Blackberries

In an area of our neighborhood where I walk the dogs, there are blackberry vines poking through a fence.
I usually pick off one and eat it as we pass by.  Yesterday I got smart and brought a little bag with me.

But, there are a lot more berries on the other side of the fence... out of reach.
So I went to the house where the berries were growing to ask the owners if they were going to pick them.  A young boy (13-14 y/o) came out.  He was babysitting his siblings.  He said "Who are you?!"  I explained that I lived up the street and asked if they were going to pick the blackberries.  "Oh, yeah.  We pick them" he said.  Sure they do.  As I left I heard him knocking on his door.  His siblings locked him out of the house.
I had a good chuckle over that.

SOP progress update

In the last couple of weeks I have managed to accomplish a few more tasks from my SOP list.
SOP stands for Summer Of Projects started by the Sweet Sherri over at Foziewisp

Paint the front door (it was white and chipped), scrub the floor mat that goes in the kitchen and unpack two boxes (that have been sitting in the living room for 3 months!)

Door black, check.  Floor mat cleaned and drying, check.  Two boxes emptied and ready to be recycled, check.

I also hung up a bunch of my framed artsy-fartsy photos that I have taken over the years.

I have more to frame and add to this wall.  I also hung up a lot of other art and bulletin boards and such.  Part of cleaning out one of the boxes.

So onward, back to my list.  My sister and brother-in-law are coming to visit for two weeks in August!

I'll leave you with this happy picture

Got this idea from a pic I saw over at Oddman a fun and quirky site (that we're addicted to)

So, have a great day, y'all, really!!
xo
kat

SOP (summer of projects)

I'm joining/supporting Sherri over at  Foziewisp http://foziewisp.blogspot.com/
with her Summer of Projects challenge.  I have my list (oh gawd) and this was the first to be accomplished.
The back door.  In all fairness, the door was already messed up by the previous tenets.  Our dogs didn't help.
So, I figured the best way to make it look better was to paint it with black enamel paint.  Covers a multitude of sins, right?
Before

Seems Callie likes to be in the (all) pictures

After

MUCH better (if I say so myself)
BUT...  When I went inside to put the paint brush in a plastic bag (1.5 minutes tops) Boo "seized" the paint stir stick out of the can and drug it off into the yard.  Thus leaving paint on the deck and his paws.  Yeah.

I had not spilled one drop on the deck but now it seems I will have to paint that too.
BTW (really good info!) Instant antibacterial hand sanitizer gel works GREAT to remove enamel paint from skin and PAWS!
Next project is painting the front door (while keeping the cats from escaping).
Hugs!
kat

It was a lovely day

Wow!  Can't believe it's been over three weeks since my last post.  (Sounds like something heard at confession)
Anywho...

An Update:
I did see Dark Shadows, the movie, and I thought it was cute and fun.  Little predictable because most of us know the story.  And, my testing point: 'will I buy it when it comes out on DVD?', Yes!

A Correction:
A few months ago I posted about a poppy growing out of a tall hedge.
  a)  not a poppy
  b)  not a flower growing out of a hedge
It is the hedge.  Rock Rose  or Cistaceae, to be exact.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cistaceae

And, as for the heading of this post, here is a pic of just one portion of it.

Top to bottom: Hubby, Boo and Henry resting by the Pacific during our walk.  Love Boo's huge grin!
The rest of the day was spent doing yard work (which we like to do).  The weather was perfect!  Because this is the view from the house the day before:

Yes, yes!  I know!  This is northern California.  They don't talk about SF being foggy for nothing!  There are even bumper stickers "Where in the fog is Pacifica?"  There's a wine bar here called "A Grape in the Fog"
Yep, just rub it in.  I can take it.
I live for the sunny days.  I'm "solar powered".
Thanks for stopping by!
HUGS!
kat

Dark Shadows

Oh My.  Well, I am about to date myself on this one.
1968.  A suburb outside of Tacoma, Washington.  I'm an 8th Grader at Lochburn Junior High School.  Each morning I take a shortcut and walk to school through an abandoned graveyard across the street from our house.  Many times it is foggy (it's Washington)  Each afternoon, I run home (through the same graveyard) to watch Dark Shadows.  OOOOHHHH!  Yes!!  I think this is the time that I get my pyschic... well, let's just say I "tune into" my Other Side.
I was sooo thrilled to see all the ads about the new movie starring Johnny Depp.  A) I love him as an actor B) it's Dark Shadows and C) it's funny!!!!
Sadly, Jonathan Frid (the original Barnabas)  passed away last month. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Frid  But, luckily he made a cameo appearance in the new movie!
I've watched the trailer to the new movie many times and I can't wait to go see it in the theater for myself!

