It's National Cookie Day !

What a great day to celebrate - National Cookie Day! Who doesn't like cookies, they are awesome! Although I love most desserts, a good cookie will win me over every time. I don't make many cookies these days, but use to when the kids were little. One of their favorites was gingerbread cookies. This recipe is from my Grandmother and every time I look at her recipe, I just laugh. She lists the ingredients, in most cases, but no directions. Most of her recipes are this way. You really hope you can figure them out. 

Not only do I have her recipe, but also the bowl she used to mix them in.

Fall reminds me of stews

Now that fall is officially here and the weather has turned cooler, well maybe not everywhere, still warm here in southern Florida, it is time for stew. 

My husband craves Brunswick stew. He loves this stuff. His brother lives in Georgia and when we go there, we have to stop at every BBQ stand to try their Brunswick stew. Some are better than others. Last month when we were visiting my son, my husband was looking through a new cookbook and found this Brunswick stew recipe. That meant that I had to make it. 

BBQ Pork Sandwiches

Fall reminds me of comfort food. One of my husbands favorite comfort sandwiches is a BBQ pork sandwich.  Sometimes I think he grew up in the south the way he likes southern food even though he grew up in Wheeling, WV. Maybe it is just something about southern cooking! 

A few years ago I was watching the Food network and Paula Deen was making these BBQ pork sandwiches. I made them for my husband - and the rest is history!

Fall Candle Vase from a Wicker Lamp

A few months back, I pulled a wicker lamp out of the neighbors junk pile. The cord had been cut off but the rest of the parts where there. I keep lamp parts so I took it apart. The lamp shade was "toast",  I wanted to recover it so that was fine. The base of the lamp was wicker and in good shape, but I didn't like the color (sort of dirty blond).  Sorry, I don't have a picture of the original lamp. I didn't think I would be using the base. 

The other day as I was cleaning and found the wicker base and had an idea. I found some brown spray paint. I got so excited that I forgot to take a before picture. While the paint was drying, I headed to A. C. Moore for a couple of items.

Free Rocking Chairs

Free is great! We all love free of course. This months rubbish day was very successful. As you may know if you follow my blog that each month we are allowed to "throw out" our rubbish for "balk pick up". In most cases it is plant and tree trimmings, but I have picked up some great furniture pieces. This week was no exception. 

My neighbor across the street put out these rocking chairs. I went to put out some garbage and wow there they were. I got so excited, I ran over there and my neighbor happened to be out. Can I have those? Of course, they had bought new ones. They needed some repairs.

Burlap covered vases

As I watch others post their fall projects and talk about cooler weather, it is hard to think about fall when the weather is still so warm here in southern Florida. We may cool off to the mid eighties tomorrow. lol!

So this post is about creating the vases for this "fall" centerpiece.

Our passion for cookies!

Cookies - those tasty little treats that we all seem to desire. Just enough to satisfy our "sweet tooth" but not enough to blow our diet, unless we eat too many of them. By definition, a cookie can be any of a variety of hand-held, flour-based sweet cakes, either crisp or soft. While blogging, I have seen many recipes for cookies being posted. For example: I found these two recipes on Create It Thrusday linky party.

Ree's Brown Sugar Oatmeal Lace Cookies           Double Chocolate Cookies

Each country has its own word for "cookie." 

Making the bathroom shine! Cleaning Tips!

It is hard to believe that it is September and fall will be here soon. This is especially true here in LA as the temperature has been in the 100's since I arrived. Now that is hot!

My daughter is actually outside LA near Burbank. You may know if you follow me that she just moved here. She was staying at a friends home while the hardwood floors were being refinished. Last Friday(week from Friday) was the first night that she actually stayed in the house when I arrived. Boxes were everywhere but we did have beds. Finding towels the next morning was something else!