I Want To Love The Summer...

really I do...but,

I am not really enjoying the unbearable heat and humidity this summer.

It drains my soul in every way possible and does it in no time at all.

It is impossible for me to spend any length of time outdoors, even with this beautiful pool.

It looks lovely, I know, but it is a lot of work, and the hubs has been doing all of it.

The only way I can stay cool in the pool is if I am completely under water.

I feel so much guilt that we don't use it more,

 it is lovely with a breathtaking view of the river we live on.

My Hydrangea are sporting their second blooms, these flowers are from several different plants.

To the left, on the table, are rocks my niece gave me from New Zealand,

 they are always right there in that spot.

They are "purplish", you can't tell that in the pictures.

We have been eating a lot of food like this this summer. 

Fresh, summer foods that are light and easy.

We really like cold pasta salad and I make it often in the summer.

I add red onion, red pepper and lot's of dill and green onions from my garden.

The ingredients...

the recipe card I use for the Pasta Salad, in case you would like to try it.

I do not add chicken to mine.

You can see the recipe card is well loved, I have made this so many times.

I have been making these eggs for breakfast.

I don't usually like scrambled eggs, but this is different, more like a fluffy omelet.

Made in the microwave with just an egg and mayonnaise, this is delicious and ready in 50 seconds.

The link to the recipe is here.

I always top mine with "Everything But The Bagel" Seasoning.

We are so lucky to live by the shore, fresh seafood is always available.

We really love the fried shrimp, with fresh cut fries at Shore Fresh.

The also have the best new England Clam Chowder.

We are in the middle of a heat wave here at the Jersey Shore...

it was 104 degrees here yesterday.

I went outside to water the garden and snap a few pictures.

I'll share how the garden is growing tomorrow.

If I haven't melted, thank goodness for air conditioning!

It's A Heat Wave...I Am A Happy Knitter

 Is it hot where you live...is it hot everywhere?

I went out yesterday, I had an appointment and the heat was oppressive.

I can assure you I will not be going out tomorrow.

I have a few meals planned for here at home, nothing that will require the oven.

We will use the grill - "maybe" - or the toaster oven.

I have a chicken from Costco and I plan on making chicken salad tomorrow.

We enjoy chicken salad sandwiches for dinner with fries or pasta salad.

We also enjoy fresh vegetables cut up with a good dip.

I have been dreaming about a good deviled egg, I think I will make some.

In other "news"...

I started a new knitting project many moons ago.

I started this 3 times and had to rip it out 3 times...the 4th time was the charm.

I am knitting this with yarn I received in my 

"Beat The Winter Blues" swap box from a girl in the knitting group, Mary Ellen.

Thanks so much Mary Ellen!

I am knitting with this swanky dk yarn in the color "Velvet Underground".

This is beautiful yarn and I am really enjoying working with it.

I have vases of these blue hydrangeas scattered all about the house,

they really brighten up our space.

They elude joy and happiness... 

I feel like they are a big contributor in making a house feel like a home!

My blue hydrangea bushes are in the backyard and the flowers are so heavy they have been hanging over.

I have cut a lot of them because their stems can't hold them up, 

they are not in the front yard and passer-bys can't see them anyway.

I have been watching a few older movies on television.

Do you remember "Turner and Hooch"...

I love this movie and enjoyed it just a much this time as I did the first time I watched it.

I also watched "Still Mine", a movie from 2012.

A Canadian romantic drama, based on a true story, this was a little sad but very endearing. 

Be sure to have those tissues close by!

The USA won again.

We are in the knockout round of the games so you have to win your match to stay in the tournament.

This is so exciting, I have to be honest and say I forget about the other countries.

I have only watched the USA games as I know a little bit about the team, 

and so son Mike and I can share the excitement together.

That's a wrap...I hope it is a little cooler where you are!

Let's Talk About Valentines Day

This post is a "little" wordy...maybe a lot wordie, please read it, it is so worthy!

 I like Valentines Day...for us, it is an easy holiday to celebrate.

Here, it's all about love.

I don't want a gift, flowers or jewelry...I do love a pretty card and we generally eat out.

In December, the hubs tried to make a dinner reservation at a restaurant we were curious about.

They had nothing available.

The girl suggested Valentines Day, 2 months away.

The hubs was going to wait until she said all she had left on Valentine's Day was 2:30, he grabbed it.

WoW!! that was a great decision, and the name of this restaurant you ask...

Sinners Steakhouse

in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

Everything about this place is amazing!!

Two young, very happy people, dressed in their Valentines best, met us at the door.

We chatted for a minute and our table was ready.

A great table, by the window with an awesome view of the Point Pleasant Inlet.

If you have been following my blog for any length of time, 

you know this is where the hubs and I went on our first date.

Complementary Bruschetta came first, yes please, it was delicious.

We shared a Ceasar Salad, this was half, the chef split it for us.

The hubs had Filet Mignon,

with a baked potato,

and these yummy onion rings.

I know they were yummy because I ate two of the four.

I had Pasta Carbonara with Filet Tips and Pancetta, it was heavenly.

Huge chunks of filet and big pieces of pancetta.

These are some pictures from the dining room...the ceiling was covered with the decore.

Here we are, this was not just dinner, it felt like a culinary celebration.

The wait staff was impeccable, the restaurant was exquisite, artistically decorated for the holiday.

