Super Bowl Here We Come

Happy Monday to you!  Here in Colorado, I think the almost the entire state is cheering for our team's win yesterday.  There is so much spirit here, it's really hard not to get on the band wagon.  I've said it before, but before we moved here I just wasn't into football; of course a big screen t.v. may have helped.  The big game will be held in our old stomping grounds, but we won't be going to it.  Have you heard how much those tickets are going to cost-don't think so.
We had a great weekend, I spent a good part of it down in the sewing room but also cleaned out our spice cabinet.  I know it won't last, but it feels and looks so good to have it done.  Yesterday afternoon we went over to our neighbors to watch the game and have pizza.  It was really fun. 
This morning we are off to meet some close friends for coffee and to catch up; this afternoon while hubby plays indoor badminton, I'll be sewing-not on my quilt but on the Honor Flight square.  Tomorrow I start back to bible study again, it will be so good to see all the gals.
I hope whatever you have planned today isn't too stressful; for those east of Colorado that are having blizzards and heavy snow, stay safe and warm.
Hugs,
Noreen

Happy Friday to you all!  It's gorgeous here this morning, but still a brisk 27 degrees. 
I want to share this beauty with you-isn't she gorgeous!  I know many will not appreciate or like the Poodle breed, but when you have allergies and asthma in your family a dog like a Poodle only makes sense.  This is the mother to a female red poodle our grandson Mr. B(and family)will be getting in March.  The puppies are adorable!  Mr. B is a dog lover, so are several of his sisters and they have wanted a bigger dog.  Initially the family were looking at Golden Doodles, but the cost for a good genetic line of pup was astronomical, much higher than a Standard Poodle.  Mr. B's pup is coming from Idaho and comes from a reputable breeder and genetic line.  Needless to say, this Nana is over the moon about a new pup in the family.  Mr. B is studying up and gathering all the necessities of what he'll need for raising this pup. I simply can't wait!  Also, there will be no fufu cuts for their pup but will have one more like the mom.

Yesterday, I got several errands run as well as picking up a book on Poodles for Carrie's family.  I even got lots of sewing time, now have to work on the Honor Flight square.  I'm planning on making a sample first and then making the square for the quilt.  Hopefully I will have a handle on it by the time Monday rolls around.  Our weekend is pretty low key, except for watching the Bronco's game on Sunday.  It should be a very good game. 
Hope you have a great weekend and stay warm and safe, especially those in the East.
Blessings,
Noreen

Oh That California Food

Good Morning Friends, can you believe it's Thursday?! I can tell you that the traveling we did last weekend finally caught up with me last evening about nine o'clock-I was exhausted. We started watching the news in bed at 10:00 and I immediately fell asleep. I slept soundly until this morning; I knew I was tired, just not that tired. So one of the few things, besides family, friends, beautiful scenery that we miss in California is the food. California, at least Northern(don't know about Southern) has the best food of any of the states. Maybe it's because we lived there for 57 yrs; we traveled and have had some really good meals in other places, but I have to say that food in California is consistently good! I really planned to take more photos of our meals, but forgot until the meals were over. So here is the few~the first is a dinner at Rio Grille in Carmel; it is a very nice, somewhat expensive restaurant and the food was so good. This photo doesn't do it justice; this was a  pork chop with a special sauce and green beans.  It was wonderful!  I almost chooses the vegetarian dish that was a portebello mushroom, but choose this instead.

On Saturday morning, Aletha made us one of her gourmet breakfasts(she is truly a gourmet cook); she always makes the best meals from scratch~not just when we are there, but all the time.  This was an egg and vegetable frittata with sausage and toast.  It was so good-forget eating tiny portions.  

