Olives!

I love olives....all kinds....do you like olives?

This morning I planned our menu for the week, made a grocery list, actually tackled WalMart (big mistake, being halloween) and threw in a jar of calamata olives for my salad.

While the potatoes were baking I sat down to read a few blogs and was fascinated by Mary's post of harvesting olives.

How many people get to harvest olives?

How many of us even know how it is done?

You must pay Mary a visit at Journey into Elderhood. One year after retiring she moved to Italy with her husband. While learning a new language and a new culture she shares her experiences, so graciously with us on her blog. As I enjoyed my salad, I thought of Mary and her journey in Italy and how much I enjoy reading of her everyday life in this glorious country!

The salad was so good. I made honey balsamic vinaigrette, going light on the evoo and it was yummy!

Nanny

Oprah!!!!

This season has been the best I could ever imagine. If I am not in front of the TV at 4:00 pm, the dvr is set to record. Every show has been interesting, exciting and very emotional. Today's show was all of that and more. I had a huge lump in my throat for the entire hour. To be taken back 45 years when I first saw The Sound of Music was truly an experience. I remember the theater, the seats that rocked, the new technology called "surround sound" and the exquisite voice of Julie Andrews.

Thank you Oprah for this poignant visit to the past!

I cannot wait to purchase the 45Th anniversary, remastered edition of The Sound of Music!

November 2, 2010!!!

Nanny

Welcome to The Rock

Hubby just got back from a hunting trip in Colorado. Just north of Gunnison in the mountains they set up camp!

After a weekend of weather in the 60's the snow fell turning the campsite into a wonderland. (that's my term, not his/ha) He said if it was 19 degrees outside, it was 19 degrees inside the popup! Burrr, was there not a Hilton around?

I think it was beautiful but am also glad I was at home in a warm bed.

This is the spot he sat and sat and sat waiting and hoping that the monster elk would emerge from the trees or on the ridge. Smart elk never came out. The moon was full when the season opened and that ended daylight feeding.....So is the life of a hunter!



With views like this I could have gotten lost in relaxation! And making many, many pictures! He asked if he could take my camera......I let him have my Canon PowerShot point and shoot. I am always amazed at the quality pictures this camera captures.

He calls this one "The Rock" They each walked out on the edge (after much coaxing) to have their picture made!

This is the view below from The Rock.....wooo hold on! Makes me dizzy!

One of the guys spent extra time there alone. He lost his dad just days before this trip and my heart breaks looking at him in this picture. I just feel his sadness. The view in itself is breathtaking and I could soak that in for days. It has a feel to me of being on top of the world.

This one is my favorite....my always happy, always on top of the world husband!

I got a promise that next summer I get to go to Colorado....yipeee, I've never been and can't wait! I'm not sure you will see me on "The Rock"!

Have a good evening all

Nanny

double click images for a better view

Macro Monday

Tiny, colorful plant growing in the moss.


For more macro shots, check out the beauties here

Wordless Wednesday

One year old and loves shoes!!

Surrounded by Beauty

Last week I was so excited to make my first visit to the arboretum. It far exceeded my expectations. I have never seen such beauty. The arboretum is 66 acres on White Rock Lake and every inch of it is manicured to perfection. 150,000 fall blooming flowers including chrysanthemums, salvia, coleus, ornamental grasses and impatiens.

In addition to all of the flowers; currently it is Autumn at the Arboretum, The Great Pumpkin Festival thru November 14.

There are beautiful tree covered lanes, lined with pumpkins.....

Come on guys....hurry up!

See the Only Pumpkin Village in the World!
Each year the pumpkin festival gets bigger and better and this year is no exception! Don’t miss the Storybook Pumpkin Village, the only pumpkin village in the world, with four walk-through houses made completely out of pumpkins. Each house will represent a children’s book that features pumpkins in the story. The houses will be surrounded by thousands of pumpkins and decorative gourds as well as The Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch where guests can pick out and purchase pumpkins for their family decorations.

Aren't they precious?

So many pumpkins....
And all sooooo heavy

Thank You Nanny, that one is just right!

I can't wait to go back again! I am sure every season is filled with color and beauty.

Nanny

Cinnamon Toast The Right Way

I filed this delicious recipe away in my mind for the perfect day....Today was the day.

My husband is on a hunting trip so it was no bacon, egg, biscuit and gravy day for me. No sir, just cinnamon toast and coffee.

Did you realize that there is a right way and a wrong way to make cinnamon toast? I didn't until I read this hilarious post of someone we all know and love...... The Pioneer Woman! You must read and enjoy the post and try her recipe and then let us know which approach you use or were raised on. I was raised on #1! From this day forward it will be #4 for me !!!!

I hope you all are having a great weekend!

GO HOGS!!!!!

Oh how I hope this is a good game! Fingers crossed for a victory!!!!

Nanny

Skywatch Arkansas

I was driving when I saw this breathtaking sunrise. I had to pull over to take this shot. October sunrises and sunsets are wonderful!

