The Prickly Pear - Day 36

What do YOU do with a Prickly Pear? - Day 36

The Prickly Pear grows all around the state of Arizona.

The spines look so intimidating!!

You would never know that the fruit is amazing to eat.

So amazing, that we choose to drive 54 miles just to collect a small amount

We don't just look at it, oh no!!

With a little work, we get to enjoy a little bit of heaven on our breakfast pancakes!

And don't worry, there are no spines in my jelly.  

This lovely specks are chipotle peppers that my husband loves.  

So, it becomes prickly pear chipotle pepper jelly.  

Beautiful View - Day 35

Beautiful Frontyard View -  Day 35

This is the view right out my front door.  You really can't ask for more!

This is the same view taken just a couple of minutes later.  Talk about the changes in the weather!!

The Mountain - Day 34

Driving Down to Phoenix - Day 34

On our way down to Phoenix, we started into the high desert.  This mountain was beckoning my camera.  I thought it was beautiful!

I have decided that sometimes you need to leave the desert for awhile in order to really appreciate it.  

Nine Grain - Day 33

Making Old Fashioned Bread - Day 33

We went to the valley for a day and stopped in at a Honeyville Farms store.  This store sells a lot of bulk type foods.  It also sells a lot of different grains.  One of the bags was called "Nine Grain".  My husband wanted it so badly!  So, we bought it, brought it home, put it in the wheat grinder machine, mixed it, kneeded it, baked it and WA LA!

Homemade Nine Grain Bread!

I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it tastes!  You are just going to have to take my word for it, 

or make some for yourself!

Pickles For Pleasure - Day 32

Canning Pickles - Day 32

I inherited a few cucumbers this weekend.  They were perfect for the bread and butter pickles that my mouth has been watering for.  So, when the weekend finally came around, we chopped cucumbers, onions, bell peppers and garlic.  I put them to soak in a salt brine for several hours.  

Once they were done, I rinsed them off and made the vinegar, spices, and sugar solution that they are covered in.  We poured them into the jars and gave them a nice hot water bath!

Oh my gosh, did they ever turn out tasty!!  I will never buy another pickle again.  These are simply amazing!

Nostalgia Sunday Creative- Day 31

The Nostalgia of Youth - Day 31

The Sunday Creative over at Madeline Bea's has a challenge this week.  The current challenge is "Nostalgia".

For me, nostalgia is about memories.  It is about the happy times of childhood.  

When I was a young girl, I used to go to grandma's house for part of every summer.  It was a time I cherished.  Grandma would help me learn to do all kinds of things.  One summer, she taught me how to knit and crochet.  I have not done it in years, but this weekend, I decided to re-teach myself.  In the process, my girls decided they really wanted to learn to do this too.  

First, I had to buy a book because I could not remember how to do any of it.  

I also had to buy hooks, yarn, and patterns.

Then, we had to learn to hold the hooks and work them through the yarn.

We had to keep focused on our task.

And pay close attention to the stitches.  

And just keep going, even when the going was a little difficult!

So, together, we sat and worked the threads.  

I couldn't help but feel nostalgia for the years 

I spent learning at my grandmother's knee. 

 What a wonderful opportunity to share the stories of childhood with my girls.  

That Doggy in the Window

WHO'S THAT LITTLE DOGGY 

IN THE WINDOW?

Our small Yorkshire terrier, has decided he is a "window dog"

It is the place he goes to watch for people to come home, watch for squirrels, 

watch for intruders, and watch for his favorite kids.

Most of the time, you can't get him to look at you when he is focused on the outside world.  This is a rare, head turning moment.  I only had one chance......

Then it is back to business!