80 Degrees ? Are You Kidding Me ?

That's WHISKEY SOUR sunning himself in the sun this morning..we have all the doors and windows wide open...because today our thermometer in the garden read 80 degrees. what is going on? i have been watching the Weather Channel and the whole world is buried in snow. i don't know if 80 degrees is a good thing or a bad thing. it just seems strange....

there is little Teddy outside this morning by the kitchen door in the herb garden...or what will be the herb garden come summer. right now the borage that i planted a couple of years ago has re-seeded and is coming up all over...the bumble bees love it.

this is my Spring Showers ....it is already blooming ...you can see the rose hips on my Berries and Cream rose in the background....

this was the view this morning...january 16th, 2011 from my clothesline in the backyard...notice the palm trees...so california...and that mountain is called Mission Mountain. at Christmas there is a lighted tree on top and at Easter a lighted cross.

my yellow johnny-jump-ups are blooming...leftover from last year...and still going....

my yellow Banks rose was blooming this morning too... i don't know why it is so warm here... i guess i will just go with it...feels like summer so this afternoon i am making a blueberry crisp....

The Gentle Barn

Get Involved

I saw this on Ellen the other day...and it brought me to tears...and I wanted to share it with you. It's called The Gentle Barn and it is an animal rescue in Southern California. It is filled with animals that were neglected and abused...and they have found a home in.... The Gentle Barn.

Click on : Get Involved to visit a most WONDERFUL place.

Sarabeth's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I picked one of the simplest recipes late yesterday afternoon out of my new Sarabeth cookbook. The oatmeal raisin cookies. The recipe in the book calls for sunflower seeds, but I didn't have any and used walnuts instead....and they turned out perfect....

i read this tip years ago...if your butter is cold, grate it...and it works pretty well.....

i threw everything into my mixer and let it go...

i am so IN LOVE with brown eggs. I would really like to get 3 chickens this SPRING but I am worried about my little stray kitty...Pixie Rose Marie...she is so skittish as it is I would be worried that chickens would scare her off....she has been here 3 years now...I always wonder what would have happened to her if I hadn't moved in here...

look at those for a jolt of THE HAPPY. my daffodils are opening up nicely.Sure makes it feel like SPRING in here.

Teddy Getting Cozy On A Sunday

it is 2 o' clock out here in california on sunday and teddy and i are still on the couch...what a cold, lazy day...i am still reading Sarabeth...but haven't made it to the kitchen...yet. see that look in Teddy's eye..we call it "showing whites".... that little look with the cresent moon in his eye...

i managed to get a bouquet of fresh daffodil stems yesterday...i walked downstairs this morning and was greeted by this...(but i still miss the christmas tree)....the little stuffed owl is Teddy's favorite toy...

look at that little nose...i call it my little cinnamon sugar donut....

come on mom..let me snooze on my snowman blankie...can't you go bake something?

New Year ~ New Cookbook

whew...i have to tell you i went into a bit of a post-holiday slump. january blues i guess. after all the fun and festivities of christmas...january rang in with a dose of the get-me-downs. but, as of today, i am out of the slump...and the reason why...this new cookbook. SARABETH'S BAKERY. FROM MY HANDS TO YOURS by Sarabeth Levine..... i just got it today...what a winner it is... it is a beauty. the photographs by quentin bacon are stunning. the book covers morning pastries, muffins and more, beautiful breads, everyday cakes, party cakes and company, pies and tarts, plain and fancy cookies, spoon desserts, frozen desserts, spreadable fruits and frosting, fillings and sweet sauces. i am really excited about the jam too. that is on my list of things to do for the new year. it's going to be busy in the farmhouse kitchen this year. now, where's my apron?

Good Bye 2010

the last day of 2010...what a year it has been. the loss of Buddy....and the gift of Teddy. looking forward to a peaceful new year... i have met so many wonderful new friends here this year..all because of this little space called a blog... i treasure each one of you and send you all warm New Year's greetings. Happy New Year, my friends. Sending love, Kary and Teddy

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, my friends. Sending love, Kary and Teddy