blog list...It says I'm not following anyone.  I have tried everything. I can go to my blog and see that blogs that are shown there, but  I haven't updated that and don't have everyone on my main page..

This happened every once in awhile on the old computer but I could always trick it back to working...ugh.

Any one have this problem ever or an answer...Isn't very much fun to have things messing up with a brand new computer.

Have a lovely weekend.  xo

Can I Do It? Yes I Can!

Well my friends, the time has come to take the ill computer to the hospital. We do not know yet, what the

diagnosis will be...I am hoping it is just a virus and that a good Tech Dr. can lay some hands on and a healing

will happen.

A new computer was purchased yesterday and it looks like I will need to be the one to set it up.  Of course

the young, tech savvy, fellow that assisted me says......"No problem, you just basically plug it in and you're

off and running."....I am laughing right now like I did at the store, and so he says..."You will be

fine.".....

"Really?" I say with one eyebrow raised and a slight curl to the lip.


So, off I go to put a fresh pot of coffee on, walk the dogs and gown down for the procedure.

See you soon...hopefully.    xo

October Love and Perfect Granola

   ***   Happy October my friends!   ***

And I am wishing for you a basket full of sweetness this month.


*


Another sweet thing you might want to add to your happy October 'basket', is this granola...

Daughter Kami, announced to me this morning that she has found "Theeee" best granola recipe.  After trying

one bazillion (is that a number) different versions, this one has finally been crowned the winner.  She wanted

to share with you also, so I will direct you over to her blog here so you can get all of the info.

Enjoy!

Have a nice Monday!  xo

Last Casserole and a Winner

Happy Friday! We made it to the end of another week and have some delicious recipes to tuck into our files

also.

There is one more dish to share before we find out who wins the book. Stephanie sent her entry in after she

served it up to her family for dinner last night.

This slice of comfort food is a result of a good refrigerator clean out.  I will let Stephanie tell you all about it

as she has done a post today to share with all of you.  'The Enchanting Rose' is her lovely blog and is where

she has the recipe and detailed instructions.  Thanks Stephanie for your entry.

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Well now, Frederick has asked if he might be the one to choose the winner, reminding me that the dogs

seem to always get all of the attention.  So he will get the honors.

Let's have it Frederick, who will win the 'Vintage Cake' book.....

Meow!! The winner is Stephanie, proving that you can win even at the last minute!  Congratulations, send me

your mailing info and I will get it ordered right away!

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Thank you all for your entries and such nice comments this week, I do hope you enjoyed it.

The Mr. is working tomorrow so I have a date with a vintage sewing machine that we found a few weeks

ago.  It will get a good cleaning and oiling a new needle and some tension adjustments, I'm sure.

Daughter Kami and I have an agreement, that we will both sew up items to go in our Etsy shops...well, she

has kept her end and of course I haven't.  The age old, "Do as I say not as I do"..ugh.

So, if you see a speeding vintage Singer flying by, with fabric flapping in the breeze, that will be me!

Do you have anything exciting planned for the weekend?  What ever it is, I wish you a good one!

See you on Monday!  xo

Pork Parmesan

Happy Thursday friends...the weekend is almost here and this is the last day of casserole week and last day

for the chance to win the Vintage Cake book.


Here we have a meat dish sent in by Sandra who has two blogs! Both are great and full of fun and

information. She has featured this dish today on her daily blog, 'Diary of a Stay at Home Mom', where I saw

it and suggested to her that since it goes in the oven it can be

considered a casserole..works for me!

She sent me the original link for the recipe from her food blog with the cute name 'Full Bellies, Happy Kids' I

sure like the sound of that!

Thanks to Sandra for this delicious entry!

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I do hope that those of you that wanted to enter will do so...anything you can cook up in the oven can be a

casserole.  I will be taking entries through the day and evening.  Tomorrow I will announce the winner.


Good day to you all.  xo

American Enchiladas

Good morning friends, I hope you are having a nice week...it's Wednesday already, this week is flying by! 

Today's casserole is from Leigh who is the author of the blog '5 Acres and A Dream'. If you haven't gone for

a visit I suggest you hop on over as she has a wealth of information on all things pertaining to the self

sufficient lifestyle.

Leigh explains that this is not at all what you would call a Mexican dish, even though she picked up the recipe

while living in Texas, she would not even classify it Tex-Mex.....and so that is why it's 'American'.

You can find the recipe and the entire post on this here.

