More Adventure Pics!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just want to share more pictures of our North Carolina adventure. The mountains are beautiful. Coming from the plains of Florida, it was like going to a new country. The view from a mountaintop was just amazing. I felt so small in the scheme of things standing atop a mountain and was mesmerized by the vastness of nature and its breathtaking beauty. Wow! I can't believe I am getting poetic there for a while. I guess the mountain air makes one do that! Too much clean air and oxygen brings back to life those brain cells murdered by polluted city air. 

The mini vacation was great but I am glad to be home. There's no place like home, for sure.

Have a happy and prosperous New Year!!! 

So much to see, so little time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am glad to say that we made it back to Florida. Our trip to North Carolina and Atlanta had been exciting and wonderful. I have tons of pictures that I have not uploaded yet because hubby saved them in a memory card.

We spent some time with the family while in North Carolina but we were on the road and up the mountains most of the time. We went to Beech Mountain, Grandfather Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Banner Elk, Boone and Linville. The mountain air was fresh and crisp. There was not a trace of snow on the low lying areas and not much fell in the high country areas either. It was cold enough for snow machines to blanket all the ski resorts though. We went up Grandfather Mountain the first day we were there. It was cold and snowing. The snow felt like someone was throwing sand on our exposed flesh.  The hubby and son went on the mile high swinging bridge but only made it up to the bridge's midpoint and had to go back. Snow, high winds, and swinging bridge do not mix very well. (Duh!) I stayed on solid ground pretending to take their pictures and had my phone on 911 speed dial. 

The ski resorts were full of people from Florida and Alabama! Every time we looked at the license plates at the ski resorts' parking lots, we counted an overwhelming number of cars from the two no-ski states. Well, you can tell who were the Floridians and Alabamians on the slopes: they were the ones who seem to be on their behinds more than their feet. Well, I have no room to talk, really. I spent most of the day at the ski lodge taking pictures, eating snacks, and reading my book. Hubby looked funny all bundled up in the rented ski suit, thick gloves and a beanie. Son looked awkward in thick jacket, waterproof pants and gloves, and of course, a beanie! Hubby went skiing and son went snowboarding. Hubby was quite a skier and though this was son's first time snowboarding, he did very well. I myself, had fun taking pictures of people I did not even know and ate several muffins at the lodge.

We also spent a couple of days in Atlanta. We always pass by the city when going up north but we never stopped before. We always hear about it being the "New York of the South" so we were ready to explore it. Maybe it was because of the holidays but Atlanta seemed to have a much slower pace than we expected. We stayed at a hotel downtown by the CNN center. It was walking distance to all the the sights we wanted to see. We went to Hard Rock Cafe, the Underground, World of Coca Cola, the Olympic Park, Fox Theatre, the Rialto, and the Varsity. We dined at a Brazilian restaurant on Piedmont called Fogo de Chao. I recommend this place highly. It was quite pricey but the experience was well worth it. The waiters were dressed as "gauchos"  (Brazilian cowboys) and they fed us Brazilian barbeque served in swordlike skewers. The salad bar was phenomenal: artichoke and palm hearts, smoked salmon, proscuitto ham, imported cheeses, sundried tomatoes, and roasted peppers were just to name a few of the luscious spread! We heard that there is another restaurant called " The Abbey," where the setting is a monastery and  the waiters are dressed as monks but we did not have time to go there. We also did not have time to see the Art Museum (it featured paintings of Van Gogh, Picasso, Seurat and Mondrian!) and the Botanical Garden (it had Dale Chiluly's exhibit!). We're definitely going back to Atlanta. I want to see Margaret Mitchell's house and the "Gone with the Wind" museum. Ah, so much to see and photograph, so little time!   

 

Snappin' Happy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just want to share some of the pictures I took at the St. Anne's Lights Festival.

St. Anne's of Belleview is a Catholic church in my hometown. Every year, hundreds of volunteers string billions of christmas lights in and around the church. The church and its surroundings look magnificent at night! 

The back of the church has numerous western style buildings that are usually used for the annual St. Anne's Round Up. This time of the year, the buildings are decorated with lights, wreaths, christmas trees and other christmas trimmings.  There is a Santa Booth where kids can tell Santa what they want for christmas and a kiddie train to amuse them. There are also a couple of christmas trains for grown people to ride around in. The best part of the Festival is the free hot cocoa, coffee and cookies building! Oh, did I mention that there is also a Bakery where you can buy all sorts of pastries, cookies, cakes, and all sweets imaginable? 

Enough of the St. Anne's ramblings. I would be out of town for a few days starting tomorrow. We are going to North Carolina to celebrate Christmas with my father-in-law. He lives on Mt. Nebo and the view at his mountain home is spectacular. I am hoping that it will snow while we are there because my hubby and my son are talking about trying the slopes this year. Where will I be while they are out there skiing? Well, I'll be inside the ski lodge, sipping coffee, and reading my new Michael Crichton book. Never been a snow bunny and I'm too old to even try it out. Maybe not old but definitely wiser.

My trusty camera will be with me so I will take pictures while we're there.

Have a good Christmas everyone! 

Lights, Camera, Addiction!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As my subject caption indicates, I am suffering from digital camera addiction. I wonder if someone already discovered and named this affliction. If not, I have first dibs on it. Given the APA and AMA authorization, I'll name this illness after me. Why not? Just like everybody else, I want to be known for something even if it is just a mere cameraitis.

