This 'n That Thursdays: Cozy Fall Night Routine Video (ASMR Animation)

If autumn is your favorite season and the idea of cozycore slow living appeals to you, then you will love this very short animated video from YouTube - it is adorable!  I have watched way too many fall slow living vlogs lately, and all of the essentials for a cozy autumnal evening show up in this video - hot beverage, hot bath, soothing skin care, fall décor, candles, snuggling in bed under a warm blanket while reading a good book - what's not to love?  And the animated star of the video is a cute kitty with a huge head!  Get ready for all the cute fall vibes here! 🍁🍂🐱☕️🛀📚🍂🍁

This 'n That Thursdays: Pig Caught On Camera Stealing Neighbors' Pumpkins | The Dodo

Happy Halloween, everyone!  I just watched this YouTube vlog post yesterday and had to share it - not only is this pig obsessed with Halloween pumpkins and jack o' lanterns, he also managed to grow his own pumpkin patch!  This is such a hilarious and heartwarming video, and it will make your day.  Enjoy! 🎃🐷🎃🐖🎃🐷🎃

Terrifying Tuesdays: Week Four of My Scary Movie Recommendations from the 1970s-1990s

From Amazon

Time for my final week of scary movie recommendations for the month.  First up is "The Shining" (1980), which is arguably the best known film adaptation of Stephen King's works.  You have two chances to watch it on BBC America on Halloween day, at 2:00 AM and then again at 1:30 PM on the east coast (check local listings for times in your area).   It is also available on a number of streaming services for a fee.

Next on my list is "The Sixth Sense" (1999), the first and probably best known scary movie from director M. Night Shyamalan.  Watch this movie on Halloween day as well, on FX at 8:00 PM on the east coast (again, check local listings for times in your area).  This film is also available on a number of streaming services for a fee.

Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow" (1999) is in my opinion one of his best movies and also a great adaptation of the classic tale by Washington Irving.  While not available on TV before Halloween, it is coming up in early November on several networks, and is available on a number of streaming services, some with seven day free trials if you wish to go that route.  If so inclined, you can also read Irving's short story here.

"Tales from the Crypt" (1972), based on tales from mid-century horror fiction comics, is one of the earliest of many horror anthology movies from this time period, and is one of the better offerings.  Another plus for me is that it also stars Peter Cushing in one of the five segments!  This one is currently streaming for free (with ads) on Tubi, or watch it on YouTube here.

I tend to prefer horror films to science fiction, but "Total Recall" (1990) is in my opinion one of the better movies of the genre, not least because of two strong female characters.  The film is based on a short story by well known science fiction writer Philip K. Dick (which you can read here).  While not available for Halloween, you can watch the movie on IFC on November 9th.  It is also available on streaming sites for a price.

Next on the list is the creature feature "Tremors" (1990), which is a fun and effective blend of comedy and horror.  I could not find this one free online anywhere, but of course there are a number of streaming service options.

"Trilogy of Terror" (1975) is a different sort of horror anthology in that it stars actress Karen Black as the main character in all three tales, the most memorable of which is the last one featuring a killer doll.  All of these stories are based on original short works by science fiction author Richard Matheson.  You can watch this movie on YouTube here.

There are two more movie recommendations for my list this month, and I will add them to this post as soon as I put them on the list. This month seems to have flown by, so enjoy the remaining days to come, and have a fun Halloween! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Okay, the next film recommendation has been posted, and it is "The Uncanny" (1977), which is another horror anthology.  This one has three tales, all featuring cats, and I wish I could have posted it yesterday, which was National Cat Day!   Better a day late than never, though, so if you are an ailurophile, you can watch this movie on YouTube here.

My final movie recommendation for the month is yet another horror anthology (that makes a total of seven for the month!).  "The Vault of Horror" (1973) consists of five short stories told by five men who find themselves inexplicably stranded together in a building sub-basement.  This is admittedly not one of the best anthologies, but it is decent enough if you like this sort of film (as I do).  You can watch it on YouTube here.

