skeletons

There are skeletons in our neighbor's yard . . . 

one rides a tricycle

one dressed up for the bike ride

one is adorned with jewels

one fancies denim overhauls

one walks the dog

and the family is roasting marshmallows

reboot

almost everything will work again

if you unplug it for a few minutes

including you

{quote from salon by ann lamott}

asian rainbow salad with pork

Asian Rainbow Salad with Pork

Makes: 4 servings / Prep: 20 minutes / Cook: 5 minutes

You do not cook the cabbage so this is a fresh crunchy salad.

Ingredients
6 tablespoons fresh lime juice (2 limes)
1/4 cup (packed) brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup peanut oil
1 pound boneless pork chops, thinly sliced into bit size pieces
4 cups coleslaw cabbage mix (carrots and cabbage)
2 cups red cabbage mix
1 ½ cups small pineapple chunks
½ red bell pepper, thinly sliced
½ cup chopped celery leaves {or cilantro}
½ cup honey roasted peanuts (optional)

Directions
In a small bowl, whisk the lime juice, brown sugar, soy sauce and peanut oil.

Place the pork in a shallow dish. Add 1/4 cup of the dressing and stir to coat. Let the pork stand 20 minutes at room temperature.

In a large bowl combine cabbage, pineapple, bell pepper, and celery. Drizzle with remaining dressing.  There is quite a lot of dressing left so use only as much as you like. Season the salad with salt and pepper.

Divide the salad among 4 dinner plates or shallow bowls.

Cook the pork including marinade over high heat in a heavy skillet until browned and just cooked through (4 to 5 minutes).

Top each salad with ¼ of the cooked pork and honey roasted peanuts.

Adapted from a recipe in Rachael Ray Magazine

found

Found

written by Salina Yoon

On one of our many visits to the Terrace, BC Library

we came across this book and it is already a favorite.
It has a nice lesson about "doing the right thing"

A bear finds a lost toy bunny and sets out to find its owner.
Even though he has come to love it,
he covers the forest in 'Found' posters.

The double page spread of 'Lost' posters provides
a bit of humor for older readers.
{my favorite: Peter Pan's lost shadow}

I say those of you with little ones
should put this on your Christmas list.

tuck me in

Tuck Me In

written by Dean Hacohen 

illustrated by Sherry Scharschmidt.

On one of our many visits to the Terrace, BC Library

we came across this book and it is already a favorite.

Several baby animals are going to sleep and need to be tucked in. 

By turning the half-pages you  put a “blanket” on each animal.

Once turned, the animal is covered by a coordinating colorful blanket. 

You will also see a new star with each animal you tuck in. 

and then more fun . . . 

We made our own version that 

included all of our family members.

I say those of you with little ones 

should put this on your Christmas list.

nectarine crumbles

Nectarine Crumbles

Serves: 6

{photo from weight watchers dot com}

Ingredients
6 large nectarines {ripe but firm}
6 Tbsp sugar {divided}
3 Tbsp plus 2 tsp all-purpose flour {divided}
3 Tbsp uncooked rolled oats
1 pinch ground cinnamon
1 pinch table salt
3 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces

Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F.

Cut nectarines into ½ inch chucks; place in a bowl and gently toss with 3 tablespoons sugar and 3 teaspoons flour. Divide nectarine mixture among six small ramekins.

In a mini-food processor, pulse 3 tablespoons sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, 3 tablespoons oats, cinnamon and salt for 2-3 seconds. Add butter. Pulse until just crumbly for 4-6 seconds.
Sprinkle crumb mixture on ramekins.

Place filled ramekins on a foil-lined baking pan. Bake until tops are golden and fruit is bubbly, 30-35 minutes.

Top with whipped cream {optional}
Peaches could be substituted for nectarines but I'm not a fan of their fuzzy skin.

{adapted from a recipe in Weight Watcher's Magazine}

british columbia

If you have never been to British Columbia

you should go . . . 

View photos from our trip here

a little secret

America's Happiest Seaside Towns 2015

Meet the winner of Coastal Living's annual search for the best 

coastal places to call home - for a weekend or a lifetime. 

#2 Venice, Florida 

"Venice is a town with a big heart, It has 14 miles of gorgeous beaches. 

On shore, the pleasures of Venice are equally beautiful. 

The lushly landscaped avenues of the historic district were 

designed in the 1920s as an homage to the town’s Italian namesake."

shh let's keep it a secret

{America's Happiest Seaside Towns}

pocket wallet tutorial

Summer Hill Pocket Wallet

{this will make 4 pocket wallets  3” x 4.5”}

Materials:

20” of fabric of color A

20” of fabric of color B

medium fusible interfacing       

4 medium size buttons

iron on velcro 

Open tutorial here

This is a sneak preview for

friends on my Christmas List  . . .

erie barge canal

A different view of the Erie Barge Canal this morning

two of the seventeen lift bridges on the canal are in Brockport

"low bridge everybody down"

you can anchor for the night at our visitor's center

you can rent this boat for a trip

"from Albany to Buffalo"

sometimes this is how fast I walk on the tow path in the morning