MONDAY MUSINGS:THE GIFT OF THE HARVEST

MONDAY MUSINGS: My daughter-in-law gave me a very lovely gift during my visit this past weekend as she let me help harvest the fruits of her labor and she has quite a green thumb.

It has been no easy feat fending off critters from destroying her efforts.  Whether it's insects/ bigger vermin... California squirrels are very bold. I think the presence of a hawk has helped curtail their palate a bit.

Tomatoes in abundance-

Early Girls that were late girls...

sweeeeeet... sunny gold 

Chili peppers are still flowering,

and the persimmons which weigh down their branches ...

                                   Aren't they all so beautiful?

MONDAY MUSINGS;APPETIZER ANYONE?

MONDAY MUSINGS : APPRETIZER,ANYONE? It's been forever since I shared a recipe so enjoy this one as it's a good one. Think of me when your guests want the recipe.

Time to share a new appetizer. This one reminds me of my New Orleans dining adventures. This is an easy one and will be part of my Turkey Day celebration this year.

FRENCH QUARTER CHEESE SPREAD

Ingredients

1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1 T grated sweet onion (from 1 small [4 oz.] onion)

1/2 t. grated fresh garlic (from 1 med clove)

1/4 c (2 oz.) unsalted butter, cut into cubes

2 T light brown sugar

1 T. tap water

1 1/2 t. Worcestershire sauce

1 t Creole mustard

1/8 t. cayenne pepper

1/2 c chopped, toasted pecans

• Buttery crackers, for serving (such as Ritz)

• Directions"

  1. Combine cream cheese, onion, and garlic:

     Whisk cream cheese in medium bowl until smooth. Stir in onion and garlic.

  2. Spread mixture evenly onto serving plate. Chill, uncovered, in frig until firm ~ 1 hour.

  3. Let mixture warm slightly:

     Remove cream cheese mixture from refrigerator and let stand until softened slightly, about 15 minutes.

  4. Make pecan topping:

     Meanwhile, combine butter, brown sugar, water, Worcestershire sauce, Creole mustard, and cayenne pepper in a small saucepan. Cook over medium, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly, 5 to 6 minutes.

  5. Remove from heat; stir in pecans. Let stand until cooled slightly, about 5 minutes.

  6. Spoon over cream cheese mixture. Serve with buttery crackers.

  7. ENJOY.

     
     
     

FOTO FRIDAY: WHAT A BOUNTY!

FOTO FRIDAY: The garden shears got a workout during my last visit here in the San Fran area as the front yard roses and persimmon tree were severely pruned back 

Now. there is a bounty of the fruits of our labor... 

The rose bushes are laden with gorgeous blooms, and the persimmons are sooooooo numerous and delish- What a bounty!

And to wonder why last week for FOTO FRIDAY I was wondering about why I was so ANXIETY RIDDEN

TBT: 10 YEARS AGO

My Buddy Sue, z"l and didn't have to wait for a holiday to be mischievous ...

Susan T. Hessel at JavaVino.

October 29, 2016 La Crosse, WI Sue joined me and our Pumpkin friend at Java Vino this morning  for Customer Appreciation Day.

We sure laughed a lot... but also took our politics very seriously. I sure miss this comrade in arms...

MONDAY MUSINGS: A FISH OUTTA WATER?

MIDWEEK MUSINGS are about being in a boisterous, full auditorium where I only knew 2 people. One was a Master Gardener friend who was ushering, and my friend Mary Ann, who invited me as her guest to attend Carisa Hendrix's Lucy Darling Show. All I knew going to this performance was that we would be seeing magic. Mary Ann has seen Ms Hendrix perform at a couple of her magic conventions, and Mary Ann ran into members of her Little Rock Magicians' Club. 

1987 Canadian-born Carisa Hendrix, with a following of over 4 million, is a sharp-tongued comedian, magician, and fire eater, selling out everywhere. (Everywhere, except Little Rock. I recently saw free ticket offers with purchases.) But, it was a full theater, and the beer lines were ginormous. The crowd's dress ranged from jeans and sweats to all outlandish types of outfits, not just cuz it's Halloween week either with more skin showing than I even see at water aerobics.

Hendrix's best known as ' Lucy,' a 1940's socialite donning glittery evening gowns and wielding a martini, using vaudeville, crowdwork and magic with this adoring fan base. 

Hendrix identifies as gay, non-binary, and a drag queen and attributes her Lucy character to Eartha Kitt, Mae West, and Dorothy Parker.

I might have been a fish outta water, but I joined in on the sing-alongs and laughter. There were definitely innuendoes that went over my head, but it was an enjoyable evening of schtick. The crowd loved her even if her magic has taken more of a back seat. We were bewitched by her impressive sleight of hand.

For tour dates, check: carisahendrix.com

tUESDAY tUNES:HOLD ON

tUESDAY tUNES Hold On by the Sounds of Blackness encompasses what Natureman would constantly say, "Everything is Political. " VOTE.  Help get out the vote. You don't have to wait until the 3rd of November, vote early.

If my political video doesn't transfer the song in its entirety is below...

FB: IVORY COURTS HOLD ON

Here's the entire song:

HOLD ON

FOTO FRIDAY: ANXIETY

FOTO FRIDAY: If getting the vote out for upcoming elections isn't filled with enough angst, the Arkansas Fine Arts Center opened their newest exhibit : The Age of Anxiety: German Expressionism in Art and Film

I made my own self-portrait:

Last FOTO FRIDAY was  DANCE AS IF NO ONE IS WATCHING