Happy New Year!!!

Time sure sure is flying....
HAPPY 2011 TO ALL!!!!!

Need I say more...

Happy Shopping :)

Gifts From the Garden

Not all from my personal garden but gardens of friends known and unknown to me.

Sights Seen At a Recent Parade - Camera Critters

My hubby and I recently went to a hometown parade - it was quite fun lots of neat floats and local color - this was a nice group to watch go by the lady with the Chihuahua was my favorite perfect for Camera Critters.

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to Me!!

It is so hard for me to believe that I started this lil 'ol blog a year ago.  Thank you to everyone who has visited and who has left me such encouraging comments throughout the year.  It sure has been FUN!!!

Camera Critters-Super Smart Turtles

These 2 female sea turtles have been trained by some wonderful volunteer trainers at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota Florida to be able to distinguish color.  We watched as the trainers held colored panels under the surface of the water.  As they would change the color the sea turtles who knew which color was theirs would turn and swim towards it.  The volunteers explained to us this is any easy way to separate the "girls" if they just need to treat one.  Very interesting and enjoyable to watch - who knew sea turtles were so SMART!

New Color Carnival

Beautiful things you see at Whole Foods.

This Color Carnival is dedicated to Martha (MM) who just recently retired from Color Carnival. 

 Happy Birthday Martha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Food Blog!!

I want to invite you to come on over to my new food blog.  I'm just getting it started so bear with me while I add to it.  I am looking forward to some fun times in the kitchen sharing some good food with you!

Camera Critters - Junior and Sonny "stand-off".

This is Sonny our daughter's cockatiel and Junior our maltese checking each other out - Junior doesn't know what to make of the silly bird.

Ruby Tuesday - Watery Wednesday!

All I can think is...
THIS IS THE LIFE!

Mellow Yellow Monday!

When my dear friend Martha (MM) put up a recipe for beer bread I knew I had to make it. Beer is not something that I keep in the house so buying beer required a trip to the liquor store. Little did I know that there were so many different types of beer to choose from. Now those that know me might think I chose this particular beer because the bottle matches my kitchen but not so - this is a heavy beer made with wheat and yeast and so that it why I chose it for the bread which by the way came out just perfect and didn't last long around my house at all :) Happy Mellow Yellow Monday!

Knee Surgery

My poor DH had to have surgery on his right knee this morning - he had a tear in his meniscus and he had a bit of arthritis that the doc "cleaned" up while he was "in" there. The surgery was arthroscopic which meant that he only had to make 2 small incisions in the knee to go in to do the repair. Not being in the medical field and luckily not having had surgery myself recently I was surprised to see the doctor's initials right above the bandage when he came out of recovery. "DC" (for Derek Cuff) do you see it in the photo? Apparently the doctor comes in before the surgery and puts his initials right above the place where the procedure will be done - I guess so there are no mistakes - like you know how you hear stories of body parts gone missing because the surgeon made a mistake. This may be strange to some of you but I thought it was very interesting - and I thought I'd share :) No mistakes here thanks Dr.Cuff!

Mellow Yellow Monday

This is the orchid that I gave to my dear friend Vicki for her birthday which is coming up this Wednesday. I took some photos of it while we were at the beach Satuday night. I think it is a very pretty variety. Happy Birthday Vicki and Happy Mellow Yellow Monday everyone!

Blogger Beach Bash 2010!

Thank you to Martha from Menagerie and Seaside Simplicity (to name just two) for bringing us together for the Blogger Beach Bash. Martha, myself, Lyndsey from The Tiny Skillet and Aqua Sunday and Vicki of Shell Seeker all met at the beach for the drum circle Saturday night. Martha provided a bit of "bubbly" cheer and a great time was had by all. The weather was perfect and the sunset spectacular! I can't wait to do it again - maybe next time more of you out there can join us?

Cheers!

"The Bloggers"

Glorious!

Fish Tacos

This is one of my most favorite meals to make and enjoy - fish tacos. They are so delicious and as with most tacos you can make them however you like the one pictured I added a little tomato and lettuce. The way we make them around here is:

1/2 lb White fish

Soft Taco shells

Dressing

1/2 cup Mayonnaise

2 tbs Dill (I use the dill paste from the produce dept)

the juice of 1 lime

Combine all in a bowl mix well and refrigerate.

