Don the Tomato Man...

Don and Sue have been a part of my family's life since 1989.  We moved across the street from them and immediately formed a bond.  Well to be honest the bond started when our son Mitch would practice hitting golf balls across the street and into Don's garden!  Don would kindly bring over a hand full of golf balls and either a bowl full of his homegrown strawberries or tomatoes.  To this day Don loves to laugh about Mitch hitting golf balls into his gardens.  Don still tells me he would tell Mitch he plants his golf balls but no matter what he does he can't get them to grow!  Don is an avid gardener and raises the sweetest & juciest tomatoes you have ever put in your mouth!  This year Don planted 80 tomato plants!  I can't even manage to grow and produce a couple of plants, yet this sweet man, flourishing at the age of 86, has 80 thriving tomato plants!  I get a phone call at least twice a week from Don.  It's always the same… "Gwyn Day, we have tomatoes for you to enjoy!"  You don't have to tell me twice, I'm in the car and headed his way as soon as I hang up!  Mark and I have enjoyed BLTs and Caprese Salads all summer!  mmmmm… I know what I am making for dinner!

Sue has her favorite types of tomatoes and Don takes special care of those plants.  Sue has struggled with her health the past few years, and Don is there for her every step of the way.  If you look up caregiver I am most certain Don's picture would be found in the definition.  He is quite a man indeed!

I am continuing to sharpen my photography skills, thanks to Nelou.  For some time now, I have been wanting to photograph this sweet couple along with Don's beautiful garden…  And as luck would have it, Don and Sue were thrilled to have me come and snap a few pictures!  Side bar… I don't know how you photographers do it- photographing weddings, newborns, families etc.!!!  This I know for sure… I would never ever consider doing such a hard and demanding job!  Oh the pressure!  I think I'll stick to honing my skills on food and flowers!

Not everyone is as lucky as I am to have fresh homegrown tomatoes all summer long from a dear friend- so my advice to you… be sure to check out your local Farmer's Market.  Slice some fresh tomatoes, fry up some bacon and make yourself a yummy BLT.

BLT

Fresh sliced tomatoes

Lettuce

Crispy bacon

Miracle Whip

Peanut Butter

Toasted bread

You are probably saying "what?" peanut butter!  Don't knock it till you try it!  Toast the bread and spread one slice with a generous amount of peanut butter and place the bacon on top.  Spread miracle whip on the other slice of bread, add tomatoes on top of the bacon, followed by the lettuce, and top it off with the bread and enjoy!  Get in my mouth now!

Caprese Salad

Fresh sliced tomatoes

Fresh basil

Fresh mozzarella cheese

Excellent balsamic vinegar

Slice up your tomatoes, chop up some basil, add mozzarella cheese and drizzle with balsamic vinegar!  Enjoy!

new direction...

     I took a little "hiatus" from my blog.  Let's be honest, I haven't posted since July, 2014 and not often before then!  Over the past year I have dabbled at many things.  Learning guitar, blogging, reading, photography, cooking, & even taking French lessons on my computer.  And while I love the "idea" of doing so many things, I have discovered my true passion is being in the kitchen.  What warms my heart the most is making something yummy and then passing it on to someone else to enjoy.  I have been working the past couple of years with an amazing woman, photographer and a person I now call friend!  Nelou of nelougrace.com is so talented in so many areas- photography, computer skills, Lightroom, design and so on…  I have learned so much and look forward to learning more from my sweet friend.  What I have discovered over the past few months is when I have time to do as I please, I often gravitate towards the kitchen and whip something up!  While driving in the car the idea came from the back of the Suburban… "bake and take!"  Perfectly fitting, since I just adore to bake and take to family, friends, coworkers and whoever will be my guinea pig!  So I am putting my "big girl" camera on the shelf for a while and placing my primary focus on baking, along with taking pictures with my iPhone (seriously… so handy!!).  Don't get me wrong, I love my "big girl" camera and I plan to use it a lot, especially when we go to the cabin.  But for now… I'm finding the iPhone camera does an amazing job and is super simple when it comes to photographing my yummies for blogposts!  Thanks to Nelou for "re-designing" my blog!  Nelou has fantastic ideas and I highly recommend her services!

     One of my favorite treats as a kid were Rice Krispy Treats!  Mom made them all the time and she would vary the ingredients from time to time.  Today I am sharing her "kicked up treats."  These treats aren't your basic off the box recipe… no sireeeee!  They are soft and just the right amount of "goo!"  Altogether now… mmmmmmmm.

Ingredients:

5 Tablespoons butter

8 cups mini marshmallows

1/2 cup peanut butter (I prefer smooth)

6 cups Krispie Rice Cereal

1/2 teaspoon salt

Melted chocolate chips (optional)

Directions:

1. Butter a 9x13 pan, set aside.
2. In a large pot over low heat, melt butter and peanut butter.  Add 8 cups of mini marshmallows, stirring constantly until melted.  Add salt.
3. Once the marshmallows and peanut butter are melted, stir in the cereal.  Mix well and press into the prepared pan.
4. Allow to cool completely before drizzling chocolate or cutting into squares.  I usually put the pan in the refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.  

Additional Notes:  You can omit the peanut butter if you prefer.  If you omit the peanut butter I would add 1/2 cup - 1 cup more cereal.

