"Light" Breakfast

Gloria made these fabulous sopapillas for our breakfast, the morning we left Mississippi. Oh My! This recipe must be a keeper! They were fresh, and so very light and airish. Melt in the mouth good. She rolled them lightly in sugar/cinnamon, and we drizzled honey on them before we popped them in our mouths.
And they all just floated away!
Here's the recipe:
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
4-6 Tbls lard or shortening
about 1 and 1/4 cups warm milk

Mix it up like a biscuit, knead it out (fold it over) 12 times, roll it out, and cut it. Fry in oil and drain on paper towels.

I'm in Mississippi this weekend. As we neared Edwards, the clouds grew ominous and gray, and a panel of rain poured down before us. Thunder, lightening and wind came, but we never had rain in town.
My mother-in-law has a new, wonderful gadget in her kitchen -- a countertop dishwasher! Have you ever seen anything so adorable?
It has room for a few glasses, plates, silverware, and is so small. It saves water and is perfect for one or two people.
I've taken many pictures of Gloria's lovely home, but I don't think I've ever photographed her hallway -- a broad area as wide as a small room. I love its angles, and the warmth of the bare wood.
Gloria's kitchen is bright with lots of cabinets. There's Anna! We're so glad to have her back from her summer at Ridgehaven.
The jewel of Gloria's home is the porch. Family and friends have spend many easy hours visiting there. Julia was painting at the round table, as you see.
Years ago, we played crochet on the front lawn. Now it's shadier a scattered with trees, very lovely.

Breezy at Birkdale

Today we went back to Birkdale Village, and took our guests -- the Deatsches! Here are (top) Holly & Kayren, (bottom) Aleya, Lorien, Julia. At this point they were happy and not sweaty yet :)
Our first stop was The Fragrance Shop -- such a great place! Alynn asked to go to Birkdale precisely so she could visit here. Last summer she found her Most Beloved Fragrance here. (Don't we all have one, ladies?) We had fun sniffing dozens of little glass jars. Isn't it a lovely store?
The Fragrance Shop has gorgeous glass bottles in its windows. I couldn't resist a few shots. We told the little girls NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING. These jars are not cheap.

Kayren is a great photographer. Here she has the other girls lined up for a photo shoot. I took advantage of the moment.
Holly -- she's actually Alynn's brother's daughter, and we love it when she comes to visit.
Kayren is comfortable behind the lens.
Julia had just finished brushing her hair. She's turning into a young lady.
Lorien, who is very lovely.
Birkdale blooms.
Tom, with his girl, Aleya. Sandy has taken a real shine to Tom. She's happy in the middle of things.
She's a mighty pretty puppy :)
Tom and Alynn -- our best friends. We relish our time with them each year, and are sorry we live so far apart. But, someday -- forever together in heaven. Is that too morbid to say? I'm looking forward to it.
After getting ice cream (which melted at alarming speed in the heat) we sat on park benches. The breeze picked up, and in the shade it was pleasant. Crepe myrtle blossoms blew into our hair. Alynn and I leaned into the crooks of our husbands arms and all was well in the world.
Julia plays with Sandy constantly. Sandy is very comfortable with her, and will lie on her back in Julia's lap, trusting her implicitly. It's a dear thing.
We came home to gyros and fried potatoes for supper, and a nice evening of singing and visiting .

Whoosh!!!

That's the sound of the next 2 weeks of my life, flying by.

So, if you don't hear much from me, it's because I'm just insanely busy. We have family coming to town for a visit, and some traveling happening here and there. I'll update y'all on it all later, when I've recovered, if that's alright! Or, if I snatch a few stray minutes to post a picture or two, you'll find them here.

Hasta Luego!

Give me autumn!

If you wiped clean from my mind any knowledge of today's date,
And had me sniff the air and the grass,
And feel the cool wafts of breeze,
And hear the tinkling of rain on bricks,
And watch the scudding, low clouds,
I'd say it was late September.

But it's July.
What a respite today is! I could truly live in this weather all the time: 70 degrees, cool, damp, soothing, just a hint of something brisk in the air.

Adam says he needs it 10 degrees cooler, and I must agree with him. Because I want weather that's comfortable with long pants and a sweater. I want to be chilly in shorts.

About 3 days of summer is adequate for me; give me autumn!

Look at those hips!!

Rose hips, that is!
Can you believe how huge and red this rose hip is? Anybody know how to make rose hip tea with these?
I have quite a few. They look like cherry tomatoes. These are on my Rugosa rose bush.

Shhhh!!

This morning I made a secret happy :) This adorable little change purse is for the lady who recently purchased my FIRST crocheted bag. Don't tell! It's a secret!