And this is it for my October movie recommendations from the 1970s-1990s!  I hope you enjoy at least some of them, and I am already compiling my list for next year with movies from the 2000s.  Happy Halloween! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Foodie Fridays: Sparkling Cider, and a Couple of Quick and Easy Snacks for Spooky Season

Fall is my favorite season, and every year I buy a small jug of apple cider because I consider it to be a quintessential fall beverage.  Unfortunately, even though I love the idea of cider, I usually end up never  drinking it and giving it my husband instead (I have the same problem with hot chocolate in the winter - love the idea of it for the season but almost never drink it).  I rarely drink anything other than water or tea (hot or cold), so I find it hard to get out of my rut and have something different.

This year, however, I finally found a way to enjoy an occasional cider beverage.  We had such a prolonged warm season this year that the thought of hot cider was not appealing, so I decided to try it cold.  Since cider is so sweet I wanted to dilute it to reduce the sweetness, so I bought a bottle of sparkling mineral water.  What a delicious treat it turned out to be!  I am one of those oddballs who does not care for ice in drinks, but adding ice would make this an even colder drink, perfect for the far-too-hot autumn days we have been having until recently.  I also do not care for spiced cider, but for those who do it would be an interesting variation on the theme.  This beverage is so simple that a recipe is not really needed, but I will include one anyway since that is what I do in these posts!

Sparkling Cider

1 C. sparkling mineral water (I used this brand)
1/2 C. apple cider (plain or spiced, your choice)

If desired, add some ice to a tall glass.  Pour the mineral water into the glass first, then add the cider.  Stir if you feel the need, start sipping, and enjoy!  Serves 1.

****************************************

I never include more than one recipe in each of these posts, but decided to make an exception here to suggest a couple of quick and easy sweet and salty snack mixes to serve with your glass of Sparkling Cider.  The drink and snacks would be perfect for a family spooky movie night, either along with or instead of the ubiquitous bowl of popcorn (I wonder if combining the two snack mixes with the popcorn in one big bowl would be a good combination?).  If you are a football fan, I think these snack mixes would also be great to serve while watching a game, and the cider drink could work for anyone wishing to avoid alcoholic beverages.

Snack Mix #1 (on left in image above) - combine a bag of Snyder's Honey Mustard & Onion Pretzel Pieces with a 16-oz. jar of honey-roasted peanuts (any brand)

Snack Mix #2 (on right in image above) - combine a bag of Great Value Peanut Butter Flavored Trail Mix with a bag of Great Value Roasted & Salted Pecans

I rarely indulge in after dinner snacking, but for spooky season I think I could make an exception to the rule! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Terrifying Tuesdays: Week Three of My Scary Movie Recommendations from the 1970s-1990s

From Amazon

Week Three of my scary movie recommendations starts with "It" (1990), the television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name.  I know that the 2017 film is considered very good and is highly recommended, but this version will always be my preference, as it stars many favorite actors from my younger days.  I could not find this free online, but it is available on several streaming sites for a price.

Is there anyone who has not seen or at least heard of the Steven Spielberg movie "Jaws" (1975)?  Based on the Peter Benchley novel of the same name, this film probably kept more people away from the beach than all other reasons combined (and also gave poor sharks a much worse reputation than they deserve).  The movie is always available on cable networks around the Fourth of July, but I could not find it online for free right now, although it is available on streaming sites.

If you are a fan of underwater horror movies, then you should enjoy "Leviathan" (1989).  Workers in a deep sea mining facility are just about to wrap up their mission when they discover the wreck of a Russian ship, with disastrous consequences.  While this one is not available for free online viewing right now, it will be streaming for free on Tubi starting November first.

For a completely different change of pace, watch Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (1993), a stop motion animated film which is an homage to both Christmas and Halloween!  Spooky and fun at the same time, this movie is suitable for all but the youngest viewers.  It can still be viewed on FreeForm's "31 Nights of Halloween", on October 27th at 5:40 PM and on Halloween Day at 4:40 PM (check your local listings for exact times).

From nightmares to the devil himself, my next movie choice is "The Omen" (1976), an absolutely chilling tale of a Satanic child.   A diplomat and his wife are expecting their first child, only to have it die at birth.  Unbeknownst to the mother, the hospital persuades the father to instead secretly adopt the son of a mother who just died.  After a few years, it becomes all too apparent that this switch was a very bad idea.  You can watch the film on YouTube here.

