Can we just put the pause button on life right now...

I can't believe that winter with all its glory  is just about over here in Arizona.

Right after Thanksgiving,

we decided to put tongue and groove on a few walls in our house and

add a much needed vent above our stove.

It was the best Christmas present my hubby could have given me.

I can't quit staring at it.

The painter laughed at me, when I sighed with a big smile and said "what a transformation", I love it".

My daughter and her family arrived Tuesday night,

and we did manage to get the raviolies done on Wednesday for our

traditional Christmas Eve dinner after Mass on Thursday.

Of course, I had big plans on baking up a storm,

and the only thing that got baked was about a thousand sugar cookies to share with my family at our annual family Christmas party.

The whole reason for me writing this post is to share this recipe that has been pinned to my pinterest board forever.

Raspberrywhite chocolate scones

OMG.

They were consumed within minutes.

If you get a chance, make them.

They are at the top of my to do list this week.

Priorities, people...

see you in 2016

Petie

Monkey's

We recently added another monkey to the mix

and I had the pleasure of taking care of these two

for a couple of weeks to give their mommy time to rest and bond

with the new little one.

I love their little and individual personalities

so much fun...

Petie

Red, White and Blue?

To be honest,

I really didn't feel like celebrating our Country's independence this year.

Too many people are giving up their freedom's and it makes me sad.

It seems that everywhere you turn,

the nation is corrupt.

Our government, city, state and federal, and the justice system.

 Our schools.

 Our news media, TV and internet.

Families.

We have become a me, me, me society...

If it feels good do it.

Love and equality for all.

Which is just a rue, for, I want my way, no matter what

and be damned you religious people who oppose

my right to blatantly sin.

Don't judge me they say.

Well I am judging.

I am judging right from wrong.

Every man, woman and child was born with the innate sense ability, of right from wrong.

It's called a conscience.

I have known from a very young age, when I am doing something wrong.

Sexual relations with another man or woman of the same sex

is wrong. No matter how you fluff the issue.

That is not Gods plan for creation.

I fear, that society as a whole, has tossed out their conscience,

in order to feel good.

The latest ruling from the high court, is just a tiny piece of what has gone wrong with our Country.

I fear that someday,

we will be sitting around our dining room table,

 talking about what once was.

God,

have mercy on our souls...

Petie

At the Beach

I do not have to tell you

 that my favorite place in the world is the beach,

since I have professed it many times on this blog.

We spent a week in San Diego and the weather was glorious...

Making memories with family is priceless...

Petie

The Weekend

photo by mark roper | country style via dust jacket blog

Doesn't this look like the best place to

stay in bed

all weekend long?

Petie

Arizona Clouds

I was driving home the other day,

when the scene in front of me, stopped me in my tracks

I stopped right in the middle of the road

and snapped a picture

windshield and all

The Arizona skies have been beautiful lately

Petie

Life Lately

Eggs and cereal

my main food source lately

My girls are only laying two eggs a day

that comes out to around $1.42 an egg

pretty soon they won't be laying any eggs

and I will have to consider them my pest control

About a year ago,

I discovered breve lattes at Starbuck's

I don't drink coffee anymore

I drink latte's

I have a venti size every morning

The only down side to this, the starbuck's next to my house,

is not a drive thru

I picked up a book at Goodwill the other day, Churchill's Triumph

I have yet to read it, maybe in Nebraska

I started watching Schitt's Creek, love it, it's so funny

RHOBH is "crazy", can't wait for the reunion, my hubby is so disgusted that I watch it

Lost Immigrant's, I love their music

Missing my monkey's and wishing they lived closer

Getting excited for our little wagon adventure, buying sinks, lights, etc...

Still addicted to estate sales, auctions, thrift stores

Lent is changing me this year

The picture was taken at my Mom's house

where we had the family Christmas party

and I have no idea what I was doing

apparently, entertaining everyone

Petie

Goodbye Mrs. Kiddelhopper

death

it's all around

half way across the world

and right at my door step

there's no escaping it

the last year of my life looks like a used afghan

a little unraveling here

and a little unraveling there

and no matter how you try to fix it

it's still there

you do your best

but,

it just doesn't look the same

there's always a hole and tattered ends of the yarn that came apart

you wish you had taken better care of it

Goodbye Mrs. Kiddelhopper, you will be missed

Petie

It's Monday

Would somebody please have a garden party?

So, I have been home for a week and I miss my hubby, ughhh...

I miss cooking for him and making him his favorite cookie

I have a million and one projects for him to do

he will be home in a few weeks and I will be writing how he's driving me crazy

never happy...

Lest you get the wrong idea,

in my mind, those pics from above are happening in the summer

not the spring

I loathe the spring...

I think America eats to much chicken

I have my reasons...

so I have dubbed Sunday's

chicken only

Petie's Sunday Chicken

I soaked a whole chicken in whole milk for a few hours,

drained it,

sprinkled it with olive oil, gave it a squeeze of lemon juice,

poured a little melted butter over it and some salt

and baked it for a couple of hours

Trust me when I say, you won't even have to set the table,

the chicken will be gone before you even get it to the table

it's that good...

Petie

pics foundon Dustjacketattic.com

It's Winter

I took down all my Christmas decorations

and my house looks so bare

and not in a good way.

The mornings have been a little chilly here in the desert.

I received two cookbooks for Christmas

and haven't cooked anything out of them,

not one single thing. But everything in them looks amazing.

I've been pinning lots of healthy recipes though. Pinning not making.

I'm such a procrastinator.

For some reason, I have the need to read a book.

I need to get myself to the library.

Is it just me, or is there NOTHING on TV?

My daughter bought herself a Rosetta Stone app to learn French.

I find myself,  answering oui, oui to everything.

I think the Spanish or Italian dialect is way more sexy.

The lady on the app, sounds as if she has a frog in her throat.

That, or too many cigarettes.

Going to the cold country for a few weeks.

I need to buy gloves, a beanie and snow boots.

Do they make tennis shoes for the snowy weather?

I have big plans on walking and getting healthier.

Just as soon as I stop procrastinating.

(Ali took the pic above

one morning before Christmas.

I had an apron on every single day during the holidays.

I love aprons.

 I made the one above out of an old pillow case.

I so wish I would have paid attention in Home Ec during sewing class.)

petie