Saturday for lunch we ate at Nepenthe's in Big Sur and had a delicious lunch.  Hubby and Dave split a burger and Aletha and I split a beet salad and then also an order of Brussel Sprouts.  You know I have to say I've never liked them until a couple of months ago and now I really enjoy them~amazing how the body changes.  Saturday night we had roasted chickens, potatoes, a yam casserole and vegetables. 
Sunday was another great meal-Leg of Lamb for dinner with rice and gravy and green peas, plus a Cheesecake.  Let's just say I haven't checked the scale since I got back.  Of course, good food didn't end when we left Carmel but continued at Jim and Barbara's.  Lunch was ready when we got to their house and we had Chicken Minestrone Soup with Kale Salad.  I love soups and salad and it was a perfect cold day for them.  For dinner we had pork loin with a special sauce, potatoes and string beans-again just put a fork in us!  
So last night I actually made a new dish-Chicken with pearl onions, mushrooms, peas and a coconut sauce over Jasmine rice.  It was a definite winner.
Today, will be another day of catching up; I may run to the sewing machine store, the pet store and possibly Targ*t.  Also, I'm on a sewing mood right now so will probably be downstairs this afternoon.  I'm trying to figure out the best time to visit all of you and I'm thinking the morning and then errands and sewing in the afternoon.  I so need to check in with all of you!
I hope your day contains laughter, smiles and a bit of sillyness~
Until tomorrow,
Noreen
  

There's No Place Like Home

Well, we are once again in beautiful, snowy Colorado. Hubby and I had a wonderful, albeit quick trip back to California; I will say the time spent with our loved ones was so much fun, although to short. Unfortunately, we only had a "touch and go" stop at my brother's house. We were so uncertain of what traffic would be like heading to Carmel and we were on a time crunch. This photo was from last year and one of the peaks we flew over last night coming in. Truly, there is no place like home.
  

When we got to Aletha and Dave's house on Friday afternoon, he didn't even know we were there until Aletha told him there was a wine delivery for him for his birthday. Hubby, Aletha and Dave all enjoy a good bottle of wine~so this was his present. When he turned and saw us he was so shocked and didn't believe we came out just for his birthday! So fun!  We got to drive down to Big Sur on Saturday and then Sunday we spent watching football; so glad the Broncos were able to pull it out at the end.
Monday came and we headed to our old neighborhood to stay with Jim and Barbara.  We only had an afternoon and night with them, but it was filled with laughter and travel plans.  So yesterday morning we got up early and were on the road by 5:30 a.m. to get to the airport in plenty of time.  This is the part that made me remember what I don't like about California-we had bumper to bumper traffic, in the pouring rain and it took us longer to get to the airport than we thought.  I will be honest with you-I hate traffic, especially bumper to bumper and I was glad to get to the airport.  Our plane was delayed over an hour, due to weather.  We finally arrived in Salt Lake after having missed our connecting flight; the good news is that the seats we got on the plane were right behind first class and had so much leg room plus comfy seats-thank you Delta.  That flight was delayed by over an hour too, so we got home last night at 8:00 p.m. instead of our initial time of 5:00 p.m.  I'm thankful we had smooth flights and not issues there, plus traffic was so light by the time we were on the road.  Today is a day filled with laundry, grocery shopping, taking dog food back to the pet store because neither dog would eat it-and Lily is not a picky eater and buying some different food.  We love our friends and so thankful to have spent time with them, but I'm glad I won't be going anywhere until April.
Blessings on your day!
Noreen

Nepenthe and Big Sur

Greetings from Carmel. We are having a wonderful time with our best friends; we surprised Dave so much when we arrived. He simply couldn't believe we came out for his birthday! We celebrated at a restaurant near their house; let me just say Aletha is a gourmet cook and last night fed us the most incredible dinner. I think I'll need to join a gym when I get home! Yesterday we drove down to Big Sur, stopped at some shops and then had lunch at Nepenthe~ classic bohemian Big Sur style and at one time Orson Wells bought it  and gave it to Rita Hayworth.

Loved seeing these mushrooms with the Dogwood growing next to them.  We have the variegated Dogwood at home and it was fun to see it here.

This view was from the deck surrounding the restaurant; the green grass you see is land owned by the David Packard Family Trust.  Hubby's dad was good friends with the Packards and hubby grew up vacating at their summer cabin on Lake Tahoe~so this made him smile.  