Next on my list is "Phantoms" (1998), based on a Dean Koontz novel of the same name.  While this movie does not generally receive high ratings, I like it because it is set in a small Colorado town and I first saw the movie when I lived in Colorado.  The setting reminds me of the small town of Ouray, which I passed through once but never had the chance to actually visit, although I would still like to some day.  I think it is very effective as a horror movie, and the concept is unique.  I could not find it available free online (except supposedly on Pluto TV but I could not get it to run) but it can be found on several streaming sites.

"Poltergeist" (1982) has been on the cable networks quite a bit this month - it is on AMC right now as I type this, and will be on BBC America on Saturday, October 26th/27th (6:15 PM/12:45AM on the east coast, so check your local listings for your area), as well as on many streaming services.  This is another movie that probably almost everyone has seen or heard of, but it is still worth re-watching even if you have seen it multiple times.

Last up for this week is "Predator" (1987), another movie that is most likely familiar to almost everyone.  This film can be watched on FX on October 24th at 7:00 AM and on October 28th at 8:00 AM on the east coast - check your local listings for times in your area.  You can also watch a rather mediocre copy on YouTube here.

Next week is Halloween week, so I will post descriptions of all of the remaining movies on my list, even the ones that will not have been added to the list yet, since I post on Tuesdays and Halloween in on a Thursday this year.  If you are a horror movie fan, from now until the end of the month you should be able to find a plethora of films to watch, so have fun and see you next week! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Terrifying Tuesdays: Weeks One and Two of My Scary Movie Recommendations from the 1970s-1990s, Part 2

 From Amazon

Welcome to Part Two of my scary movie recommendations for October.  Up next is "Deep Rising" (1998), a horrific but weirdly fun creature feature set on a stranded cruise ship.  I do not enjoy the ocean, and as a confirmed landlubber my idea of hell is being stuck on a cruise ship, so this film is especially scary for me!  You can watch this one on YouTube here.

If, like me, you find dolls to be profoundly creepy, then you will truly appreciate the terror of the movie "Dolls" (1987).  Six people find themselves suspiciously stranded near an old mansion with a storm approaching, and have no choice but to seek shelter there.  The elderly puppet maker and his wife seem hospitable enough, but the sheer number of dolls and puppets throughout the house is unnerving, and as the night progresses this unease proves to be justified. You can watch this movie on Dailymotion here.

Next in line for your viewing pleasure is "The Fog" (1980), a John Carpenter classic about the vengeful ghosts of a ship's crew who appear out of the fog to wreak havoc in a small coastal town, some of whose residents are descendants of those who were responsible for their tragic deaths.  You can watch it for free on TokyVideo here, but I strongly suggest you do not watch the 2005 remake, which is a major disappointment.

Believe it or not, I have another horror anthology to recommend (I told you this time period includes quite a few anthologies!).  "From Beyond the Grave" (1974) is in my opinion another one of the better offerings - I actually think that all four of the short stories are equally well done.  And as a big fan of Peter Cushing, I was pleased to see that he plays a pivotal role in this film.  I could not find this one free online, but it is available on a few streaming sites.

For a more lighthearted film, my next choice is "Galaxy Quest" (1999), which shamelessly parodies the original Star Trek television series, but in a mostly affectionate way.  While the movie is not especially scary, the space alien villains are hideous and nasty, so I feel I can include it here.  This is another film that is available on streaming sites but not for free anywhere online that I can find.

The final movie for Week Two is "Ghostbusters" (1984), another fun and not too scary movie about a team of scientists who decide to specialize in removing pesky ghosts for a (substantial) fee, coincidentally at the same time that an evil force has caused spooks to run wild in New York City.  A new sequel to this long-running franchise was just released this year, so the original has been available for viewing on multiple streaming sites, as well as cable television networks on occasion.

Okay, that's it for now, and next week I will (hopefully) remember to cover the movie recommendations for Week Three! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Terrifying Tuesdays: Weeks One and Two of My Scary Movie Recommendations from the 1970s-1990s, Part 1

From Walmart

Since I forgot to post about my recommendations for last week, this week I will quickly run through the films for the past two weeks. Without further ado, let's get started!  I reviewed my first choice on the list in a previous post, so today we start with the second movie listed, which is the horror anthology "Asylum" (1972).  In general, horror anthologies do not get much love, and for good reason, as some if not all of the included short tales can be less than perfect.  However, I personally feel that, if done right, the horror genre can be more effective in a shorter format as it can be difficult to maintain the proper amount of unease and terror for the entire length of a movie or novel.  The best movie horror anthology in my opinion is "Dead of Night" (1945), which showcases some of the best short horror fiction in its vignettes, but I think "Asylum" is one of the better offerings as well.  You can watch it for free on YouTube here and decide for yourself if you agree:

"Beetlejuice" (1988) is up next and surely needs no introduction, as the sequel was just released recently and the original has been available for viewing on multiple sites.  I have yet to see the new movie, but always enjoy watching the first one as I find it highly entertaining.  I am probably also one of the few to find Delia Dietz's house remodel to be far preferable to the Maitlands' bland style!

