Thanksgiving just wouldn't be complete without the FBI crime scene

It's holiday memory time!

Today while I was cleaning, baking and preparing for the big day I opened my dining room hutch to take out our Thanksgiving dishes. Right on top were the place cards we use every year, the kids made them several years ago. All cute at first glance ...

Wait! Why is there an FBI crime scene complete with a random dead guy chalk outline on our Thanksgiving table?

My daughter's boyfriend was majoring in criminology when he first entered college. The boys just made the place cards according to our likes or interests. I was definitely a bit shocked when I first saw a mini crime scene on my Thanksgiving table, but it's brought laughs and smiles every year since.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving. Make some memories! :-)

Monochrome

I love this image in monochrome. Can you guess what it is? No, I haven't been to the moon lately. Any other guesses? I'll let you know in the comment section when someone gets it right.

Play along with the Monochrome Maniacs!

Award Time!

Thank you Storyteller from Sacred Ruminations for giving me this great award!

The rules are to pass this on to 15 new bloggers that we think are great. I usually offer awards to all of my friends, I don't like picking and choosing and the possibility of hurt feelings. This time I have a group of hardworking blogging friends to present it to, some new friends, some not, and my list falls short of 15 (see I'm still not following the rules)!

I present this award to my group of friends who have been participating in Nablopomo with me. Posting an entry a day all month long can be hard work, especially right at the busy holidays. I hope you'll all stop by to say hello. Here they are in alphabetical order ...

a corgi in southern california
BLOGitse photos
Dusty Pages

Everything is going to be all right 2

Finding Footprints in the Sand
Julies Photo Journey
Just B : )
Lisa's Chaos
My Year on the Grill
Shellseeker

Congrats! :-)

No really just relax

"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later." - Mary Bly

I think I want to be a kitty when I grow up! ;-)

Cheers!

(Photo compliments of Google images)

TGIF! Need I say more?

Life is good

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude." - Denis Waitley

Life is hectic, crazy, complicated ... but it's good. I'm thankful for what I have. How about you?

*This post linked to My True Colours - Orange
*Also linked to Orange You Glad It's Saturday

There's your sign

Play along on the fun meme This Way Thurs-Way!

Shadow Shot Time

Play along over at Hey Harriet!

Basic fried rice

"When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste." ~ Laiko Bahrs

Fried rice is one of those things like homemade pizza, strata, and soups - you can throw in all kinds of leftovers to make a great meal. One of the basics to fried rice is having leftover cold rice, it doesn't work well with freshly cooked rice so be sure to cook a double batch of rice next time you're making it, refrigerate or freeze for your fired rice for another night (this is where menu planning comes in handy)!

Basic fried rice

• Just heat a little oil in a wok or frying pan, add any veggies you'd like - In this case I used 2 finely chopped green onions, a can of bean sprouts and a bag oriental frozen mixed veggies. Stir fry until hot and crisp. Remove from pan.

• Optional - Add an egg or two to the pan, chop finely, remove when lightly cooked.
  

• Heat a little more oil, add cold rice and light soy sauce, just until as light or dark as you prefer. (If you use regular soy it will be very salty especially if you like dark friend rice).

• Stir fry until heated, add veggies and egg back in and stir fry again until everything is hot and ready to serve.

This is great all by itself, or you can use it as a side dish for chicken, beef, pork or seafood - even better, use up small amounts of one or more of those meats or seafood (which I know you put in the freezer instead of giving them to the dogs or cats!) - dice and heat with the fried rice for a quick and easy one dish meal.

It's a great budget friendly meal s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r and it's delicious too!

TGIF! :-)

Grillin' and chillin'

My oven died on Sunday - it's grillin' and chillin' time!
Always try to see the positive side! :-)

Watery Wednesday

This was taken at the back of my property. There is so much beauty and so many miracles all around us. It's all there for everyone if you take the time to look (and take the time to overlook everything else). It's that simple.

Wishing you peace, love and happiness today and everyday!

*Linked to Watery Wednesday

Mellow Yellow Monday

Who does this sculpture look like to you? If you get it right you win! You don't actually get anything if you win, but you'll still be a winner in my book - that's just the way I roll :-)

Play along on Mellow Yellow Monday!

Sunday Selection

I give you a theme, you pick 3-6 of your favorite photos that fit the theme to play along - that simple!

This week my theme choice is our favorite Monochrome images. They can be images you have used on memes, things buried in your photo archives, or new shots you've just recently captured. It doesn't matter to me, just show me a few of your favorites!

Post your Sunday Selection shots on your blog and then leave a link in the comment section to let me know you are playing along. Who knows, maybe this will evolve into a new meme!

Here are a few of my favorite monochrome images, I think all were previously linked to the Monochrome Maniacs ...

"The train stops here"

"Strong hands"

"The storm approaches"


"Remembering"


"Simplicity"

I hope you'll play along! Have a great weekend and a great week ahead!

Dark Humor

TWTW

This is a shot I took back in the summer when I went on the Worldwide Photo Walk with Ms Vicki the Shellseeker.


This one didn't make it into my original Photo Walk posts as a good image from a photography standpoint, but I still like it and can't beat the message! Wishing you peace today and everyday!

Hope to see you over at TWTW - This Way Thurs-Way!

Beautiful Bougainvillea

Beautiful Bougainvillea for Ruby Tuesday, better late than never for Macro Monday, and a big thank you to my awesome friend Ricepatty for giving me this beautiful plant last summer!