Friday, December 12, 2014

Special Granola Recipe




Having a few moments of retirement time on my hand, I decided to construct a granola recipe I found, while  rearranging Bev’s recipe binder.  The following is the recipe, the preparation, baking and completion:

Dry mix
6 cups -  Rolled Oats  (large flake)
1 cup -  Sunflower Seeds (raw unsalted)
1 cup  -  Wheat Germ
½ cup - Large Shred Coconut (unsweetened)
½ cup - Sesame Seeds (white untoasted)
½ cup - Wheat Bran
Wet Mix
1 cup  - Maple Syrup
¾ cup - Vegatable Oil
½ tsp - Salt
1 tbsp - Vanilla
Garnish –your choice or as a suggestion:
4 cups Rasins
2 cups Almonds or other dried nuts

Preparation
Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside
Mix wet ingredients in another bowl and stir well
Mix Garnish ingredients and set aside
Mix the dry and wet ingredients together and then divide them evenly onto two large baking sheets.

Baking
Cook at 350 degrees for:
7 minutes then remove and stir
then bake another 8 minutes.
Remove from the oven and spread the garnish over the two sheets
Return to the oven to bake for another 10 minutes or until reaching a desired golden appearance.

Remove from the oven to cool, then store in an airtight container.

Enjoy the fruits/nuts of your labor ........ filled with delicious healthy food.
Sprinkled on some yogurt and fruit or as a breakfast bowl on its own.
Great for the holiday season!!!!
Brian

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Ski Day

Hubby and I went Cross Country skiing with firstborn and one of the grands!...
 The weather was warm.... you can see the Chinook Arch in the sky...
The warm temperatures and cool evenings have given the snow a smooth frozen look...
You can almost see the reflection of the trees in the snow.
I love the 'warm' winter days!!


Monday, December 8, 2014

Happy Monday...

 I love the frost...hanging around!!
We had a full weekend..
Christmas recital with a granddaughter.... 
Nutcracker performance with another grand...
Freezing rain and icy roads....
Ready for a new week!!

Friday, December 5, 2014

Retirement......

My this is wonderful ......... I would not have imagined it would be like this!!!
Over thirty five years wondering what would this look like when it finally came.
Well the past five years have been a "transition".  I don't think "cold turkey" would have been the way to go. In fact it seems as if I have slipped into a "different life style" with my best friend. We like it!!
Know doubt there will be adjustments to be made along this journey and we will keep you posted.
Keep in mind this is my reflection and is not the same for all retirees.

The biggest positive change I feel is "the quality use of our time". Being able to focus in on what is important to us at this stage of our life and appreciating it.
For example:
Shop Time
Father/Son's Campout
Kayaking - Father/Son
RVing with my Best Friend

Brian




Thursday, December 4, 2014

Home...

Monday morning 4:30 am...we hit the road. I don't know why...but I have a hard time sleeping when I know we are going to be travelling...so I was up at 3:00 am... got all ready then woke hubby up and it wasn't long before we were driving away!

We didn't hit any snow until Utah...and it was just in the distance!
We drove 13 hours Monday... and 13 hours on Tuesday...We have made this trip often over the past few years and we never tire of it!!
. I keep busy when I'm not driving... 
The scenery is beautiful! And has changed since our drive down.

Middler and family live in Southern Alberta...so we visited on our way thru...
Hubby was put to work....saving a trip to the hairdresser!
Such a talented man I have:)!! 

(He has been wanting  to do a few posts on my blog for a few years. 
These posts are now in the works and will be posted occasionally!)

We are now unpacked...
We put our tree up before we left...so I just have to do a bit of decorating and the house will be ready  for Christmas!

Monday, December 1, 2014

Filled with Gratitude

Our time in the desert is coming to an end as we will be heading home for Christmas! I've so enjoyed our USA Thanksgiving and Black Friday!! I don't like the crowds...but I enjoy the experience!!


One of our park neighbours puts up wonderful Christmas lights with Christmas music...this year he started them a few days early so that we could enjoy them before we leave.
We love walking by in the evenings...watching the lights and hearing the music...

Being a Canadian girl Christmas- cold and snow go together   .... 
I am still in awe as we walk through Christmas Tree lots in shorts and tank tops...

We'll head home to family, cold and snow... i hear there is lots of snow...
We'll get to wear toques (being down here... I realize most Americans have no idea what a toque is:) mitts, boots scarves, heavy coats...we'll walk in the snow, shovel the snow and ski...