"The Blair Witch Project" (1999) is notable as one of the first found footage horror movies and the one that popularized the style.  Despite its limited budget the movie became quite a hit.  It is available for viewing on several streaming services, but not for free.

I love a good ghost story, and "The Changeling" (1980) is considered by many to be one of the best.  A New York composer (George C. Scott) loses his wife and daughter in a horrific car accident, prompting him to move to the West Coast to escape his tragic memories.  He rents an old mansion and soon comes to find that it is haunted, but by whom, and why?  If you want to find out, you can watch the film on YouTube here.

For a completely different change of pace, "Creature" (1985) is a space alien film obviously inspired by the movie "Alien" (1972), which was my first recommendation on this list.  Even so, I find the two movies to be just different enough to like both.  Watch this one on YouTube here and see what you think (assuming that you have already seen "Alien", which is not available free online).

The 1970s-1990s was a great time period for horror anthologies, and "Creepshow" (1982) may be the one best known to most people.  This is one of those anthologies where the quality of each segment is variable (I definitely have my favorite and least favorite of the five offerings), but the good ones are very good so I do enjoy this movie.  A couple of interesting facts - the film was directed by George Romero and several of the stories were written by Stephen King.  Also, most of the filming was done in and around the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area (even in my hometown, as I grew up in a Pittsburgh suburb, so I have a special fondness for this film).  I could not find this one free online, but it is available on several streaming sites, including Shudder.  Interestingly, "Creepshow 2" (1987) is available on YouTube here, and there is some disagreement among horror enthusiasts as to whether the sequel is better or worse than the first film.

The next movie on the list is "Cube" (1997), which is an early version of the more recent escape room movies.  Seven people find themselves trapped in a chamber of constantly shifting cube-shaped rooms, some of which are booby-trapped, with no memory of how they came to be there.  They must find a way to escape without getting killed, but the potentially fatal rooms are not the only danger they face.  I like to think of this movie as an example of mathematical horror, because these people must solve a complex mathematical problem to escape, and what could be more horrifying than being forced to do math?  You can watch the movie on YouTube here.

Since this post is getting rather long, I am separating it into two, so this one will be followed by another covering the movie recommendation for Week Two.  See you there! 👽👻🎃💀👿

Terrifying Tuesdays: Scary Movies from the 1970s-1990s for Halloween

Image from Amazon

Last year I posted an alphabetical list of mid-century scary movies for Halloween in the left side bar of my blog, so this year I am listing recommendations of scary movies from the 1970s-1990s.  And what better way to start the spooky season than with the movie "Alien" (1979), which still ranks as one of the scariest movies I have ever seen.  It is also one of the first films I can recall that features a strong female protagonist as well as a grittier and more realistic setting for a story set in outer space.

Next week I will discuss the newest editions to my list, and will include any links I find to sites for viewing these films free online if possible, although with these more recent movies free viewing sites are more difficult to find (unless you belong to a streaming service, which I do not).

Happy spooky season, everyone! 👽👻🎃💀👿

On the Homefront: So What Have I Been Doing All of this Time?

 

 

Our dining room before the big move...

 

 

...and our dining room after the big move!

Happy first day of fall, everyone!  I have been very remiss when it comes to new posts, but there was a good reason for that.  Ever since my husband got here to our Santa Fe house at the end of 2021, most of the rooms in the house as well as our RV garage have been full of moving boxes (yes, our house came with a huge RV garage/car garage combination but we do not have nor will we ever get an RV!).  I was able to unpack the bedroom and bathroom boxes pretty quickly, and my husband was in charge of dealing with all of the boxes in his study, but the very large room that was supposed to be our dining room was packed with boxes full of living room, dining room, and kitchen items.  I have been slowly working to unpack these boxes, but as there were dozens of boxes, mostly large and/or heavy ones, it was difficult to make much progress.

