O J

Have you tried the new Trop50?

The commercials are well done.....I mean orange juice with 50% less calories. That's worth a try, right? No artificial sweeteners...(well that's what the label says) I'm all for less sugar and calories but I do not like sweeteners so this sounds appealing to me.

I buy it, I taste it, YUCK! It is so artificial that I can't swallow it!

Now I'm reading the label (next time I'll read before I buy)

Orange Juice Beverage....beverage

Ingredients; Filtered water, not from concentrate pasteurized orange juice, malic acid, citric acid, natural flavors and (AND) Reb A (pure via brand). What is Reb A you ask? So did I.

Google = New sugar substitute Reb A hits shelves...Rebaudioside A, natural extract from the stevia plant known as reb a, got much awaited approval from the FDA. Coca Cola and Pepsi have jumped to try it right away in a few mainly juice and water products to see how consumers accept it.

If anyone out there cares.....this consumer does not accept it. It is a poor excuse for orange juice.

Forgive me Minute Maid

Forgive me Simply Orange

Lesson learned!

These two have the flavor I crave. Good, Fresh, Orange Juice with 110 delicious calories/8 oz.
I'll save 50 calories somewhere else.....

Macro Monday - Reflection

Lots more macro shots on Lisa's Chaos MM.

Have a great Monday!!

Nanny

Woooo Pig Soooie

Sorry for the quality.....

It's a great day when you make pictures of the TV!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving.

I am thankful to have each of you in my life.

Be safe and once again, have a wonderful day.

Nanny

Macro Monday - Daisy

Dried but lovely!

Join the fun of Macro Monday at Lisa's Chaos..

Cocoon

It's been this way since daylight....doesn't appear to be lifting.....



It's so peaceful....

I feel like I'm in a cocoon.

I hope you are having a peaceful day.

A Day In The Nest

There aren't many days that I stay home "all" day. Today was the first in a long time. I love to stay home. I could easily become a recluse.....if I had plenty of supplies on hand...if I could see my family....if I could shop...well maybe not a recluse but I do love a good day at home!

Trixie enjoyed staying in her bed and watching me work.

I used the leftover roast from Pioneer Womans' Perfect Pot Roast to make vegetable soup for supper. Soup is my main reason for having roast! I love the leftovers almost more than the original meal.



Laundry - done
Floors - done
Online Christmas Shopping - done (I love it)

IPod - updated with Zac Brown Band and The Beatles....yes....Beatles are on ITunes now! I purchased the Rubber Soul album...Oh I love it! In My Life is such a beautiful song, I will listen to it and the entire album with fond memories!!!!

I hope you all had a great day! We had a cold front move through after lunch and I am ready for soup and cornbread....(then Survivor) Speaking of TV, did you see Brandy's face when she was eliminated from DWTS? I know she was shocked, I was too, but she looked, shall I say angry?

Nanny

Fluorescent

This magnificent tree caused us to stop dead in the street. I have never in my life seen a prettier tree. The leaves glowed in the sunlight. The yellow was truly fluorescent. Luckily, camera was handy and we jumped out of the car to snap a few....

Looking up through the leaves I couldn't believe the beauty

On the other side of the yard stood a magnolia that rivaled for attention! It's size and shape were breathtaking.

My favorite shot (I only had my point and shoot with me) was of Solar falling on the grass to capture this one of sweetpea.

I left wondering how many people stop to photograph this beautiful tree and if the homeowners know how much joy their yard brings to passersby!

double click images to see the real beauty of this tree

Joy of Being A Nanny!

Yes I did it and I admit it.....

I bought sweetpea her very first Mrs. Field sugar cookie!

Can you hear her saying ummmm?

I tried to share it with her but that didn't go over at all!

It was gone in a flash!

Totally wrapped around her little finger, and loving it!

Nanny

Creative Tuesdays

My dear friend Betsy of My Five Men faithfully participates in Mr. Toast's Creative Tuesday. Every month a theme is chosen and sketches are submitted to his site. Every month I am amazed at the talent that appears on her "sketches". I made the comment that I would love to have one of her works of art to frame and she said "pick one". It was hard to narrow it to one but I chose her raspberry sketch.
Within days I received it in the mail.
I now have it framed.....isn't it perfect?

Thank you, Betsy.
I am so proud of my Betsy Sketch!

To see last months sketch, click here! (you'll want it)
Update.....she just posted the newest theme....Bird House!
Nanny

Where Did It Go?

I am a very slow blogger!!! I don't sit down and whip out a quick post. I wish I could do that!!! I spent probably 30 minutes on a post earlier and somehow, someway it disappeared! I don't know what I did, I tried Control V (see I've done this mysterious thing before and Solar told me that would bring it back) NOT! So now I've spent enough time on this post....I'll try to do better tomorrow.

Have a Happy Sunday!

Nanny

Ham and Leftovers

We've had ham and potato salad, ham and cheese sandwiches, ham and pinto beans......now what?
I seem to remember a good recipe for leftover ham in one of my Paula cookbooks....

Yes, there it is on page 83, Ham Salad.

The recipe calls for ground cooked ham but I think my mini chopper will do the job. I love this little appliance....easy to store and does a great job for small jobs.

3 cups ground(or chopped) ham
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/4 cup Mayo
2 T chopped sweet pickle (I buy the jars)
2 T chopped dill pickle (jar also)
2 boiled eggs, chopped
salt and pepper, I omitted these, ham is salty enough for my taste

Minutes later:

Minutes later:

I added Deli Sliced Peperoncini, but then I add those to all sandwiches. I just love their flavor, yummy. A handful of Bar-b-que popchips and it was a delicious lunch. I think I will repeat it tomorrow.

This recipe is worth baking a ham just to have the leftovers....Could I expect anything less from Paula? I saw her sons on the cooking channel last weekend promoting their new line of cooking (light) and Paula asked why they were on the health kick....trying to ruin her reputation? It was funny. Bobby said he loves his mamma's cooking but was tired of looking round....lol I can relate to that Bobby!

Anyway as the holidays approach and you have ham, this recipe is a keeper!!

Nanny

That's My Boy

As the PeeWee Football season comes to a close I just have to share some pictures of my grandson. Since he could walk and talk all he wanted to do is play football. It seemed like third grade would never get here for him. That's the year you can play football here. Well now it has come and gone, as has the fourth, fifth and sixth. He still eats and sleeps football. If I have a question about a player or a team, I call Jackson.....he knows everything there is to know about the sport, the teams and the players. It is amazing.

We attended a one day camp last summer, conducted by a former Razorback, Peyton Hillis, whom Jackson respected very much. As we walked in the gym, I was so impressed by this sign.....

The camp was very well conducted and Jackson enjoyed it....(the most important part)

Peyton was so kind to the boys and posed with everyone for photos... signed authographs....and handed out collector cards from his days as a Razorback. Good job Peyton!

Back to the present....

It was a great season. That's Jackson carrying the ball. That's me holding my breath.

Not the biggest player on the team...But "All Heart" and loving every minute of it!

Made several touchdowns

Had fun and didn't get hurt! I call that a very successful season. Now on to Jr. High, oh my!

Nanny

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