Almost Wordless Wednesday

The woman who wrote "America the Beautiful" was inspired to write the song while visiting Pike's Peak

The journey West continues. Today, we're at Pike's Peak and Garden of the Gods.

When we started our trip, the temperature was in the 70's

I love that name!

Someone actually lives halfway up the mountain. They maintain the tracks or something.  Their "driveway" is 20 miles long, and grocery shopping day is a seven hour ordeal!

The temperature was a balmy 34 degrees! Altitude: 14,110 feet. I was definitely feeling it after only about 15 minutes.

View from Pike's Peak

Next stop, Garden of the Gods

That's a mighty big rock

Kissing Camels fornation

Kissing in the sunshine

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Top 10 Movies About Writing

I must admit  that I had second thoughts about joining this bloghop. The reason? I could only think of three movies about writing. My problem? I was not thinking out of the box, as usual.  However, after being encouraged and prodded and possibly looking at some other lists, I may be able to come up with a list of ten movies about writing.







1. Something's Gotta Give - Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson
I love this movie and can't believe it was not in my original three! My brain needed some jarring. As a playwright, "Erica" can plan the perfect revenge for a broken heart. This movie makes me laugh out loud every time I watch it.





2. Little Women - Winona Ryder - I need to get the updated version on DVD. I still have it on video,
which means it's been quite a while since I've seen it. I love Jo's spirit, and I always cry at the end when Jo, manuscript in hand, runs to catch up with her friend, puts her hand in his and says "You'll never be alone.." (tearing up, sniff)

3.  Finding Forrester - Sean Connery and that voice, gives me goosebumps.

4.  Becoming Jane - Anne Hathaway - The untold romance that inspired the novels of one of the world's most celebrated authors, Jane Austen. She wrote "Pride and Prejudice" which is also a great book/movie by the way.





5.  Bridget Jones' Diary - Renee Zellwinger - She endures so much humiliation, and writes in all down in her diary.

6.  Princess Diaries - Anne Hathaway - Since I'm in the diary writing mode...Who hasn't dreamed, at least once, of being a princess, and writing it all down in her diary??

7.  Hans Christian Anderson - Danny Kaye - This movie did come out before I was born...just so you know. When I learned this was the movie about the guy who wrote "Ugly Duckling", I was hooked. And, the fact that all the stories were put to music, well, I just loved this movie.







8.  Her Alibi - Tom Selleck - (other than the fact that I have a crush on Tom Selleck) Mystery novelist Phillip Blackwood has writer's block. He hits the courtrooms for inspiration--and is zapped with a doozy. A mysterious Romanian beauty arraigned for murder arouses both his creative and amourous impulses. Is she guilty?  Funny movie!













9.  The Notebook - Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams - a heartwarming and heartbreaking story

10. Christmas in Connecticut - Barbara Stanwick - This is an oldie but a goodie, and in black and white. (And much more charming than the re-make with Diane Cannon). Elizabeth Lane writes articles for a woman's magazine, but she makes up a lot of stuff that cause problems when her editor wants her to invite a wounded but recovering soldier to her home for Christmas.




11. *Bonus** Wow! I can't believe I came up with 11, and more are creeping into my brain.

Singin' in the Rain - There's music, dancing (Gene Kelly- I love him!), movie actors transitioning from silent to talkies, and a little bit of script writing. " 'I love you, I love you, I love you' "Who wrote that script?' "  One of my all time favorite movies, so I had to include it somehow!

Well, there's my list, join the bloghop and share your ten favorite movies about writing.

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We'll Leave the Light On For Ya!

Since October is the month of scarriness and horror, I thought I'd share a scarry story, which may or may not be true, depending on whether or not it makes me look like an idiot. Obviously, if I look like an idiot, I made the whoe thing up. Because if there's one thing I'm not, it's an idiot. Ah-hem.