This past March, I had two dear friends come to visit, and thanks to their help I was finally motivated to get serious about unpacking all of the boxes.  They helped me finish setting up a large china hutch for storing my overly large collection of dinnerware, and we managed to get about half a dozen boxes unpacked before they left.  For the next two months I worked diligently pretty much every day to empty out boxes, find a place for the contents, and dispose of packing materials.

Like most big projects, things always seem to get worse before they get better - items were scattered everywhere as I tried to sort things out and decide where to put them, to the point where I was running out of room to stack stuff!  Finally, however, everything started to fall into place - I got rid of some items, managed to put dishware sets together and figure out where to store them, and started cleaning up the accumulated dust and debris that filled the room. By the end of May the room looked like this:

A usable and almost finished dining room - this is a huge space so we will use it as a library as well as the dining room.

We finally have a dining room!  What you can't see in the far lower right corner is the small stack of several boxes that are open but still not completely unpacked, but these are mostly food items that will eventually get used or stored in our small pantry when space becomes available.  There are also some things that I would like to get rid of but as yet have been unable to find some missing parts.  Remember that RV garage I mentioned earlier?  It is still full of boxes and I am hoping the missing parts are in there somewhere.  I plan to tackle that project some time this fall or winter when the weather cools off, as it has been far too hot to work in the garage over the summer.  I wonder if I can get my friends back for another visit then? 😜  Probably not, as they are very good friends and I would prefer not to lose them! 😊  Anyway, it is a relief to finally be able to use the dining room.

In addition to this major unpacking effort, my husband caught a respiratory virus in May which then led to pneumonia.  He spent three days in the hospital on oxygen and IV antibiotics and even now is still on oxygen at night, although he has been able to wean himself off of daytime oxygen.  He also recently found out that he has severe sleep apnea, which means he may be on nighttime oxygen permanently.  He has an overnight sleep test at the hospital this week to determine exactly how severe the problem is and how it should be treated.  Until recently I have had to deal with all of the maintenance and repair projects we have going on right now since my husband was not up to it, and we have had a lot going on this summer.  However, when I do finally get to start on the garage I will try to post before and after pictures of that project as well.  The situation in the RV garage is even worse than the dining room (just wait until you see the before photos).  Wish me luck!  Hopefully once my husband's situation is resolved I can start posting more regularly, especially now that my favorite season has arrived! 🍁🍄🍂

Foodie Fridays: Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins

We have been having a prolonged heat wave here in Santa Fe, which means that I practically live on salad meals to cope.  I happened to have a couple of apples that needed to be used up, and decided that a Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins would be the perfect way to do so.  The one complaint I always have with chicken salads is that they tend to be a bit bland.  My solution to that problem was to add some tajin, a chili pepper, lime, and salt blend that managed to spice up the salad nicely without being too spicy.  I have already made this recipe twice and as long as the heat wave continues I know I will make it again soon.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins

1/3 C. low-fat mayonnaise (I used Vegenaise)
1 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. tajin
2 tsp. water
1 C. diced cooked chicken
1 apple, diced
1/2 C. diced celery
1/4 C. raisins
1/4 C.  peanuts
1/4 C. cashews (optional)

Combine mayonnaise, curry powder, tajin, and water in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk until well blended.  Add the chicken, apple, celery, raisins, and nuts; stir mixture well to combine (add more mayo if mixture seems too dry).  Cover and chill.  Serves 2-3.

Foodie Fridays: Cucumber Pasta Salad

My favorite summer meals are cold salads, usually a chopped vegetable or pasta salad.  I especially love to add cooling cucumbers to these salads, so when I saw the recipe for Cucumber Pasta Salad on YouTube recently I decided to give it a try.  I think this is now my favorite pasta salad!  I served this with grilled chicken, but I think salmon or shrimp would also work well.  I only made a couple of minor changes, using Mexican crema instead of yogurt because that was what I had, and malt vinegar instead of white vinegar because I prefer the former.  I think I will omit the sugar next time, but otherwise I will be making this recipe again soon before summer ends because it is so good!