I can't begin to express the gratitude I have that we are able to enjoy both worlds!

Friday, November 28, 2014

Made us smile!

Had to chuckle as we biked past this van....
A spanking new Satellite Dish on top!

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!


I am double blessed this year. 
We not only celebrated our Canadian Thanksgiving in October...
we are now celebrating Thanksgiving in the USA
Tuesday evening we celebrated Thanksgiving with some of our friends down south!
 Today we will share Thanksgiving Dinner with all our friends in our park!!

Wishing you all a Wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Around Yuma...

We took a trip to Mexico..
I couldn't say no to  the boy selling these baskets... 

After Mexico, we took a little trip across the Ocean to Ocean Bridge
All the years we are been in Yuma...and never driven across it..
We decided to see where it took us...

It takes you into Winterhaven CA..
We  followed the Imperial County S24 road for a scenic drive...
Ended up by the Yuma Proving Grounds...
A great afternoon drive!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Another Busy Weekend...

Friday evening, Yuma had it's Historic Downtown Art Walk....



Saturday the Annual Christmas Bazaar was held at the Civic Center...
It was also... the Colorado River Crossing Ballon Festival weekend.
This was the first year we attending the Ballon Glow Saturday evening.
Early Sunday morning we biked to watch the Ballon Launch once again...
but because of the wind they were not able to launch.

It was a full and fun weekend~

Friday, November 21, 2014

Cotton Fields

We biked by a cotton field the other day.
We were able to get up close to the plants this time.
 I don't what what I thought the cotton plant was...but it is like a flower...the buds open...and you have cotton flowers...
I don't know why but this just intrigues me!!
On the outskirts of Yuma...they have cotton all bundled up...
I was shopping for batting for quilts...and I found Cotton Quilt Batting ...grown in the USA.... Maybe it was grown right here in Yuma....

I realize the 'crop' is no different than grain...but it's so new to me I'm in awe!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

This and That around Yuma...

Old Town hosted the Date Festival this past weekend.
Yuma Mall had their Christmas Tree Lighting..
Starbucks had two for one Festive Drinks ...so we got lots of computer time in!
They had a new flavour Chestnut Praline Latte.... I had more than one to many!!



Monday, November 17, 2014

Bread Making...

I have a Bosch...that I use to make my bread. I LOVE it.... I don't have to knead my bread...just mix... let it rise... mix....then just form it into loaves and I'm done! I have never made home down south.

Well I had brought a fair bit of whole wheat flour done, so I thought I would try to make some here...without my Bosch!....
 Made by hand...hand kneaded in my little kitchen and baked in my little oven!
It turned out fairly good...
It was all whole wheat flour...which I don't usually do...but it turned out light and yummy!!! 

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Projects I'm working on....

Being south means having more time to do the things I rarely have time to do at home....
Like:
Working on my Christmas Ornaments for 2015
Last year when I was here I finished the ones for 2014!
 Crocheting Slouch Hats
 Embroidering Week Tea Towels 
(wow its been years since I did this!)
Sewing in my outside sewing room
Reading a selections of books!

It amazes me how much I can accomplish down here!!
Most of these projects don't get touched when I'm back home.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Watermelon Salad in November....

A little Tea House in our home town serves this delicious Watermelon Salad in the summer.

We arrived in Yuma a week ago and I found a watermelon for $1.00...yes it was at a Dollar Store...and it is DELICIOUS!!

We have enjoyed my copy cat version of that Tea House Salad a couple times this week....
Watermelon Salad
Broken up Lettuce
Chopped Almonds
Chucks of Watermelon
Feta Cheese
(amounts...do whatever works for you!)

Dressing
Olive Oil 1/4 cup
Vinegar (apple cider, regular...experiment with it:) 1/3 cup
Honey (or sugar ) 1/4 cup
approx 1 tsp poppy seeds

Shake together.... (the above should do two bowls of salad, if not make more!

Very delicious on these warm November days!!


Monday, November 3, 2014

Reflections


After much reflection... 
I have decided that my Blog needs updating...
Over the next while... 
Changes will be made... 
Stay tuned


National Puppy Day

Miss Pepper…..she changed our life… But life wouldn’t be as full without her! She is a kind sweet puppy that always ‘try’s😳’ to please.