Once upon a time...Hubby used to work some crazy, third-shift-type hours for a local dairy business. (Yes, my children were fathered by "The Milkman".) These crazy hours meant that he usually went to bed at the same time the kiddos did. I declared (to myself) that Friday nights would be My Night. I didn't go out and party, because I am not a party girl was too tired for that stuff. Oh no. On My Night, I indulged in my guilty pleasure of watching "Dallas" and "Falcon Crest". (I might or might not have also indulged in ice cream, cookies, chips and/or popcorn. But, I digress.)

One other important side note: I had recently read in a magazine that a good safety precaution was to leave your porch light on if you were home alone. This was to discourage a bad person from coming to your house because they would think you were expecting company. It made sense to me, so I started leaving my porch light on.

So, on this particular Friday night, everyone was in bed, my porch light was on (third night in a row. It was working!), I had settled down to watch "Dallas", and was pondering what snack I should indulge in.

I heard a knock on the door.

What in the world? Who is knocking on my door? And, why?

It's pitch dark outside--except for my porch light.

I go to the door, and open it.  Oh yes. I did.  I was curious, OK? I know, I know, curiosity killed the cat.

There stood a black girl, in her 20's. She looked scarred. "I'm running away from my boyfriend. He's trying to beat me up. Can I come in?"

(Remember, this may or may not have happened...something something....I'm an idiot.)

"Yeah, come on in", I may or may not have said, closing the door, AND LOCKING IT, AND TURNING OFF THE LIGHT.  Hey, I did not want some big ol' mean boyfriend stopping by!

She came in and sat down on my couch.  "Are you here alone?"

"No. No, I'm not. My husband and three babies are upstairs sleeping."

"Will your husband drive me to the police station?"

"I'm sure he will. I'll go get him."  I leave her sitting on the couch. She seems nervous, but then, she just had a harrowing experience with that bad boyfriend.

Hubby is in a deep, deep sleep. "Hubby! Wake up! There's a black girl in our living room. Her boyfriend tried to beat her up. Can you take her to the police station?"

"Heck. no. As soon as I'm in the car with her, she'll cry 'rape'.

"So. You won't take her to the police station? I said you would."

"No." And, with that he was back to sleep. Or, maybe I should say, still asleep.

I was pretty sure nothing I said registered in his brain. He didn't seem a bit concerned that there was a stranger in our house. This was very uncharacteristic of him.

I went back downstairs and said, "Sorry, he won't take you." She sat there for a few minutes, then said she had to go.

I heard a voice say, "Are you sure?"

And, with that, she was out the door, which I promptly locked, and kept the porch light off!

After that episode, I felt a little freaked out watching TV all alone, so I went upstairs to bed.

But, first, I checked on the kiddos. I thought I heard some voices outside, and saw some flickering lights.

I walked over to the window, and the block was swarming with police. "I hope they find that nasty boyfriend", I thought as I curled up next to Hubby, who was snoring loudly.

The next morning, I was talking with my neighbor about the excitement.

"Some girl escaped from jail..."    cough, cough.....excuse me??    ..."She was over at the neighbor's asking for drugs, he told her to 'beat it'!   ex-cuse me??  SHE?   SHE??   Not, HE??

"She was at--IN--my house!! Said her boyfriend was after her..." My voice trails off.  Maybe I've said too much already.  I didn't dare ask WHY she was in jail.

So, don't believe everything you read in a magazine. Leaving the porch light on will not keep the bad people away!

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Try it, You'll like it! Tuesday - Peach and Raspberry Crisp

With the cooler temperatures coming on, I thought I'd share this yummy dessert with you. I love, love, LOVE the topping, and would almost just as soon eat it without the peaches. It's easy and yummy, my top two criteria!

Yes, this does have peaches in it!

Peach and Raspberry Crisp  
2qts. of home canned peaches 
1 orange, zested
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 cups plus 2 - 3 TBSP. flour
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup old-fashioned oatmeal
2 sticks cold, unsalted butter, diced OR (I use 1 stick of butter and 1/2 cup coconut oil, hardened)


Drain peaches and place in a large bowl. Add the orange zest, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons flour. Toss well. Gently mix in the raspberries. All the mixture to sit for 5 minutes. If there is a lot of liquid, add 1 more tablespoon of flour.  Pour the peaches into the baking dish and gently smooth the top.


Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, salt, oatmeal, cold diced butter and coconut oil in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed untl the butter is pea-sized and mixture is crumbly. Sprinkle evenly on top of peaches and raspberries. NOTE: This makes a lot, and it may be a struggle to get it all on, but don't waste a drop, and pile it all on! Bake for 1 hour, until the top is browned and crisp and the juices are bubbly. Serve. One scoop of ice cream looks mighty purty with that!


I've also made this without the raspberries, and using blueberries. Yum, yum, and yum!
  
          

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While They Were Out!

Hubby and I have returned from a "While You Were Out" weekend. No, we did not get the makeover; we did the makeover.

SIL has been wanting to re-do her living room. It's hasn't seen change in 25 years. BIL is not a fan of change, and has been reluctant to take that first step. But, in spite of BILs reluctance, SIL and I found a paint color for her walls. It's a beautiful plum color; quite a change from the stripey-cream wallpaper that has graced the walls for a very long time.

They had a vacation planned, and it seemed a good idea for us to come out while the house was empty, and make the transformation! We would be steaming off wallpaper, patching holes, washing the walls, priming, and finally, painting. They also have a small bathroom which needed patched, primed, and painted.

I was a little concerned about how someone who didn't like change would like coming home to a completely different living room. I was also concerned about getting finished in the alloted time. They planned to be home Sunday afternoon, and we couldn't get started until Friday morning. My biggest concern was that the wallpaper would not come off easily.  The wallpaper cooperated, and came off like a breeze. Hubby followed behind me, washing down walls and filling holes.

We decided to save time by having the primer tinted a dark color, hoping we would only need one coat of wall color. Unfortunately, the primer did not cooperate. Apparently, there was still some glue residue on the walls which kept the primer from sticking properly. YIKES!! This required putting on two coats of primer--not saving any time at all. And, to make it more stressful, the paint was not drying quickly. We had to locate every fan we could find to hurry up the process.

Understandably, SIL kept calling to see how we were progressing, then called to say they would be arriving Saturday evening and not Sunday. They couldn't wait to see it. "Ummm, we may not be done if you get here too early!"  Panic is setting in.

When they arrived home, the paint was barely dry, and the furniture was just moved back. I was just painting the final strokes in the bathroom when they walked in.

SIL loved it and is ready to re-do the kitchen. BIL was less enthusiastic, but appeared to like it. He needs time to adjust.  I think it looks nice. Here's some before and after pictures. I have to say that the pictures make the walls look a lot more purple than they really are.

My pictures refuse to line up the way I want them, and it's getting late, but, you get the idea.

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Almost Wordless Wednesday

After Abilene, Kansas we kept driving west, on to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Our first stop was the U.S. Air Force Academy. As we were pulling in, BIL and SIL spotted a family who were leaving that looked familiar. It was their neighbors from Michigan! It is a small world!

Somewhere in Colorado

The most imposing sight (other than the landscape) is the chapel

It's hard to capture the awesomeness

Inside the chapel

A gigantic pipe organ

The ceiling

Outside of the chapel

Marching

Hup - two double time

Amazing scenery

Cool sculpture of an eagle

Panoramic view

A tree!

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Try it, You'll like it! Tuesday - Taco Soup

 Like I've said before, I really, really like recipes that are easy. The hardest thing is this recipe is using a can opener. With the cold weather coming on, this soup will warm you up in a hurry.

So, without further ado, let me present

TACO SOUP

1 lb. hamburger

1 onion, chopped

1 can corn or hominy (or frozen corn)

1 can chopped tomatoes (or Rotel)

1 can chili beans

1 can black beans

1 can ranch beans 

1 can beef broth (I've used chicken)

1 pkt. dry ranch dressing (I've made it without this)

If desired, fresh cilantro and sour cream, for garnish

Brown hamburger and onion together in large kettle. Drain fat. Add everything else. You can use whatever beans you like. The original recipe calls for 3 cans of black beans, but I like to mix it up a little. I don't drain anything, I just dump it all together. Heat and eat.

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