Adapted from my mom's recipe.  Thanks mom!

Grab a cup of tea or coffee, kick back and enjoy!

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back on the trail

Almost four seasons have gone by since my last post!  I'd like to say "shame on me" or "I am so sorry I haven't blogged!", but I can't and I won't!  Looking back over this last year I can truly say it has been the hardest walk of my life.  The walk isn't over but I can say it is getting easier!  Over the past year I have had several "ah ha" moments and I have discovered so many things not only about myself but other people in my life as well!  We are all responsible for taking this journey we call life in whatever direction we want to take.  Mine has had several detours but I can finally say I'm back on the right trail!

As I look back over the year I have started and stopped so many projects!  I thought I wanted to learn to sew, bought the fabulous sewing machine and set up a sewing room........only to discover as my best friend Denise says... "Gwyn you like the idea of lots of things!"  Major "ah ha" moment!  She knows me so well!  My mom was a beautiful seamstress and I know she would love for me to be a seamstress.  Sorry mom....not in this lifetime and that's ok!  The sewing machine now sits in my craft room and the sewing room is back to a guest room!  Stop by and see us, I now have a bed for guests!!!

Mom was a great cook and I do have the passion for cooking and creating yummy food and making a "presentation" out of my creations!   My sister in law made cookbooks for all of us last year of our favorite recipes that mom made my family.  Whenever I feel myself feeling sad I open up the cookbook, pull out a mixing bowl I remember mom using and stir up something yummy.  I instantly feel better and all warm and cozy inside!  Thanks mom for instilling in me the love of cooking!

I have discovered I love taking pictures and learning how to get a really nice image!  Thanks to Nelou at nelougrace.com, she is helping me learn all about photography.  I'm having a blast and look forward to learning as much as my brain can handle!

I have started a major project that I am going to complete!  I'm scanning in slides and pictures that we have accumulated over the last 40 years!  I have to say I get side tracked because I look at the pictures and find myself walking down memory lane!  The crazy thing is when I come across a picture with some girlfriends from high school I have been known to pick up the phone and call!  One phone call ended up lasting almost 2 hours!  Can't continue to chat with old girlfriends or this project will never get finished!  Side note....because of me calling 2 of my girlfriends, we are now going to try to get together this fall for a girls weekend and meet in Denver!  We haven't seen each other in 20 years!  There I go again getting side tracked!  My plan is to document the first 40 years of Mark and I being together and pass along our journey to our children and "grands."  It's quite an undertaking but I am up for the task!

Mark and I recently went to the cabin in Valle Escondido,  NM.  I walked everyday with camera in hand and tried to capture some of the beauty the mountains had to offer!  I hope you enjoy!

Mom loved Iris's.  I captured this beauty at the cabin!

The Poppie's were "popping" up everywhere!

Wild flowers by the lake.

Daisy's are my favorite!

Oh Wally!

Nothing better....Mark playing Banjo in the mountains!

memories of my mom, my journey and a new season........

Summer is quickly winding down and fall is just around the corner...my favorite time of the year!  Side note...I am for sure a dot dot dot kind of gal!  Sorry always have been always will be...

On Friday, April 5, 2013 my world changed dramatically.  I was shopping at Sam's with my grandson Eli when at 8:50 in the morning I received a call from my dad.  Mom was being rushed to the hospital in Wichita, KS and it wasn't looking good.  After getting a few things together, delivering Eli, my brother and I were on our way to Wichita.  To make a long story short my two brother's and I made it to the hospital in time to say good bye to mom.  It was by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do.  At 1:15 in the afternoon mom began her journey in heaven and I began my journey without my mom here on earth.  I thank God every day for my mom and the time and wonderful memories we all had together.  I focus on the time we had together and not the times we aren't going to have anymore.  The last four plus months have been full of mixed emotions.  Good moments and bad moments!  One day last week it was pretty hot and sticky outside.  I had some baby powder in a drawer and sprinkled some on to take away the "stickiness!"  At that moment I remembered my mom always using a powder called Shower to Shower.  I didn't know if it was made anymore but I had to find out!  I hopped in the car and drove to Walmart.  There on the shelf it was with the "original"scent!  I opened the lid and gently sprinkled some on my wrist.  I closed my eyes and  inhaled and was immediately taken back to my childhood!  I could smell my mom after she had taken her bath at night!  Oh the wonderful memory!  I stood their in the aisle with tears streaming down my face smiling!  The packaging has changed of course but not the wonderful smell!  I bought a bottle and use it every night after my bath......

Mom always used Mary Kay's night cream.  I have this jar that I found in her bathroom.  That fragrance takes me right back to my childhood as well!  The picture was taken at Mitch's wedding in Nappa two years ago.  These things sit on my shelf in my closet and I smile and say hello to mom every day!

I have decided that the best way to honor my mom's memory is through the quality of how I lead my life!  I was spending time with a friend and she made a statement that has really stuck with me.  It's a new season in my life.  Hence the new title of my blog...."a new season"

I miss my mom everyday but I know that she is with me all the time!  I am so thankful for my faith and knowing that on mom's best day here on earth she wouldn't trade it for what she is experiencing in heaven!  I know I will be with her again and everything will be revealed!  So mom until we meet again I am going to enjoy this new season and journey in my life!

Hugs...