Did I mention how excited I am?!?  Well, I can't apologize... IT"S JOHNNY DEPP!!!!!!!!!
Okay.  Depp  Deep breath.
xo
kat

Happy Cinco de Mayo and a yummy recipe

So the "skinny" on Cinco de Mayo is here http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofmexico/p/10cincodemayobasics.htm

Yeah.  Another reason to party, drink tequila, eat Mexican food... like we need a reason?  Oh, but wait...YES!  I need an excuse to cook/eat copious amounts of Mexican food!  As I have said, I could eat Mexican food everyday.  On the days I don't eat Italian food that is.  HA!!!

Here is a recipe that I came up with for great enchiladas, in honor, of course!
Enjoy!!!!
kat

 

Cinco de Mayo Chicken Enchiladas

13” x 9” baking dish, greased

350 degree preheated oven

Ingredients:

4   boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1  tsp. each  salt and pepper

2  tsp. cumin powder

2  tsp. garlic powder

1  tsp. taco seasoning

vegetable oil (enough to coat skillet)

½  yellow onion, chopped

2  cloves garlic, minced (I use prepared minced garlic in a jar)

1  small can chopped green chilies

2  Tbsp. minced chipotle chilies (use the jarred ones that are seeded)

1 cup  frozen corn, thawed

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can  red enchilada sauce

10 flour tortillas

2 cups shredded cheddar/Mexican cheese

Garnish:  sour cream, chopped tomatoes, salsa etc...

Directions:

Mix seasonings in a bowl.

In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil and cook chicken breasts with the seasonings sprinkled on both sides, until juices run clear.  Remove to a plate and set aside.

Sauté onion and garlic in chicken drippings until tender.  Stir in corn and chilies.  Stir in canned tomatoes and cook on low heat.

In meantime, shred chicken and then add to vegetable mixture in pan and heat through.

In the greased baking dish, spoon the chicken/vegetable mixture into the flour tortillas and roll with the seam side under.  Pour the enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Bake, covered in foil for 20-30 minutes.

Serve with garnishes, rice and beans.

Kathryn Nowosielski

Southern Culture on the Skids

Formed in 1983, North Carolina.  Rockabilly/Surf/Amazing!!!  I saw them in Austin, Cleveland (twice), Buffalo and Indianapolis.  No, I'm not a stalker I just happened to be living in all these places when they toured.  Can't wait until they come through the San Fran area!  Go see them, don't miss them, you'll always be thankful you caught them live!  They are the best show out there!  And... they are the nicest, down-to-earth folks you'll ever meet!
This video is of one of my favorite songs (and the one that turned me on to them... "Little Debbie, Little Debbie")  It's pretty early but trust me they have aged very well!  You'll also like "Banana Pudding", "Liquored Up and Lacquered Down", "Eight Piece Box" and well...all of their songs.  If you see them live you'll get a real treat to Rick's guitar talent especially his long surf solo's!!
Enjoy and check them out!

 And another great performance:

(you can see how Rick got gray)

Also, a couple of pictures from one of my "adventures", erm um meetings with them

 

Rick and Mary on stage

 Mary and me.  She is so sweet and a great musician/singer!!

Rick and... yeah... giddy me  (check out the guy in the background, eew)

In spite of my admittingly foolish, star-struck behavior, I want to encourage you to check them out.  They are fantastic musicians and hard-working, real people! 

I won't ever tell you about my getting on stage with them fiasco  Though, my daughter might.  Sssshhhh! (hey, all the girls were invited up at every show to throw out the fried chicken!)

Hugs!

kat