Lesson Learned - aka: I am Half Scottish (frugality is in my blood)

Without thinking (and certainly not examining the price on the cover) I picked up this lovely edition of Country Home, which happens to be one of my favorite magazines. As per my usual way of putting items away after a trip to the grocery store, I stocked away the food, neatly folded the bags and placed them by my purse to be taken back to the trunk of my car the next time I head out, and looked over the receipt an printed coupons along with it. That's when I saw it...

$12.99 for a magazine! Really, that's fairly outlandish, in my opinion, so the contents of this overpriced stack of paper with some pretty pictures better woo and wow me. I think the last "Collector's edition" magazine printing I bought was around $8 (Hoffman Media), while Country Home is published by (Special Interest Publications). Who knows why these two publishers have priced comparable products so differently. In any event, I've learned my lesson and will most definitely check the cost of all magazines I intend to purchase in the future.

Vying for Attention

...and a nibble of my blueberry muffin.

A Day for Meatloaf

Some days call for comforting meals.  Meals that nourish and are familiar, thereby allowing your hands to go through the motions and your thoughts to meander down sunlit paths and through nimble verses of favored songs.

My recipe for meatloaf is one I made up after numerous attempts at other, less than exciting, recipes on the Internet I stumbled across.  This one pleases both Numbers Man and myself, chocked with veggies and cheese.  Here, here!

Generous spicing is a must!



The finely chopped (Cuisinart helps) veggies, post saute are best drained over paper towels to remove any excess water and oils.

When mixed and pushed into your lined loaf pan (so much easier to clean up afterwards), it's bespecked and quite retro looking, I think.

The finished  product.  This is Numbers Man's plate (minus the mashed potatoes I was reheating when I snapped the photo).  The carrot pieces are perfectly done and it all sticks together quite well.  Since there are but two of us eating this loaf, leftovers usually find their way into open faced sandwiches the following night.  Double duty!

Why Not to Get a Black Cat

Cuteness does not come across well in pictures. :(. She is curled up into a ball and has gathered up three of her feet and he tail and is holding them together with one paw and is hiding her head behind them.

In the photo...she's just a blob of black fur. Boo.

Enjoying things South

The sun is out and vacation is going well. Sea World was a blast as usual, if not completely exhausting. :)

We have a list of places we want to eat every time we come down and Chick-Fil-A is one of them. Can you believe there aren't any in the Seattle area? So sad! When we used to live here, I used to wax poetic about one of the kids who worked the counter at this location and guess what? He's still there! Love it! Some people really know how to bloom where they're planted.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week so far!

A Little Vacation

We made it home to SoCal for vacation - visiting family and enjoying the sunshine! Being used to the scenery of Washington now, our trips to California involve a lot of remarks about the sheer brown-ness of the supposed green. Nothing is quite so stunning as the contrasts within our country.

We Exalt Your Name

These days have been full of naps in late afternoon sun.  Next week will include a vacation down to San Diego to visit with my husband's family.  I hope they understand if I use their shoulders as pillows upon occasion.  The sun will shine brighter and I aim to rest, like a cat, in the rays.  But as life is prone to summon us into action, there will be much to do as well.  Thank goodness for the gladness of eager, loving arms, of the nearness of faces whose expressions have been only imagined for months now. 

For this and so much more, we exalt Your name.