NEED A BREAK

                       HOT FUDGE SAUCE

                  From Ree, the pioneer woman

I am sure you have been to her blog, or watched her on TV. 
I have her cook books and found this recipe for hot fudge!!
It is so yummy.  When you are trying to decorate, or sew or maybe work in the garden you are earning points to spend on yummy stuff.  So forget the diet, forget about scales. Just make some wonderful fudge sauce, pour over your favorite ice cream and enjoy the day.

                            Recipe for fudge sauce
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3 teaspoons vanilla extract

in a medium saucepan, gently whisk together cocoa powder and sugar.  Whisk in the cream, then turn heat to medium and whisk it as it warms up.  When the mixture starts to heat up, add the butter and stir it in to melt.  Then when the mixture is nice and hot, add the vanilla and stir to combine.
let sauce cool in the pan about 5 minutes and transfer to a mason jar.  Store in the fridge.  It will harden, just scoop out the amount you  want, warm in the microwave.  the pioneer woman

IT CAN BE A (MY) CASTLE

                             OKAY, so I exaggerated!

After being pretty unhappy about where we moved to, I started re-following Marty, who owns the blog "A Stroll Thru Life".   
Her advice, was, change your mind, look at things with a different point of view.  By changing your point of view your home can become your castle. 
Maybe for me, it will start with the little things, like not using the dining room table as a place to store things.  Actually clean it off and do a center piece.
Just because you have to down size, does not mean you give up on life.  Just means, things have changed.

Marty, is a wonderful person.  I only know her by following her blog, but I look forward to each new entry.  I know I will learn something new.  I know I will get inspired to try something new.  
For now, I will trick my mind into thinking I have a castle. My tiny bathrooms will become jewel boxes, (another blog post from Marty).
another point, Marty does all her decorating on a budget, she can take something old and thru her vision make it something new.
So, if you have not discovered A stroll thru life, follow her for awhile and you to will know you live in a castle.

REACHING MY GOAL

                                                    MY GOAL

Being as sick as I was, I was unable to attend the high school play my grandson was in.  Also, since he is a member of the choir (several choirs actually) I was also unable to attend any of his concerts.
Zoe, is also in a choir, the Jr. high choir, I missed so much.
But, I set a goal, knowing they always sing in the park during Apple Blossom time, I set the goal of making it to their concerts.

 It was a beautiful day and perfect for the concert.
This was Seth's concert.  

 This was Zoe concert, held a couple of days later.  I made it to both concerts.
Now, I am making more plans and meeting more goals.  
This little blog is also one of those goals.

No matter what your goal is, know that you will reach that goal.  Just take it one day at a time.

I Have been missing

Missing but still around.  I had such high hopes for this second blog and here I go messing it all up.
I had a combination of pneumonia and a stint that had been put in when I had caner, getting infected.  The stint put in to save my life almost took me out.  It has been a rough few months but I am on the road to recovery.
Walking has been painful because of so many months on bed rest, but that is also improving.

so with high hopes:   Her we go again---  I would really like your opinion on a few things in fact on a lot of things, so do visit me.

  We will spend some time in the garden;

 Time on the water, this is Rocky Reach Dam, from a water view.

Shopping Stemilt

              OUR VALLEY

You might have heard of the fruit company called   Stemilt   I think they ship across our great country. 

We are blessed to have them in our own back yard.

 Have you ever spotted such luscious pears?

 The corn comes in from Quincy, all freshly picked,  Yummy.

 Freshly dug potatoes--perfect for those twice baked potatoes. 
Well, just another quick visit to our valley. Might just be a good reason why we call it paradise.  

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Welcome

                                                   My second Blog

 What you might call a big work in progress. I have yet to pick colors, fonts and fun stuff.
I did want to get started and to let you know I am inviting you to share a bit of my paradise.

               So dry and so wet

We are on the 'dry' side or desert side of the state of Washington.  Many think of Washington as being Seattle, but, it is so much more then that.
The picture above is called Lake entiat, which was created when a dam (one of many) were placed on the Columbia river.
As you can see from the hills it is dry. 
The dam brought irrigation to the valley and many farms and orchards.  
It also brought recreation.

            Boating a family sport
Just a brief preview of what I like to share.

I also hope to share my down sizing story.
That just might be chapter one!!

So join me on my journey. Maybe I can encourage you if you are facing challenges and feel alone.  You probably will end up being the ones who encourage me.