Cucumber Pasta Salad

1 lb. rotini (I used whole wheat)
1/2 C. yogurt (I used Mexican crema)
1/2 C. mayonnaise
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
2-3 T. white vinegar (I used malt vinegar)
Salt to taste
1 tsp. sugar (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. pepper (optional)
3 T. fresh dill, finely chopped
1 English cucumber, quartered lengthwise and sliced
1 stalk celery, diced (about 1/2 cup)
1 small red onion, diced (about 1/2 cup) 

Bring 8-9 cups of water to a boil and add 1/2 teaspoon salt.  Add the pasta and cook according to package directions.  Drain and rinse the pasta and set aside.

Combine the yogurt, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt, sugar, pepper, and chopped dill in a medium bowl and mix well.

In a large bowl, stir together the cucumber, celery, onion, and cooled pasta.  Add the salad dressing a little at a time, tasting after each addition, until desired flavor and consistency is reached.  Cover and chill for 40-45 minutes before serving.  Serves 8.

Current Events: Did JD Vance Turn Indian?

From The Times

A picture really is worth a thousand words, right Mr. Trump?  If the decades-old picture you posted of Kamala Harris wearing a sari as a child is proof as you claim that she is Indian and not black, then I guess a much more recent photo of Vance in traditional Indian wedding apparel must be proof that Vance has indeed turned Indian!  Am I understanding your logic here, Mr. Trump?  Does the fact that you favor Brioni suits mean that you are turning Italian?  Hey, I think I am starting to get it - according to Trump logic, you are what you wear!

Current Events: Meet the Dumb and Dumber Team 2.0 (Try, Try Again)!

From BBC

Apparently the first attempt at a Dumb and Dumber Dream Team was not good enough, so here we go again - meet "Dumb Joke" (the late great Hannibal Lecter is real!) Trump and his new running mate "Just Dumb" (I hate childless cat ladies!) Vance.  Looks like Trump is already having second thoughts about his choice in this photo.  Oh well, if Trump changes his mind about the Vance pick, he can always blame it on his two older sons as the ones who made him do it.  Far from forming a dream team, the Republican presidential candidate has instead managed to create the perfect Dumb and Dumber Weird Team.  Way to go, Trump!

Wish List Wednesdays: Toptier Electric Ceramic Tea Kettle

I have been looking to replace my old electric tea kettle for a while now.  It is an old West Bend kettle that still works well, but the short spout is annoying because water always drips on to the counter when I pour it into my tea mug.  I wanted a kettle with a gooseneck-type spout, but most modern versions are designed for pouring the boiling water over coffee grounds rather than tea, and I just do not care for the really skinny spout.  Also, to me these modern electric kettles look rather ungainly and, frankly, unattractive.

Finally, after a long search for just the right kettle, I found the Toptier Electric Ceramic Tea Kettle ($52.99 on Amazon) which is both attractive and functional.  As soon as I saw the colorful Dot pattern I knew that this was the kettle for me!  I also love the fact that it is ceramic rather than plastic or metal.  While some reviewers complained about a funny smell to the water when using the kettle, I simply followed the instructions which said to boil water in the kettle and discard before using it, and I have had no problems whatsoever.  There were also a few complaints about leaks from the base but I did not have that issue either.

I have been using this kettle for a few weeks now and I have to say I am quite pleased.  The water comes to a boil quickly and the gooseneck spout never drips water on my countertop.  Unlike my old kettle, this one can be removed from the base with the heating element, but I do not find this to be either better or worse.  The cord on this kettle is much thicker and sturdier, which makes it a bit harder to coil up when not in use, but this is probably a safety feature so I am not complaining.  Really the only minor complaint I have is that the knob on the lid gets hot when the water is boiled, so I have to hold and remove the lid with a paper towel when the kettle is hot so I do not burn my fingers.  I am on the lookout for some sort of silicone cap to put on this lid and thought I had found one but it was too wide and did not fit, so I am still looking.  If I find something that works I will update this site with the information.

If you are looking for an electric kettle that works well and also looks attractive I highly recommend the Toptier Electric Ceramic Tea Kettle.  It comes in several different styles and colors as well as two different sizes, so check it out if you are interested.  (For cat lovers there is an absolutely adorable Greedy Cat design in blue and white - I was really tempted, but I am more of a dog person and Dot was the name of my first Dalmatian, so I had to go with that pattern instead!)