Thank you Leigh for your contribution.

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Well friends, we have a few more days to go, so please send me something...anything that is in one dish and

goes in the oven can be a casserole, so please email me, you don't want to miss out on a chance at the

'Vintage Cake' book.  Your chances of winning are really good as I'm definitely 'not' The Pioneer Woman,

where you have a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning that gorgeous mixer with the

flowers on it....not that I'm obsessing over it or anything like that..(sigh).


Have a sweet day and I'll see you tomorrow.  xo

Tuesdays Casseroles

Hello friends and happy Tuesday. Let's get right to the next casserole entries, shall we?

 The first one for today was sent in by Alison and is a delicious version of Chicken Pot Pie that she found on 'The Chew' TV show.

Here's what Alison has to say:  It's a bit complicated and time-consuming. I don't make the garnishes. But it's absolutely the best, yummiest, creamiest, most decadent chicken pot pie I've ever made. The crust, which is made separately from the filling and baked in the oven almost like cookies, is to die for.

 Well now, that description convinces me that it's good. So here is the link for this yummy recipe.



Thanks Alison for your entry.



Here we have Katie's entry 'Frank 'n' Bean Biscuit Casserole that she got from a Pillsbury Bake Off magazine years ago, she even saved the photo...how fun is that!?

 


Katie tells us that her Hubby is the one that offers up this recipe and adds that it is a big hit with the Grand Kiddos.

Here it is:

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/2

cup chopped onion or 2 tablespoons dried minced onion

3/4

cup chopped green bell pepper

1

lb hot dogs, sliced

1/3

cup chili sauce

1/3

cup ketchup

1

to 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar, if desired

1

can (15 oz) baked beans or pork and beans, undrained

1

can (7.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated buttermilk or Country® biscuits

3/4

cup shredded Cheddar cheese (3 oz)

1

cup corn chips, crushed

3

tablespoons grated Romano or Parmesan cheese

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In 10-inch skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell pepper; cook and stir until tender.
2. Add hot dogs, chili sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and beans; stir gently to mix. Reduce heat; simmer 2 minutes. Spoon hot mixture into ungreased 11x7- or 12x8-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish.
3. Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Separate each biscuit into 2 layers. Arrange 10 biscuit layers over hot beef mixture. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese. Arrange remaining biscuit layers on top to cover.
4. In small bowl, mix corn chips and Romano cheese. Sprinkle over biscuits. Dot with remaining tablespoon butter.
5. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.

Makes 8 servings

I can see why this would be such a hit!

Thanks Katie for sharing this fun, vintage recipe!

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I hope you all are enjoying our casserole week and there is still plenty of time for you to send one in too.

See you all tomorrow!  xo

Casserole Week

Good morning friends, hope your weekend was a good one and you are ready for a brand new week.

This week we will be sharing our favorite casserole dishes or perhaps one that we would like to try, and then on Friday someone will be winning the Vintage Cake book here.

We have two dishes to look at today.  The first one is from Heather, who says that this one from Martha Stewart is her favorite that she serves often in the cold months.

The photo and recipe are both from Martha Stewart and can be found here......Thanks Heather!

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Our next dish is from Heidi and is that long time favorite, Tater Tot Casserole.

Here is how she puts it together:

1lb of ground beef
I med. onion chopped
cook the beef and onion till done
drain any fat
In the bottom of a 13x9 pan
a small bag of frozen mixed veg.
layer meat on top of the veg.
place a bag of tater tot over the top of beef

then mix a can of cr. of mushroom soup
a can of chicken and stars soup
and a can of cr.of chicken soup
1/2 cup of milk with a little pepper
mix the 4 ingredients and pour over the top of the tater tots
bake for an hour at 375
and enjoy
I loved this as a kids and so do mine.

Thanks Heidi!

I do hope you all will find a recipe that you would like to share so that you'll have a chance at that sweet book.  Info here.

Have a lovely Monday!  xo

Casserole Share

Happy Friday my friends! I hope you had a good week and are ready for the first day of Autumn tomorrow.

If you are anything like me, when Fall comes around, you are ready to pull out those baking dishes and turn

that oven on.

So, I got to thinking, wouldn't it be fun to share with each other, some favorite casserole dishes?

You know, the ones from your childhood that mom or grandma made and that you haven't had

in....forever.  Or, perhaps, one that is regularly on the menu and you can do without even thinking.