The last photo is from Dave and Aletha's deck looking out towards the Reserve-the private golf course.  It will be a rainy cool day here today and we will be watching the Broncos game.  Aletha is feeding us so well, I will try to take photos of dinner tonight.  

I hope your weekend has been so relaxing and enjoyable.  

Until tomorrow~

Noreen

A Get Away

It's Thankful Thursday and once again I am reminded of all the blessings in my life. How about you, do you stop and reflect on all those wonderful blessings in your life? Today I am so excited because tomorrow we head out to one of our all time favorite places-Carmel Valley. I've always thought it was so beautiful, but the main reasons it is one of my all time favorite places is that my dearest friend, my bff who I went to high school with, and her hubby live in the mountains above Carmel Valley. This is similar to the view from their beautiful home.  I used to call it my mountain retreat-because you literally drive up this two lane road and you sit on top of an expanse with views that go on and on.  There is even a private, very exclusive and expensive golf course up on top of the mountain too; hubby has played there once and loved it.  The reason we are headed out is that Dave is having a birthday tomorrow and we are going to surprise him with a weekend visit.  My girlfriend, Aletha has know about this for about six months and we can't wait to spend time together.  These friends were the couple that came and stayed with us last summer.  We had a blast together!

This trip will help hubby hold on a little longer(not liking the cold winter here)-seeing the ocean always renews his spirit.  For me, while I love the ocean, it is the mountains that call to me-so we get a bit of both on this trip.  Unfortunately the weather hasn't been as mild as usual, so we may just end up staying in all weekend(other than a birthday dinner) playing cards and watching football. I'm sure Aletha and I will get into Carmel and walk around; this is something we always do.
The photos above are not mine, but they remind me so much of my FIL's oil paintings-he loved Carmel and while we have several seascapes of his, we don't have any with Cypress trees in them.
I will try to post if I'm able, but don't hold your breath-we will be having too much fun with them.

I'm going to walk today with Kam and Lexie in a bit and later drag hubby to Costco-I want to look at the carry on size suitcases; we have an old Eddie Bauer bag we use, it is good for road trips or camping but I want a studier suitcase that is the right size for carry on.  Hubby just doesn't know why we are going there later.  Today I have another sewing class with the grands; I ended up finding a pattern of a pot holder that I thought would be fun for the girls to make.  Yesterday the two grands decided to make book bags; they've made them before so it shouldn't be too hard. On Monday I got down to the sewing room to work on my squares.  Once we get back, I really need to focus and get more done as well as the block for the honor flight quilt.
That's about all that is going on here,  it is sunny but very windy today-ugh, I don't like walking in the wind.
I hope you have a day filled with laughter and smiles and a beautiful weekend.
Joy to you!
Noreen

Beauty

Greetings to you this Wednesday morning. The last two nights, we've had spectacular sunsets and I thought I'd share last nights with you. Enjoy!

Yesterday started out like any quiet day until I read a message by my good friend Val and about her dog Gracie being sick. Val recently lost her German Shepherd Schatzie and was heartbroken. Gracie has been showing some signs of not feeling well and after some research Val determined that it was the kibble they were feeding her. Mind you, Val like most of us, is very conscientious about choosing well known healthy brands~so it was with disappointment that I read she fed her dogs Blue Buffalo. That's what we had been feeding Hunter. After investigating the brand, there are over 1,400 complaints about illness and even death in dogs that were eating this food. Like most brands, there are so many different varieties that I decided I didn't want to chance any sort of issue. So down to the pet store I went; I had planned on Natural Balance but Dick Van Patten no longer owns this company and so I choose Fromm Limited Ingredients to try. Hunter is so picky that as of yet he hasn't eaten any, but this morning Lily comes over and that will more than likely change-because she will eat it. If not, back to the store I go for Natural Balance. What's also funny to me is that I got the Salmon and Tuna variety and our boy loves both these fish, so I figured he'd gobble it up. We'll see how long it takes him. You just can't be too cautious when your fur baby is involved. I hope you have a fantastic Wednesday; our oldest daughter and kiddos are coming over shortly while they have workmen at their house. Should be a fun morning!
Hugs,
Noreen and Hunter