On the Homefront: Meet Mae(ve), Our Newest Canine Family Member

I think it is high time I introduced the most recent addition to our little family - meet Mae, a rescued stray we initially intended just to foster, but quickly realized that she needed to stay!  Mae was a stray at the Taos Pueblo, only two years old when rescued but already raising her second litter of puppies.  The pueblo is attempting to reduce their number of stray dogs so last September they agreed to let a rescue group take Mae and her puppies along with another female dog with a litter.  The other female and all of the puppies were rounded up and adopted out fairly quickly, but the group had a hard time capturing Mae and could not get her until two weeks after the rest of the dogs had left.

Although the original rescuers were from Colorado, they let another group based in Santa Fe take Mae in to find her a foster home.  This new group temporarily boarded her at a vet clinic while they advertised on NextDoor, a local social networking platform, for a foster home willing to take Mae in.  This is where I found her, and as soon as I saw her picture I decided we would give it a try.  I had never fostered before, but I was starting to think about getting another dog after losing my beloved Ruby last March.  Since I am getting older I initially I thought that I would like to get an older dog who was not too big, possibly a Dalmatian as we had owned Dalmatians in the past and they are my favorite breed.  I tried to find an adoptable Dalmatian in our area but had no luck, so when I saw Mae's picture I thought that while I looked for my next dog I could at least help out other dogs in need of a home by fostering.

While Mae's bio mentioned that she was easy to handle and got along well with other dogs, she was very young and about fifteen pounds heavier than I thought I could handle easily, so I did not really think she would suit us as a permanent addition.  Nevertheless, I got in touch with the rescue group and set up a meeting at our house so that they could inspect our premises to make sure we were suitable and I could decide if I could handle Mae.  The meeting went very well, Mae got along fine with our dog Madison, and I decided that I could do a foster.

Initially Mae was rather anxious and kept looking for a way out of the house (as a stray, she had never lived in a house before) but after a week she settled in and calmed down a lot.  Best of all, she seemed very happy to be living with us and proved to be very easy to train.  That was when I decided that she was after all a dog we could adopt.  We signed the papers, officially kept the name "Maeve" that she was given by the rescue group but shortened it to Mae for everyday use, and she is now a permanent member of our family.  She has been with us since early October 2023, and while we are still working on a few issues, she has settled in very well.

Mae is a very happy and playful dog, just a big bumbling puppy really, who enjoys her daily morning walks as well as lying around in the yard all day when the weather is nice.  We do not even have to worry about our driveway gate being open as she has no desire to leave the property and does not chase cars.  Even though she is an athletic and strong dog who weighs about 60 pounds who could easily pull me over when I have her on the leash, she never pulls and seems fine with being on a leash (although I know she would love to run free).  She gets along well with our dog Madison as well as the neighbor's small dogs that walk with us in the morning, and best of all she is big enough to protect Madison and the neighbor's dogs from any coyotes who may be thinking of going after these smaller dogs (she has already chased away one coyote that bit Madison, who never watches where she is going and tends to walk right into coyotes when following a scent!).  This girl is a keeper, and I am so glad that I took a chance and decided to invite her into our home!

An adorable photo of Mae hugging a tiny stuffed squirrel toy.

Foodie Fridays: Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Peppers

I love how quick and easy sheet pans dinners are to make, and I have posted several recipes for them on this blog.  Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Peppers is another variation using ingredients that work well together and cook to perfection in the oven.  Best of all, I usually have most if not all of these ingredients on hand, which makes it even easier to get dinner ready almost effortlessly!  I do have to admit, though, that I never actually use a sheet pan - I always use a 9x13-inch baking pan instead, as I find that I am less likely to toss ingredients all over the kitchen using a deeper pan.  Everything roasts just fine as long as the pan is not overfilled, so I will stick to my pan of choice (I will still call this a sheet pan dinner, though!).

Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage and Peppers

1 lb. precooked sausage, sliced (I used smoked turkey sausage)
2 bell peppers, sliced
1 yellow onion, sliced
1 package (16 oz.) gnocchi (I used pumpkin gnocchi)
2 T. olive oil (I used half garlic-flavored olive oil and half plain)
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
½ tsp. garlic powder (I omitted this)
¼ tsp. salt
⅛ tsp. black pepper (optional)

Add all ingredients to a 9x13-inch baking pan.  Use a large spoon or spatula to toss the ingredients around so that everything is coated with oil and spices.  Spread in an even layer.

