Compare & contrast

What I was looking at a little over a week ago:

What I'm looking at now:

Feel free to discuss.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy birthday, Mom! Kaylee and the other pets send kisses!

Gratuitous dog picture

Let's take a break from the California pictures for a gratuitous dog picture.

Hi, Kaylee & Cordy!

One of the things I like to do when I go to California is to go to botanical gardens (luckily, wormie enjoys that, too). I like seeing plants I don't usually get to see. Right now, these count:

Granted, very similar ones will appear in my garden soon, but right now they remind me that, despite the covering of snow and ice on my car, one day spring will come again.

And while it's supremely boring to those who live in warmer climes, I just love seeing citrus trees all full of fruit.

To me, terribly exotic. To them, something you find in the backyard. :)

California, there I went

So I was in California, visiting wormie & Lola. It was beautiful - in the 70s - every day. What did I come back to?

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON...
SCATTERED AREAS OF SNOW WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD IN COVERAGE THIS EVENING. THE SNOW WILL MIX IN WITH SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN... ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 70. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF AN INCH OR TWO WILL BE POSSIBLE TONIGHT...WITH LIGHT ICE ACCUMULATIONS AS WELL.

Delightful!

I also got to see Susan (hi, Susan!), and we had lunch at Huntington Beach, on Ruby's there at the end of the pier in the above photo.

I'm back!

Did you miss me?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Skinny artichoke dip

I wanted some hot artichoke dip to have during the Super Bowl, but I didn't want the artery-clogging fattiness of the usual cheese-and-mayo-laden recipe. So, I made my own. It was damned tasty, and I'm posting it to share and so I don't forget it. And Jeff asked me to make it a keeper, too. Always a good sign. :)

1 can artichoke hearts, well drained
1/2 cup silken tofu
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 cloves minced garlic
freshly ground salt & pepper to taste

In a food processor, blend all of the ingredients. Spread into a small casserole dish and bake in 350 degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes until hot. Serve with crackers or veggies.

Yum!