Click over to Skywatch Friday Blog for more skies from all over the world!

Nanny

It's Magic!!

The name is so correct! Have you seen these? I overheard ladies as I got a haircut last week talking about how great these mitts were and you know me......curiosity got the better of me and I bought one as I paid for my haircut.....I can't explain it but It Works! No cleanser, no soap, just wet it and wash face as you normally would. It leaves my skin feeling, well normal, I guess. Not dry from products, just good! It even removes mascara!

"Magic Mitt is made from a new generation of specifically knitted micro-fibers many times thinner than a human hair. When wet they create a hydro-mechanical process that breaks the surface tension of the oils that bond makeup to the skin.

After removing makeup wash the mitt in hand soap, rinse and hang to dry. When dry it is sterile."

I am happy to have one or two less products to buy.....next I am going to try some of the homemade masks, exfoliators, and moisturizers I have been hearing so much about.

Nanny

Cheese Dip

This dip is a staple in most homes in the south! It is simple and delicious!
One pound of velveeta cheese + one can of rotel = cheese dip. I have come to realize that all of you don't know or aren't familiar with rotel!!

This morning on our local early show, Nick Rogers was a guest. He was promoting the first ever World Championship Cheese Dip Festival! Yum, Yum!

Is Arkansas the birthplace of cheese dip? Little Rock lawyer and filmmaker Nick Rogers has done his research and believes it to be.

“My cheese dip curiosity began a few years ago in St. Louis. I was eating at a Mexican restaurant with a table full of new law school friends, and I ordered a cheese dip. Not one person at the table knew what that was. They laughed and ridiculed, and when it arrived, a couple people even refused to try it,” Rogers said.
“Of course I hooked everyone on the stuff eventually, but the shock of my friends’ initial ignorance intrigued me. At the time, I had no idea that cheese dip may have started in Arkansas. I just knew it was important to us as a state, and I was curious as to why.”
All of Rogers’ work resulted in a documentary entitled In Queso Fever, originally highlighted in the September 2009 issue of Oxford American magazine. He tracked the background of the spicy concoction to see if it could be “the dish” for which Arkansas could be famous. Rogers discovered the original Mexico Chiquito restaurant, though it was named Little Mexico at the time, opened in Hot Springs in 1935 and introduced cheese dip. This predates Rotel by at least 10 years. Mexico Chiquito is still alive and kicking in Arkansas with both full-service and drive-through locations.
In addition to the documentary, another outshoot of Rogers’ investigation is the inaugural World Cheese Dip Championship October 9 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The competition features some of the state’s best-known restaurants and caterers who will go toe-to-toe with some of Central Arkansas’s most popular eateries.
Participants vie in the professional or amateur category for the titles of World Professional and Amateur Cheese Dip Champions."

Pack your chips and come to Little Rock this Saturday.....this could be very interesting...and maybe a little fattening!!

Nanny

Why Do I Buy This Stuff?

It is dangerous to go in Target at this time of the year. They put out all kinds of interesting candy prior to Halloween. This one caught my attention and in the buggy it went. Have you tried it? Thankfully it wasn't as good as I expected. I put in the refrigerator to see if that would help and it did somewhat, but I won't have any trouble not eating these.

This stuff is a different story. I will have to throw it away to quit eating it!!!
I love the flavor of both....and together they are deadly!!! I can't keep my hand out of the bowl....it is so addictive! Why do I buy it? Why do I put it in arms reach?



Do you buy your Halloween candy early and then eat it all only to have to replace it?

Nanny

Format?

My camera goes everywhere I do. I snap pictures of everything. I think I have this deep seeded thought that I will snap a perfect picture someday! I have come to realize that there is more to this than just snapping...........Step #1. Know your camera

Earlier this week as I was snapping, my camera locked up. A little red light on the back came on and would not go off. I looked closely and it said SD card....ok....to me it was saying the card was not installed properly, full, or just needing attention. So I pulled it out, took another picture and same thing happened. Now I tell you "ignorance is no excuse" and I realize that....instead of reading my manual like I should have, I ruined my camera. The fine print (who reads it?) ......or maybe basic knowledge that I somehow failed to acquire...."You Must Format Your Card".....I have used this card for a year or two, never formatted it and it had become corrupted! Hence the red light, trying to transfer data and could not....

The next day I made a path to Bedford Camera and Video to have camera repaired. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I go to Bedford, I tell myself I should be banned from the store but this was a necessary trip, right? My choice was to spend 4 - 6 weeks without it and pay half the price of a new camera OR just buy a new updated 15.1 mega pixel toy for myself. I have an early Christmas present in my possession!

I have always wanted to attend one of Bedford's classes but they have them in the evening and usually run for 6 weeks. They are having an all day class tomorrow for people who aren't interested in the 6 week class...me! I am determined to know all there is to know about my new Canon and never ruin it!!!

I hope you all are having a wonderful Friday! I am enjoying the cool weather! No A/C, windows up and pancakes for breakfast!

Nanny