Bake at 400℉ for 20-25 minutes, until the gnocchi and sausage are golden brown.

Spoon the gnocchi mixture into serving bowls.  If desired, top with an extra drizzle of olive oil (about 1 tsp. per serving), grated parmesan, and chopped parsley.  Serves 4.

All the lovely colors in this pan just make me happy! 😊

This 'n That Thursdays: My (Very) Minimal Winter Skin Care Routine

From UC Health

I have never been one to fuss very much about my appearance.  I am more interested in staying healthy  than being pretty (I almost never wear makeup or other beauty products), but as I age I know that my body needs better care than it did when I was younger.  My skin was on the oily side when I was young, so I never worried much about dryness, but now that I am older and live in a very dry climate, I do need to pamper my skin more, especially in the winter.  The tips listed above help to combat dry winter skin (check out the website for more details) but I am still not great about using moisturizing products.  That said, I do use three products to keep my skin hydrated and healthy in the winter, so I thought I would describe these items today as they have worked so well for me.

As a general moisturizer, I could not live without my Amlactin Intensive Healing Body Lotion ($25.34 for a 14.1 oz. bottle) in the winter.  If I don't use this lotion, the skin on my legs becomes dry and flaky, my heels start to dry out, and I develop painful, bleeding cracks around the cuticles of my fingernails, especially on my thumbs for some reason.  I even use this lotion on my neck and face, although I have to be careful not to get it in my eyes as it is irritating.  I have tried other lotions in the winter but they are either not moisturizing enough or they feel too uncomfortably greasy.  Whenever I wash my hands I make sure to reapply this lotion, and I never wash dishes without gloves in the winter as my cuticles will dry out and crack if I do.  I go through two bottles of this lotion every winter but it is so effective that it is worth it.

For my lips, I swear by Aquaphor Lip Repair Stick + Sunscreen ($16.28 for a package of four).  I actually use this product all year round.  It moisturizes and heals dry lips as well as protects them from sun damage with an SPF 30 sunscreen.  I am prone to cold sores if my lips get sunburned, and this sunscreen lip balm helps to prevent this problem as well.

The last product I use for facial skin care is Aveda Purifying Creme Cleanser ($22.00 for a 5 oz. bottle).  It is pricey but I only need to use it once a day in the shower and only a small amount is needed for each washing, so the bottle lasts a long time (probably almost a year for me, and I use it every day).  This product moisturizes my face without leaving any greasy residue.  The small amount I use also covers my neck and even my arms!  I have been using this product for decades now, and I hope Aveda never stops making it because it is the most effective facial cleanser and moisturizer I have ever used.

❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️❤️❄️

February is starting off with unusually mild weather, but that is supposed to change tonight with cold weather returning for the weekend, so I will be faithfully following my minimal but effective winter skin care routine for this month and probably most of March as well.  Stay healthy and moisturized for the rest of this winter, everyone!

This 'n That Thursdays: An Advent Tea Tin

One of the Christmas gifts I  received was this Harney & Sons Nutcracker Blend Tea Tin ($16.95 for 30 sachets).  I enjoy the flavor of the tea sachets in the tin, but I just love the cute design of the tin itself.  I plan to keep this tin after the tea is gone, and I know exactly how I will be using it.  Advent calendars with little gift slots for each of the 24 days before Christmas seem to be very popular right now.  I have been looking for one that includes a tea bag for each day, but I only like black or white tea and all of the advent tea calendars that I have found include green, rooibos, and/or herbal teas in the collection.  You can also find empty advent calendars to fill yourself, but the nicest ones are expensive and they tend to be rather large, which means yet another decorative item that has to be stored somewhere until next Christmas.

When I got this cute nutcracker tin, it occurred to me that I could use it as a sort of advent calendar.  It has plenty of room for 24 tea bags, and since I drink tea at least once every day I always have plenty of tea bags on hand.  If I start now saving one or two foil-wrapped tea bags from every box I open, it will not take me long to collect 24 of them.  I tend to switch the types and flavors of tea I drink throughout the year, so I am pretty sure I can have 24 different types of black tea by the time we reach the month of December.  Best of all, this compact tea tin is much easier to store than a bulky advent calendar, and I can reuse it year after year.  I am really looking forward to putting this advent tea tin together as the year progresses, and can't wait to start using it when December 1st finally arrives!