My hubby and I went downtown a couple nights ago. Yup, you all thought I was so sick and in my death bed. I'm sorry but the camera was calling me and telling me all about these lighted houses, the Christmas Tour of Homes, the living nativity, and the downtown nightlife. Yup, I am weak so I succumbed to temptation.

I was also at the St. Anne's Lights Festival last night. Doing what else? Snapping pictures, of course! Well, drinking hot cocoa and eating cookies too. Yup, I am a multi-tasker. I can take pictures while shoving cookies in my mouth. Hubby acted as a cocoa dispenser because I have yet to master the possibility of doing three things at the same time.  

Got a lot more to say but hubby is standing next to me, whining. He wants to go out to get dinner. Gee-whiz! Why can't he learn to cook his dinner so I do not have to get up from my blogging?

Tata for now! 

Homemade Christmas Card

 I made this christmas card for everyone using my hubby's digital camera program and the picture I took of the living nativity scene at a local church in my hometown. I know the picture needed enhancements because of its poor quality but I am just playing around with the possibilities right now. Just like those popsicle sticks ornaments our kids made during their elementary school days, this card is special because it is my first successful attempt at uploading a pic through FTP.  Yup, I'm trying to use guilt trip. Did it work?

I have more pictures of the christmas lights, living nativity, and christmas scenes from my hometown. I even have a pic of a blue roof house! 

I had someone asked what is the story about the blue roofed houses.  So here goes the story: When Ivan devastated my hometown on September 16, 2004, the Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA teamed up to provide large blue tarps for residents who had roof damages to prevent further damage to their homes. Approximately 80% of homes in my hometown had a blue roof at one time. There are still a lot of homes with blue roofs now because there is a shortage of roofers and some people are still having problems with their homeowners insurance companies. Fortunately, we did not run into the roofer or the reimbursement problems so we have a regular roof!

I am feeling better. I am still congested but I am up and about and spreading chaos! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Sweet for the Sweets! Happy Baking!

 

I've been sick for the past two days. I think it is the flu virus. That is all I am going to say because I want to spare your appetite for the wonderful baklava recipe below.

I am just chilling and drinking a lot of fluids. I am well enough this morning to type, so for those of you who want the baklava recipe, I am more than happy to oblige. For those of you who are baking challenged, send me your addresses and if you can ask, you shall recieve!

No, I am not Greek. I have a friend whose origin is the Mediterranian and she introduced me to foods in that part of the globe and I had been addicted to it since then.  

Baklava Recipe

Makes approximately 35 pieces of yummy baklavas!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Walnuts - Finely Chopped
• 1/2 C. Light Brown Sugar
• 2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1.5 C. Butter (3 sticks), Melted
• 1 Package Frozen Phyllo Dough (16 oz) Thawed (refrigerate until needed or it will stick together!)

(***Buy the Phyllo Dough that comes in two half sheet packages so you will not need to cut them in half as this can get tricky because the sheets are very delicate.***) 

• 1 C. Light Brown Sugar
• 1 C. Water
• 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
• 1 C. Honey
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Baking Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
2. In a bowl, combine and set aside walnuts, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, and cinnamon
3. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the bottom and sides of a Jelly Roll Pan (15.5" x 10.5" x 1") with melted butter.
4. Layer 12 half sheets of phyllo dough in the pan, buttering each layer as you go You will have 6 layers when you are done.. (The edges will extend over the side.)
5. Spread 1 cup of the walnut mixture.
6. Layer 8 half sheets -- butter each layer. Each sheet will be an inch or so short, so stagger the sheets from corner to corner to cover the whole pan. Spread 1 cup of the walnut mixture.
7. Repeat 8 sheets and walnut mixture twice. You will end up with 4 layers of nuts.
8. Layer the remaining half sheets on top -- butter each layer.
9. Brush the top with the remaining butter.
10. Trim the edges off.
11. Cut halfway through the layers using the pattern shown. (Note: Do NOT cut from corner to corner, it will jag the edges.) This is done now since it will be very fragile after it's been baked.
    
     
12. Bake 1 hour or until golden brown.
13. 15 minutes before the baklava should be done, mix 1 cup light brown sugar, water, and lemon juice in a sauce pan.
14. Cook sauce over a medium heat, stirring occasionally for 15 minutes.
15. Remove from heat, add the honey and vanilla, and stir until well blended.
16. Remove the baklava from the oven and finish cutting through the layers.
17. Pour the sauce over the hot baklava.
18. Cool. Let it sit for at least 24 hours (lightly covered -- do not refrigerate because the honey mixture need to soak in and evaporate a bit) -- longer if you can stand it!
19. Put each piece into a muffin cup that has been partially flattened for a great serving presentation.
20. Enjoy your baklava and Happy Holidays!

Joy To The World! (In Enthusiastic, Not Sarcastic Tone!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The baklavas had been baked and delivered. I am making another batch for the family and the baking will be done. Hallelujah!

My hubby is home so I've been using his digital camera to snap some pics to share. I only have limited time to devote to learning the intricacies of editing, resizing and photo enhancements right now so pardon my AOL issue picture album.

As you can see on picture #6, I am done shopping. I only have to exchange a Snow Baby figurine for my hubby's aunt. I was told that someone bought the same figurine for her so I have to go back to where I bought it and exchange it (for another one that she probably have already). I am thinking of exchanging it for a gift card so she can pick her own Snow Baby.

I am going back later to beautify this entry.  I have to choose and upload graphics for it and right now I need to get started on more chores. There's no rest for the wicked, they say. I guess I am the most wicked of all because I seem to have a chore list longer than Santa's.