So, you are asking.."What does this cake book have to do with all of this?".  Well, this will be the giveaway

prize for one of you who shares your recipe for your favorite.........

I'm sure many of you can remember these old books...how fun.  So casseroles it is and when we are done

sharing it will be so nice to perhaps choose one and fix it for your family and think of the blogging friend who

offered it.



Instructions:  ( All are welcome, even those across the Pond )

Starting Date: Monday, September 24th

Ending: Thursday night, September 27th

Winner announced, Friday September 28th

You can email the recipe or email a link to a recipe, to - littlehouseinparadise@gmail.com .  It would be

great if you have a photo, but not necessary,  I will try to find a photo to go along with your entry so that we

can see what it will look like.

I will share on the blog all of the entries as they come in daily....unless of course my blog becomes so popular

that it wouldn't be possible...hahaha.


Have a great weekend and be thinking about that special casserole!   xo

Desserts for Breakfast

Good day friends. Here we are at the middle of the week already and that means it is time for another blog

share. Today we will be paying a visit to the Bay area in California where we find Stephanie and her happy

place...Desserts for Breakfast..It was comforting for me to find out that there are others who think this is a

fine idea and so it must be embraced.

Let's start out with these treats that remind me so much of my Auntie Ella and all of her variations on bars.

Here, Stephanie uses three things that I can find in my backyard right now, which gives me a good

excuse to make these 'Berry, Apple and Rosemary Shortbread Bars'. (here)

My mouth is watering with these 'Lemon Ricotta Bites' another goodie recipe  that is too good to pass up,

especially since she uses Meyer lemon.....Have I told you that Meyer lemons leave me weak in the knees?

I have seen them at Costco lately and wanted to think up a reason why I should bring them home but

couldn't justify just putting them in a bowl and sniffing them as I pass by.  They are now on 'the list'.

Please indulge me....I couldn't pass up this photo of my beloved hometown, Portland, Oregon, where

Stephanie paid a visit in January.  You can check her report here.

                                                                         
I couldn't leave this out.....Stephanie and her friend Anita Chu, have created this beautiful publication

titled 'sated magazine'.  I own this and must say, it is the most beautiful food magazine I have seen. It really

is more of a book as there are no advertisements and, I promise, you will not be putting this in the recycle!

You can go to this post where she finally gets to announce her 'baby' after having to keep mum for so long.


Congratulations Stephanie on this stunning publication and thank you so much for being a part of our blog

share.

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I hope you all enjoyed this blog share and that you will take a moment to go over and see what other special

recipes that Stephanie has to offer.


Have a great day my friends!  xo

Shed Additions

It is a glorious Monday morning here in our corner of the world. A crisp beginning with temps in the low forties but quickly warming up and heading toward the low eighties later.

The dogs and I hung the laundry out and loaded a bag of a few odds and ends and headed up to the Shed.  I  wanted to experiment with a window covering  so this vintage tablecloth was brought along also.

It was easy to get an idea of the effect...a hammer a few nails and that's it...a quick change for sure.

Since there's no electricity in the little Shed, there will be no computer for drafting ideas or journaling...not a problem with this typewriter.

We even had a 'proper' typing table that I had to purchase years ago because "you just never know".

This is what really makes my heart sing...Before we left the City House yesterday, the Mister loaded the treadle machine into the back of his pickup and had it in the Shed by the time the dogs and I arrived...bless his heart!

So many ideas and so much to do, a rug to go down and a few more pieces of furniture is next on the list.  I will share more as we go along, it all must be done before the weather changes, can't wait!

I wish you a happy Monday and ask that you start thinking about casseroles, as I feel some sort of a cookbook giveaway coming on in the next few weeks...perhaps in celebration of the finishing of the Shed.

See you back here soon!  xo

Purple Gems

Hello friends, how is your week going? It has been a busy week so far for me. I came down to the City House to celebrate our mothers 84th birthday yesterday and then a family work day at her house on Saturday

Today, I am busy picking the bumper crop of Italian prune plums and making them into jam.

Some will be cut in half and frozen for one of the Misters favorite goodies...Plum upside down cake..yum.

Finally, here is the fennel that I planted years ago and it faithfully comes up every year, supplying me with more seed for cooking and baking than I can use.

My computer here, is acting up and being very slow so I will wish you all a happy weekend and see you next week.  I will stop by and visit you all if 'The Beast' can get out of it's own way.

xo