This and That

When we moved to this area many years ago the town was small but growing. Now it has become a city and the need for space has created subdivisions on the hills around us. There seems to be no end to the development of new areas.

As we drove around the other day we saw this unusual tree. At least the fruit is unusual. I'm wondering if it could be a Persimmon tree?  The orange fruit was "segmented" like a pumpkin.

I like what these homeowners did when they closed in their garage. It looks so inviting with the striped awning and the vine growing over the window.

I picked these mushrooms while on my walk. The one on the left is a perfect ball with a sturdy "trunk". It most probably is an Amanita muscaria, a very deadly mushroom should anyone be foolish enough to eat it.

Here's that same mushroom after a couple of days in the house. Now the cap is opening and becoming more flat. The pattern on the cap is quite raised.  The other two that I brought home quickly became slimy and were thrown out.

It's a windy day here with the occasional bit of rain that gets whipped against the house. A good day to be indoors.  I'm baking bread. What did you do today?

                        Granny Marigold

This week's thrifty finds

So many lovely treasures to show you this week!  The first is an awesome book filled with
more than 200 famous paintings in colour and with a short description. The book is in like new condition and was only two dollars! 

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Next is a quilt that is neither crib size nor single bed size but something in between. It is partly machine made and partly hand sewn. It needed a bit of mending, which I was able to do. When I'm really old and need a lap blanket this will be the one I reach for.

All the treasures below came from the same garage sale. The movies were .25 each, the books not much more.  The long box is an unopened box of French Lilac drawer liners.  The almost full Mod Podge is matte. I had the glossy kind and was looking for the matte.

                             A cute BP book that includes stickers that are still in it!!

                                            A cozy cardigan that was a dollar!

 The teddy bear was sitting all forlorn and no one wanted him so he came home with me. I think he looks much happier now, especially since I found a nice sweater for him to wear.

I love my 'new' china mug. Unlike so many others that I have this one can go in the microwave.

This pretty cup has made in England "Washington" written under the saucer. I like the Autumnal shades of brambly flowers ( which look more red here but are not). The saucer is unusually deep. I like it.

 Last of all are these 4 custard cups which look old. Maybe they aren't. I got them because they please me and were a $1.25 for the set.

I hope I haven't bored you with my long list today. Some weeks I find next to nothing and then comes a week like this one.  Kind of makes up for the stressful week I had LAST week.

I hope your weekend is going ever so smoothly. My 2 daughters will be coming by for tea shortly as it is the eldest's birthday today. Yesterday was my youngest son's and today is my oldest's with almost exactly 12 years between them!

              Granny Marigold

Black Forest Cake

This is the Black Forest Cake I made for my son's birthday. It's so easy ( I forgot to include the Duncan Hines Cake Mix box in this picture). It's a matter of assembling everything. It was delicious!!

    I did cut the cake in half and put a mixture of Cool Whip and chocolate pudding in the middle.

     And here's my granddaughter wearing her favourite sweater and hamming it up! Funny girl.

      

                                   GRANNY MARIGOLD

Making Pie

There have been rather more than usual number of pies being made in my kitchen this past week. Since pie making is not my favourite thing to do I'm proud of my efforts. The pumpkin pies were baked for Thanksgiving ( In Canada  October 13th this year)  and the Blueberry pie was particularily  requested by my youngest son whose birthday is today.  ( Since he'll be taking it home I felt I should make another one for my DH and myself . There was not enough pie dough left for a whole pie so I made a half-a-pie!)

I'll be making a Black Forest cake later today and will post pics of that tomorrow. That's the cake we'll all share tonight when we get together to celebrate his birthday.  This is the son who shattered his elbow in a bad fall at work 10 days ago. He has had surgery and hopefully the elbow will mend quickly.)

     My Blueberry pie and a half~ The half one really had a lot of juice run out.

  These apple crisps are not pies obviously, but I just made those as well. I like to make small individual desserts for my DH and myself. It's so quick and easy and by keeping the sugar and butter amounts low I even consider them healthy.
   That's the chocolate cake on the left, hot out of the oven and once it has cooled I'll turn it into the birthday cake. In the back you can see a few cupcakes made out of the same batter as the cake. My little grandson is not a fan of cherries and Cool Whip that I will be using, so he'll have iced cupcakes.

What's been happening in your kitchen lately? It's fun to see what others are making.

             Hope your Friday is a good one.        Granny Marigold

Thanksgiving

  It'sThanksgiving weekend here in Canada. Time for turkey and pumpkin pie and all the trimmings. Time also to pause and give thanks for all our blessings.

         This picture is very appropriate since rain is exactly what we are having!!

Thank you all for your kind comments on my last post.   They are very appreciated.

            Blessings,   Granny Marigold

A Trying Week

This is turning into a difficult week here. On Monday my DH had surgery, a surgery that was relatively minor but he is in considerable pain. On Tuesday my youngest son, who is in construction, fell from a wall on to concrete shattering his right elbow as well as bruising ribs etc.  Tomorrow he will have surgery to put in a metal plate and pins to try to get his elbow bones lined up so they can heal.  We live very close to the hospital and I've been walking there and back luckily in pleasant weather. Nevertheless  I am struggling to keep a calm and optimistic attitude.

This week marks a year since I began this Blog.  I intended it to be a place mostly just for a few friends and faraway family who might be interested in the goings on in my life. My sisters and their families live 1500 miles away and  I have a very dear friend whose friendship goes back literally more than 50 years! She lives 600 miles away.   Sometimes it is a challenge knowing what to blog about. Life can be so ordinary and ordinary doesn't make for exciting posts.
I'm thankful for those who come by and read; those who leave comments ( so I know someone has actually been by) and those who don't comment often. 

                Granny Marigold

Wordless Wednesday

                                                   CLOUDS

I love clouds. They fascinate me. I hope you've enjoyed them.  Granny M.