Homegrown tomatoes...

Again, from my in-laws garden, comes another crop. This time, tomatoes.
 Guy and I love "Fried Green Tomato" sandwiches.  We slice the green ones, dunk them in egg,  dredge them in cornmeal, and a little flour.  We fry them in oil til they are golden, slap some mayo on  bread, then, lay on about 3 slices of them. The sandwich  is tart, crunchy, salty, and soft all at once. OMG, deeeelish!!!

If the "maters" get too red, we cut them up for salsa.  Anyway you slice 'em, homegrown tomatoes are like no others! Enjoy!

BooBoo, the kitty

I love my kitty so much, I can't stand it. He is the first pet of mine in my adulthood. I got him 10 years ago. I named him Coalbin, because he was gray.  He grew up and turned black, so I began to call him Booboo kitty, after Shirley Feenie's cat.

Booboo is smart. If the front and screen doors are closed,he  slams the screen door when he wants to come in.  When the front door is open, but the screen is closed, he jumps up and releases the door handle. If no one comes to the front door in a timely manner, he goes around to the window in our bedroom and cries to be let it.

He's a good hunter.  At first I was horrified when he brought  little critters to our welcome mat. Now,  it's kind of like a physiology  lesson. ground squirrels, lizards,  I'm sorry to say, birds.  Sometimes, I have to race him to the front door, because, he likes to bring them in the house.

I can't believe he's already 10 years old.  He's healthy and I hope he lives for 10  more years.

Humming birds

Our humming birds are so feisty. They chase each other around the feeders.
The more  feeders, the more birds. This one is called " Bad Boy". He's a pig.
Always  hogging  the feeder. You can't see the green under his beak, but it is bright and shiny!!

Apple Brown Betty Pie

My mother-in-law has  a Fuji Apple tree. These aren't good for just biting into, so I looked up an apple pie recipe online, and got this!
6 cups peeled and sliced apples, 1 tbl lemon juice, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 3 tbl's whole wheat flour,1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg. Graham cracker crust, brushed with egg whites and baked at 350 for 5 minutes.
Combine apples, and dry ingredients. Mix well. Spoon into pie crust.  For topping, combine 3/4 cup whole wheat flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed firmly, and 1/3 cup butter or margarine. Mix ingredients with a fork, or your hands until crumbly. Sprinkle all the mixture on top of the apples.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, or until top is golden brown, and filling is bubbling.
Good eating!!!
By the way, this recipe called for Granny Smith apples, but these fujis were great!

This is the sign for the greatest little known breakfast place in the high desert.  It's the cafe at the Hesperia  airport. We took my father-in-law for his birthday breakfast.  My sister-in-law's family lives there.
We had the best burritos ever. They are called the "enchilada burrito".  Can't tell you what's in it, but OMG, the best tasting breakfast of all time.
I wanted a Mimosa, and can you believe it, the server, who was a  most awesome  funny lady, gave me a frozen beer mug of champagne, and  a  beer mug of orange juice. OMG, after that I didn't care if was 120  degrees up there, in that high desert.

Please, if you are going to Vegas, and are hungry, have your breaky at the Hesperia airport restaurant. You won't regret it!

P.S. those drinks opposite my father-in law are the makings of my mimosa.

close ups

I just brought in some more great things; a park bench from Paris. This 1930-40's fire hydrant,  a fabulous bas relief of a flower pot, an iron gate piece, and a cute tower stand.  The wooden trays are from Haiti, and the candles look like stones.

I love my life. I'm brimming with ideas, and can't wait to implement them. Sometimes I wish I had 10 booths.  Oy , think of the rent!

Les Clowns des Bizarre Shadow Box

Zinnia, the most fabulous Craft Store in South Pasadena, let alone the world, is having a juried  art show in Oct. of this year. The title of the show is "Cirque de Bizarre". Circus themes are de riguer.

So here's my entry. Hope you like it. Thanks again, for looking!

Gorgeous "distressed" styled guitars at the show

These were Trussart Guitars. All metal, and distressed to look old. Aren't they fabulous? I would love to see a whole wall of them!

Guy and I did a vintage guitar show. These old guitars are fabulous pieces of art. There was a Martin guitar for sale for $39, 500.00. No, it wasn't ours, too bad!  

hands

As an artist, I've  been obsessed with drawing hands, feet and an occasional self portrait. I've recently  fallen in love with hands, again. I have a collection of three dimensional hands  on my end table, in my living room. Lighting  these hands is an original 1950's lighted base lamp. I love the look !  Also, is one of my old hand drawings. Kind of rough. It was a quick sketch, done in 1999.

the Kidlings at the party

Aren't these children precious?   nieces, all of them. The nephews were busy doing  something else. Oh well!

party pics again...

We sent the camera around the room, and here's what came of it.

still more party pics

I love all of you!