I’m telling this one on myself, just because I think I should. And the story reminds me of the good angel, and the bad angel, who used to sit on Fred Flintstone’s shoulders.  Remember those? Last year in June, I was in Richmond, VA, with my dear friend Anne. She took me to the crème …

Yesterday I told you about Deacon D. Dawg’s Morning Dog Duties. And, of course, because I’m inwardly 13 years old when it comes to my sense of humor, I was irresistibly drawn to the thought that “duties” sounds like “doodies”. 😀 Well, today, I’d like to talk about Dog Duties, #2. 😀 Although, as irony …

Aren’t you glad I’m talking about Dog Duties, and not Dog Doodies? Me, too. Now that we’ve scooped that pun out of the way. let’s talk about morning dog duties out here in the woods. You’ve got a job. I’ve got a job. All God’s chilluns got jobs. Even my dogs have jobs, God love …

   I couldn’t decide whether to call this dish “Chicken and Chickpea Tagine” or “Bobby Flay, I Think I Love You”. I really wanted to give it the name of the Food Network chef, but I was scared the search engines wouldn’t figure out what I wanted people to be able to find. But YOU …

Neither rain, nor hail, nor life threatening breathing crisis will deter this good boy from his appointed rounds. He pins his ears back like that when he’s really, really happy. You know, down at the vet’s office, they’re all talking about him. Oh, yes, Deacon D. Dawg is the talk of the town: the “Miracle …

Memorial Day is upon us, and Memorial Day announces the Advent of Summer. And with summer, come not only, ticks, chiggers, snakes and poison ivy, but also, the warm, sweet smell of sun-ripened peaches, slowly dribbling juice from any dent in their soft, fuzzy armor. I won a giveaway last week that was sponsored by …

A year ago today, my husband underwent non-invasive cardiac bypass surgery, due to the heart attack he had suffered four days earlier. So, today, I’ve been doing a bit of reflecting on what I believe in regard to life, and how I live it, and how I WANT to live it.. This shot was taken …

Cynthia Sass, a registered dietician and coauthor of “Flat Belly Diet!”, has written a New York Times Bestseller, entitled “S*A*S*S! yourself slim”. The first edition of this book, in hardback,  was published as “Cinch!: Conquer Cravings, Drop Pounds, and Lose Inches”. This second edition, in paperback, contains new material, including “sensational swaps”(tips on how to …

It was a hard, hard day. We had a hard day today. The other night, after a very stormy day, our electric fence alarm started screaming, indicating that somewhere around the perimeter the dog fence line might be broken. We unplugged the fence to silence the alarm, since it was late at night, and then, …

Spaghetti al Vino Bianco is a recipe for pasta that finishes cooking in a sauce made with reduced white wine. Add bacon, arugula, and Parmigiano- Reggiano to finish the dish.   I’ve been wanting to try a recipe similar to this, written by Mario Batali. Batali had shared a recipe where he cooked pasta in red …

I like to think of myself as a focused person. I’m not. But I like to THINK I’m a focused person. I used to BE a focused person. Honestly! One task at a time. I could zero in my attention with laser-like intensity, blocking all distractions, harnessing all the powers of my mighty brain to …

Grilled “Toaded” Chicken with Mustard I’m a HUGE fan of the food blog “What Katie Ate”, the award winning food blog written by Australian Katie Quinn Davies. Actually, my husband and I both are. She has, in our opinion, some of the best food photography around! Katie’s brilliant images prove that a food blogger does …

Time for a tale from my sordid past. As you’ll soon discover, the verdict on my fourth grade self is about to be delivered. In fourth grade, I had a teacher named Mrs. Barnabas. I’ve changed her name to protect her reputation, even though she has doubtless gone on to meet her Maker by now. …

This recipe for Crispy Lime and Cilantro Chicken Wings with Sriracha produces wonderfully crisp wings, packed with delicious, delightful flavor, that won’t burn your lips off your face.     Now that I’ve tried a couple of Chef Michael Symon’s recipes, I have been on the lookout for more. I’m on the waiting list at …

Let me begin this post with a little word to all you Sardine Haters out there (and you know who you are): Just keep swimming. Do you detect a little bitterness in my tone? How is it that making one batch of Sardine Pasta can flirt with turning Susan in the Boonies into something dangerously …