Sadly, we did not have room for desert.

I saw the deserts they were serving and they looked amazing, very elaborate, but we just couldn't do it.

Backing up just a tad, there seemed to be a little confusion about it being our anniversary, it was not.

I struck up a conversation with the lovely young lady who seated us...

and she asked if we were celebrating a birthday, or special occasion.

We both said no but I went on to say, you know I did, that we have been married for 48 years.

After dinner as we were waiting for our check...this appeared with a shooting sparkler.

The girls announced to the entire restaurant that we have been married for 48 years.

Everyone in the restaurant clapped and cheered, even me.

There was more, I babbled and babbled and turned as red as my valentine napkin.

That young couple seated behind us were so sweet, congratulating us as we left.

Here we are leaving, wow, there are no words...except,

we will be back!

Thank you everyone, even to the few people I did not meet!

In The Kitchen

 We enjoy eating out for dinner but I also enjoy cooking.

I guess what I really enjoy is an even blend of both.

When the boys were little, I cooked every night and it became a chore.

I think I enjoy cooking more now as I am not limited to "what will they eat"?

The hubs eats and loves everything and is always so complimentary of anything I make.

I watch Allrecipes on YouTube and the girl made this, she did not give measurements,

except the one cup of pasta, that she did clarify.

She did a squeeze of this, a little of that and a whole lot of spices, s & p, and italian seasonings.

I added seasonings as I went, it felt liberating not to measure.

- the ingredient lineup -

Brown one pound of good ground beef...

add one diced sweet onion.

Maybe 2 tablespoons of tomato paste and 2 tablespoons of ketchup, something like that.

Add about 2 cups of beef broth...and 1 cup of uncooked elbow noodles...

the noodles will cook in the broth.

Once they are Al-Dente, add some heavy cream, a splash...I think I added about 1/4 cup.

It will look creamy like this...

then add 2 big handfuls of cheddar cheese, forget to take a picture, and dinner is done.

It will look pretty like this.

It would be great with a salad but I did not have the ingredients for a salad.

We had it with French Bread and it was delicious.

A little reminiscent of Hamburger Helper but so much better.

A Few Little Things

Life has been kind of busy lately...

Driving through my neighborhood, I stumbled upon this adorable statue in a neighbors side yard.

I had to do a little trespassing to get these pictures, I wonder if anyone else ever sees it

or has ever felt the excitement I did when I stumbled upon it!

I am making grand progress on the knitted blanket I am making 

for youngest son Michael for Christmas.

I am certain it will be done in time for the holiday and he will be here for an entire week for Christmas.

I promised my mother I would make one for her too.

I am using a kit from 

Sierra Yarn

The kit included the pattern, yarn and circular needle, the color is Andean Solid.

The yarn is worsted weight, 60% Baby Alpaca and 40% Pima Cotton.

This blanket is knitted with a double strand of yarn, it feels like a cloud and I love working with it.

My needle broke at the halfway point and they were kind enough to send me another.

I love a company that has good customer service.

My KC Chiefs won their game this past Sunday...here's Patrick bringing the ball into the endzone.

I wear my #15 Jersey proudly and the hubs and I talked alot about seeing them play at the stadium.

They are playing at noon this Sunday,

 I am going to make a lot of "picky" foods to eat during the game...like tailgating but at home.

I made this Pasta Salad 

and these Deviled Eggs as a goodbye to summer.

Once or twice during the winter I make these foods to celebrate the fact that summer is coming. 

We'll have a "car picnic" at the inlet and dream of the warmer days coming.

If you're interested in the Pasta Salad recipe, it can be found here.

In the recipe they call for chicken to be added but I never do, but I bet it would be delicious with chicken.
I you are interested in making a really good pasta Salad with Dill,

I have made and written about this salad here and here.

I also put together this amazing 

Hot Cheesy, Bacon Dip for potato chips.

The ingredient line up is as follows...

- eight slices of cooked bacon, chopped -

- 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese -

- 1/2 chopped green onions -

- 8 ozs sour cream -

- 1 cup of mayonnaise -

Blend all ingredients, transfer to a pie dish, my store did not have any so I used square.

Spread mixture into your pie plate or something similar in size.

I topped mine with bacon pieces and slices of green onion.

Bake at 350 for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbly.

Serve with Ruffled potato chips, they stand up to the dip...I made 2 for my friends who are going to 

The Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival in NY this weekend.

Happy Rhinebeck Weekend...I wish I was there with you.

This dip is incredible...always a hit at any gathering.

We rarely see Sailboats at the inlet...one afternoon we saw 2.

The mums on my front porch still look rather fabulous...

and the Rhododendron below is in full bloom at my moms house here in New Jersey.

I am not familiar with a Rhododendron that blooms more than once a year.

I will look into it and keep you posted for those that may be interested.

It's a really beautiful pink.
And many thanks to Karen who gifted me some of these mums, they are still so pretty.

The highlight of my week thus far

was seeing my 2 great nieces cheer at their Pep Rally for School.

Saturday is their first competition this season 

and I may be more excited than they are. 

I'll be there, front and center...I love them so much.

While out for drives, the hubs and I have been seeing so many homes decorated for Halloween.

They really do it up around here in New Jersey.

I have been taking my time, photographing all the homes...so many pictures and will share then here soon.

Have a wonderful weekend!