Salsa

1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)

1 can whole corn - or 2 cups thawed frozen

Fresh cilantro coarsely chopped

1/4 cup red onion finely chopped

The juice of 2 limes - more to taste

Combine all in a bowl mix well and refrigerate

We either fry the fish in bread crumbs or just pop it in on the grill. Once your fish is ready spread some of the dressing on the taco shell put in the fish and top with the corn salsa - YUM!

While out taking my walk in the Poconos...

I met up with some lovely neighbors... And their friends...



Saw some pretty sights.

and some youngsters :)

What a nice walk!

Flowers in the Poconos - Some Wild - Some Not So Wild

Pretty Flowers were everywhere - some in gardens some just sprouting out of the gravel on the roadside all so fresh and colorful.

Dad's Lake

The Lake at the bottom of the hill - beautiful!

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

I'm off on another adventure to see my dad in the Poconos in Pennsylvania for a few days. I haven't been to the mountians in PA for at least 5 years - and he offered to fly me up so I said - Yes! I hope to blog from there but if not I'll be back in a week or so with tons of pictures and lots to tell so stay tuned. I leave you with this lovely flower from the firecracker bush in my backyard.

Smiling Biggie

This is Biggie he is our daughter Marissa's long haired chihuahua I took this picture of him while he was laying with his "mommy" she had just put her glasses on him - how cute and how happy he was to show them off! Perfect for Camera Critters - Happy Saturday Everyone :)

Stomboli YUM!

Stromboli is a favorite around here one reason I think everyone loves it is because the sky is the limit as to the combinations that can be created! These 2 here are definitely favorites of everyone in my house. On the left is the salami, pepperoni, provolone, mozzarella, garlic and basil - on the right is fresh spinach and mushroom sauteed and drained well - you don't want to add too much moisture to the dough as it makes it soggy - so after I saute I just blot the mixture with paper towels to dry it off pretty good then I added provolone cheese a small amount of Parmesan-Romano, garlic and basil. I cheat and use the pizza dough that I purchase at the Publix bakery roll it out nice and thin and as I said roll up just about anything that you like. Simple meal - just add a side salad and dinner is served!

Happy July 1 And Color Carnival!

More scenes from the Straw Market on Nassau - lovely sarongs for pretty girls to wear!

Sunset on the Sensation

Sunset on the last evening of the cruise. Spectacular! Happy Watery Wednesday to you.

Scenes From The Serenity Deck ~ Aboard The Sensation

Our last day was at sea Marissa my daughter and I spent a good part of it on the Serenity Deck, they have hot tubs there and calming music playing and bar service right at your lounge chair. These were the 2 chairs we were lucky enough to "lounge" on. I just love these yellow umbrellas they really kept the sun off of us ~ what a relaxing day it was. Just perfect for a Mellow Yellow Monday!

A Room With a View

This was my view from our cabin balcony on the cruise - really there is nothing like looking out on the vast Atlantic Ocean especially when you are in the middle of it. This photo is my om age to my bud and favorite co-worker Martha :) It's not a classic shadow shot but I thought it was close enough to share - Happy Sunday!

More from the Bahamas

While pulling into port we passed this lovely little lighthouse on one of the tiny out-islands, such a nice welcome for the ships coming in and those aboard.

A group of children listening to a band playing with a nice raggae beat.

A conch fishermen selling his wares.
Beautiful shells for sale.

The artisans on the island are amazing look at these wood carvings.
Bahama wear for all :)

Happy 100th Post to Me!!!

Picking something special for my 100th post ended up being pretty easy. We just got back from a cruise to the Bahamas for my DH's parents 50th wedding anniversary. The entire family was able to make the trip and with 2 dear Aunts along with us the total group was 18! Needless to say a fun time was had by all :) here is a shot of our amazing ship The Carnival Sensation. Nassau was beautiful the water was crystal clear, the sun was shining and the tempatures were hot hot hot!

Thank You Martha @ Menagerie for the 100th post celebration cupcake :)