Views from my Lunch Spot

About once a week I take my lunch down to the bayfront. Today I took my camera. I'm a firm believer in taking advantage of where you live and finding spots to love. Needless to say, my favorite thing about Corpus Christi is the bayfront and the energy down there. I especially love Wednesdays because there is a regatta in the afternoon. There's nothing I love better than watching those boats dance with the wind on the bay.

The top photo is the view where I ate a sandwich then I drove over to the second spot to have my cupcake for dessert. Even though my thermometer on my dash read 96 degrees, just knowing it's September, makes it feel different.

I was a little early for the races today. Some Wednesday in the near future, I'll talk St. Wayne into dinner on the water and we'll snap some pictures of the boats in action.

What's the view like where you have lunch?

Last Day of Summer in Judi World

I know it's not officially the last day of summer, but in my world, it is. The last day of August...I've been waiting three months for this!

St. Wayne and I spent eight days in July in Oregon and Washington this year and last. It has changed my view of the world. I used to think those pictures in magazines of summer parties in the yard were either staged in a studio, airbrushed, or a figment of someone's imagination. In Oregon and Washington, one really could have an outdoor party in the summertime. In fact while we were there, we spent several nights at our friends' Jennifer and Peter's house in Vancouver where we ate every meal al fresco on their patio and slept without air conditioning (and under down comforters). We come back home to South Texas asking why do we live here where it's hotter than it ever needs to be???

The picture above is our backyard. The squirrels think we placed that table and chandelier under the trees just for them because we hardly step outside the back door after May. But now that September is tomorrow, I just might spend a little time out there, if the squirrels will allow it. Okay, in actuality, I won't even attempt it until October and maybe not until November. But in my mind, I know I could if I wanted to...if I were naked...if the water sprinkler was on...if I had a cool drink in my hand...ah...come on crisp fall days...I'm ready for you!

Wedding Wrap

Here's wrapped gift we gave as a wedding present last month. It was easy and quick and pretty. I used wallpaper...the kind that has a very deeply embossed texture and is paintable. It has a name, but I never get it right. You can find it anywhere paint and wallpaper are sold. I got this on a roll at Home Depot or Lowe's once on clearance and it cost $10. It's lasted forever...so make sure you like it.

It's very thick so it makes really pretty creases and folds. I then wrapped double-faced white satin ribbon around it and tied a bow. I then added another piece of ribbon on top of that and tied another bow. Then I hot-glued a silk gerber daisy and a couple of leaves to the top to cover all the knots and attached an enclosure card. It turned out sweet and pretty...just like the wedding Laura and Andy planned so meticulously...right down to Andy singing her a love song. A stellar evening!

Easy and Delicious Desserts

Here are two dessert recipes. The first is a Lemon Tart. At least that's what I call it. It's a Lemon Squares recipe that was given to me by my friend Jeannie Talley many years ago and has always been a favorite. I prefer to bake it in two smaller tart pans. If I use a round pan I call a Lemon Tart and if I use a square tart pan it is called Lemon Squares. So you do it the way you want. It always comes out delicious no matter what the shape. And the good thing is I usually have all the ingredients on hand.

The second is a Cream Puff Pie. Again, the original recipe calls for a 9 X 13" cake pan and is called a Cream Puff Cake, but I like to make two smaller ones in spring form (cheesecake pans) and call them pies. Besides, "Cream Puff Pie" is more fun to say. And that way I can serve one and give one away. If you like cream puffs, this is the dessert for you. It's probably my family's favorite of all time. It's a little more involved, but I promise, so worth the effort. This one came from a tea room in Salado.

Lemon Tart

Crust:
1 cup butter
2 cups flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Mix together and press into the bottom of two pans. Bake 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Filling:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
7 tablespoons lemon juice

Beat together and pour over baked crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Let cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar. (For this cute little finishing touch, lay a plastic fork and spoon on top before sprinkling with powdered sugar.)


Cream Puff Pie

For the cream puff:
1 cup water
1 stick butter
1 cup flour
4 eggs

Boil water and butter. Remove from heat and add flour and mix well with an electric mixer until ball forms. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Spoon mexture into two 8 or 9" spring form pans that have been sprayed with Baker's Joy. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. (If it's puffed up really high, smash it down with the back of a spoon.)

