SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 10.7.12

 SOOC
Whew!
O-C-T-O-B-E-R flew in like a bluejay - screeching!
my days were filled with random craziness!$#@?

The one thing that was predictable... SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY.

This week's words are: SHADOW, KEY, SMILE, UNEDITED & SPICE.

SHADOW

Couldn't decide between these two SHADOW pictures! The SHADOW (on the left) is actually from a wall decoration. The little cups resembled an egg cracked in two, with a brillant gold painted center. I took this photo at the San Diego Marriott (near Seaport Village) & it was pulled from my photo archive taken a week ago! The SHADOW (on the right) was taken Saturday morning... love the light filtering through the fence slats.

KEY

This is a stretch! but, I think pumpkins are KEY to decorating your house for the Fall. I've been buying apples almost every week at Avila Barn - great opportunities for picture taking & buying apples that are picked daily... on my list this week... pumpkins, of course!

SMILE

Pure happiness! Lola's huge SMILE cracks me up! she doesn't even notice the piece of grass hanging off her tongue.

UNEDITED (SOOC)

This bird was flirting with me! Moving around the back yard... flitting here & there! making eye contact with me! Was finally successful at capturing him? her? UNEDITED or SOOC (straight out of the camera).

SPICE

Not very original... but the SPICE we use most frequently is cinnamon. Yep! don't add salt unless it's written in a recipe... but we add cinnamon to fruit salads, baked goods, oatmeal, etc. We give homemade baked goods as holiday gifts, so we've begun stocking up on our supply of cinnamon.

I'm crossing my fingers that this week has more free time for blogging. Hope to see you back...

If not, stop by next week for SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY... the words are: WATER DROPS or WATER FLOWING, FAITHFULNESS, THEN & NOW, FINGERTIPS & ONE ITEM FROM SARAH'S BUCKET LIST (found HERE).

Sarah's October Bucket List has kid-friendly ideas

for your weekend adventures!

COME INTO THE GARDEN

taken at dusk ~ 10.5.12

"WON'T YOU COME INTO THE GARDEN?

I WOULD LIKE MY ROSES

TO SEE YOU."

:: Richard Brinsley Sheridan ::

Irish-born playwright, poet & long-term owner of the London Theater Royal

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 9.30.12

check out AVILA VALLEY "BARN" here

Missed last week's SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY...

This week's words are:

YELLOW, GETTING READY, BRIGHT,

TEENY-TINY & CONNECTIONS.

Seaport Village, San Diego

I attended a two-day conference in San Diego this past week. Fabulous places to walk in the evening! The YELLOW cast on the horse & carriage was from the "glow" of the overhead lamps that dotted the path.

the "Barn"

Stopped by the "Barn" to purchase apples for the trip to San Diego. These pumpkins were labeled with their price per pound - GETTING READY for a busy weekend of pumpkin sales.

the "Barn"

Besides selling pumpkins & locally grown produce, the "Barn" also has a fabulous gift section. These BRIGHT colors are sure to chase the morning fog away!

San Diego 

From my hotel room, I could see the San Diego Padre's stadium, PETCO PARK, the bay, the rail system & the San Diego Convention Center... the orange umbrellas & tables looked TEENY TINY from my 21st floor room.

Avila Valley "Barn"

In the Fall, Avila Valley "Barn" has hayrides, animals (with roosters strutting loose throughout the grounds), a hay bale maze & picnic tables to enjoy ice creams (they make their own), pastries from their bakery, or to sit & relax. One of the picnic tables had this tic-tac-toe game. Just one more way to make a CONNECTION with your family!

All pictures taken (this week) with my Canon S100.

Next week's words are: SHADOW, KEYS, SMILE, UNEDITED & SPICE.

To see this week's "hunters" check Ashley's blog, Rambling & Photos.

CUTIE.... PATOOTIE...

AUTUMN COOKING...

CAKE LOVE ~ author, Warren Brown
{cookbook was gift from ACE on JPE's 60th Bday}

STARTER SCONES

{recipe on pg 108}

2 cups of flour

1/2 c turbinado sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp Kosher salt

1/2 tsp salt

1 stick unsalted butter (very cold)

up to 1 cup heavy cream

1 egg

dash, splash vanilla extract

sea salt (for sprinkling)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment or a silicon mat.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugars, baking powder & salts. Whisk for 10 seconds and set aside.

3. Cut butter into small pieces, then cut into flour using your fingers or a fork. Once the butter & flour clump together when pinched, slowly add the cream (little at a time) while turning the dough. Stop when the dough easily forms a ball (you may not need to use all the cream).

4. The dough should feel light and barely moist. Place a handful on a lightly floured surface & shape into a 4-inch square, about 3/4 inch thick.

5. Cut square from corner to corner twice to make four triangles. Repeat with the remaining dough.

6. Mix the egg & vanilla together in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to a dab the tops & sides.

7. Place scones on the prepared baking sheet sprinkle & the top with sugar & a tiny pinch of sea salt.

8. Bake about 15 minutes. Cool on racks for 5 minutes before serving.

PLAIN SCONE

Note: the author suggests you make this recipe several times until you get a feel for how the dough comes together. Then give it your own "spin"... by adding up to 1/2 c of dried fruits or nuts, or 1-2 tsp of freshly cut herbs.

JPE also made a crock pot of soup...

Using red lentils, fresh sweet potatoes, onions, celery, red peppers... Looks like 

AUTUMN, huh?

This has AUTUMN colors also...

There were several jars worthy of a science experiment.

OOPS!! We also cleaned out the fridge...

Missed SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY!

bummer!

will try to add them later
(but would be post dated).

INTERRUPTING...

trees along James Way

Today is the Autumnal Equinox... 

or the official start of autumn

{although JPE doesn't like losing those daylight hours}

AH... COFFEE...

STOP!!!

WHAT'S THAT??
Glancing out of the corner of my eye...
I thought I saw my neighbor's cat, Peanut!!!

I almost dropped my coffee cup!
A tiny possum was walking near my feet...

Snapped a few pictures while he hid from view!

What a surprise??!!
Do you think his/her appearance is a
S-I-G-N?