For the filling:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1-1/2 cup milk
2 large packages instant vanilla pudding
1 8-ounce tub Cool Whip
1 jar Smuckers Hard Shell Chocolate (found with ice cream toppings)

Beat cream cheese slowly and add milk, beating until smooth. Add the two packages of vanilla pudding mix and beat for one minute. Let mixture stand approximately 15 minutes. (It will be very thick.) Spoon into crust. Spread Cool Whip over the pudding mixture and then dribble entire jar of hard shell chocolate on top. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

So there you have it...cool, refreshing desserts for the last draggin' hot days of summer. Enjoy!

A New Facebook Friend

In 1957 I was asked to be a candlelighter in my Aunt Rita's wedding. I remember being thrilled that she'd found a job for me. I was worried because, at seven years old, I was beyond the age of a flower girl and that was before Martha Stewart invited junior bridesmaids. I was so happy I would be a part of her wedding when she married Uncle Ed.

I wanted to be a part of anything that involved Rita. She was one of those people who could have been written up in Reader's Digest's "Most Unforgettable Character." She was lots of fun, the life of the party, and always had a twinkle in her eye. She made everything an adventure...so I figured this wedding would be, too.

In my memory, there were thousands of candles and, as you can see from the picture above, there were hurricane covers on the candles on the pew markers that had to be removed, candle lit, and then replaced. I was so afraid of dropping and shattering the glass, and out of the corner of my eye I could see that my fellow candlelighter, who was eleven and much taller and faster, was way ahead of me. And I remember playing with her when I would go to church with my grandmother and always thought her name was Karen.

A few weeks ago I received a message on facebook asking if I was related to Rita. The woman had seen my picture and thought I resembled my aunt, and because Rita and I had the same maiden name, she thought there might be a connection. I've never heard or thought that I looked like my adored aunt, so I was thrilled. She explained that she was Uncle Ed's neice. After exchanging a few emails, we discovered we were both candlelighters in their wedding! She was totally surprised when I told her I had a picture of us in action. The pictures above were in with lots of others from my grandmother that I somehow inherited.

We lost Rita years ago from breast cancer. She was so young and full of life it's hard to understand. But I have such fond memories of her. Thank you, Cheryl Kincaid, for prompting me to pull out these photos and remember a beloved aunt. It's just one more great Facebook connection with a story!

Manly Wrap

There's nothing I love more than a beautifully wrapped gift. It's the thrill of anticipation while admiring the beauty of perfectly creased corners and the ribbons and the tags...oh I love it all!

Back in May my son Brian had a birthday and even though his idea of a perfectly wrapped gift is a picture of a president wrapped up in a small wad of currency, I did find him a little gift to go along with the aforementioned bill.

After finding some houndstooth wrap in my paper closet, I wrapped the box and tied it with black satin ribbon. It was nice, but just nice. I wanted it to look stellar...after all he's my only son and he has only one birthday a year.

I found these cigar label stickers I'd bought from Kate Jones Gifts in Rockport a few months ago and found one to coordinate with the colors I was using and slapped it at the bottom across the ribbon and...tada...I loved how masculine it looked. So now I'm all over the idea of unusual stickers to add the finishing touch on a gift wrap.

If you want to see some really beautiful wrapping ideas, go to this blog...one of my favorites:
www.agiftwrappedlife.blogspot.com
Enjoy!

Where in the World Have I Been?

Wow...where does the time go? I can't believe I took such a long break from this blog. I didn't really intend to, but it suddenly wasn't a priority for me because since early Spring we've had lots of houseguests, weekend roadtrips, and that pesky stuff that always gets in the way of fun--work!

And I can't say I haven't been piddlin'...simply because I always piddle. But I haven't taken pictures of much. There are a few things I could tell you about, and I will. But I really need to know you're out there. Nobody ever leaves comments and I feel lonely...very lonely. So if there's anyone still around, let me know and we'll get back in the groove.

I've been told leaving comments is difficult, but other blogs have them, so it can be done. I know you have to set up some type of account in order to do that. I have a Google account with a password and the whole ball of wax just so I can leave comments at the many blogs I visit. And, believe me, if I can figure it out, so can you...or call in some little people to help...they always know their way around Computerville. So, do what you have to do, but let me know you're with me. If nothing else, send me an email at invitickles@stx.rr.com or find me on Facebook. Just say hello so I know I'm not all alone on this side of the keyboard.

So...you have an assignment! And I'll get started on this end...