Just Around The Corner

I'm looking forward to fall

and right around the corner is

Halloween.

I'd like you to meet Henry Higgins and Eliza Boolittle!

I found them at Tuesday Morning.

They were pushed to the very back of a shelf.

I almost didn't see them.

Good thing they called to me!

You can clean your pantry out with this Black Bean Pumpkin Soup

from Pillsbury's Halloween Best Recipes.

Halloween Best Recipes by Pillsbury 2011

BLACK BEAN PUMPKIN SOUP

Servings: 9

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped (3/4/ cup)

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

2 cups vegetable broth (from 32 oz. carton)

1/4 cup white wine, if desired

2 cans (15 oz each) Progresso black beans, drained, rinsed

2 cans (10 oz each) diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained

1 can (15.25 oz) Green Giant whole kernel sweet corn, drained

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

1. In Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion in oil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add garlic, cumin and chili powder; cook 1 minute.

2. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling: reduce heat. Cover: simmer 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Another good recipe for Meatless Monday!




Thank you to the hosts of Seasonal Sunday and On The Menu Monday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

This And That

It's very early in the morning and already it is HOT.

It's September for goodness sakes!

One of those BER months that is supposed to mean

NOT SO HOT! 

The weather people have promised a cool front this weekend which means

highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s.

If i get the 60s, I'm walking into the village and having crepes for breakfast!

***

So, what did you do during your August break?

I had a list of things I wanted to do and I didn't get to them.

Several CALs (Crochet A Longs) I wanted to start, but didn't.

BUT

I did read and found I had a theme going in my reading --

FRANCE!

I started off by reading a charming little book titled

JULIA'S CATS: Julia Child's Life in The Company of Cats.

After hearing Martin Walker on NPR, I decided to try one of his mysteries

BRUNO CHIEF OF POLICE 

which led to reading

THE DARK VINEYARD

and purchasing two more!

THE TENTH MUSE is the biography of Judith Jones starting with her life in France

and of course, including Julia Child.

Have you visited with Vivian Swift?

She has a wonderful blog.

She writes books about her travels (or not traveling) and includes her wonderful illustrations.

LE ROAD TRIP is her Journal of France.

That was my unplanned month with France!

***

I had a cataract removed from my right eye this week.

I now have 20/15 vision in that eye.

What is amazing is how clear and bright everything looks.

Having a cataract turns your world brown -- literally.

Guess I don't need to boost the color in my photographs anymore!!! 

The left eye has a date in the future with a new lens.

Wishing you WEll, much JOY and a FUN filled weekend!

Good Morning!

Going Green

I'm going green today.

This is my new Aynsley teacup.

I found it at the Guild Shop -- a thrift shop/granny's attic shop run by the Episcopal Church.

Two of my favorite things:

GREEN and ROSES!

Elegant, isn't it?!!

Definitely a little finger held out at attention when I use this cup!

I found the tea towel with its green background at Tuesday Morning.

It reminds me of some I've seen at Anthropologie.

More favorite things:

the color green, teapots, teacups and birds!

Finally, some green tea with ginger.

Pretty in the pot!

Two Leaves Tea Company announced a new line of affordable "luxury" teas

from the Paisley Tea Company.

They are traditional English Style paper teabags (no tag or string)

with tea that's organic and fair trade certified.

I was asked by Stephanie at Steph's Cup of Tea

if I would taste test three of the new teas and I said yes!

Today I'm sharing the Green Tea with Ginger.

I love Green Tea and I love ginger, but I wasn't impressed with this tea.

It had a wonderful gingery aroma and the color was pleasant,

but it was too medicinal tasting for me.

I cut the kettle off before the water boiled and waited for about a minute before I added it to the tea, letting the tea steep for about 3 minutes.

Perhaps my *taster* was just off.

I kept comparing it to a matcha tea with ginger I had the week before that knocked my socks off.

An unfair comparison, I'm sure.

Next week I'll share reviews of two teas that I loved!

Thanking our tea party hosts:

Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Teacup Tuesday

Wishing you WELL, much JOY and a wonderful cup of TEA!

Month At A Glance: August 2012

Wow!

August (or UGHUST as it's known down here on the Gulf Coast) sure went fast!

Here's a look at what I shared here at Twisty Lane in 

August 2012.

1. Pretty In Pink, 2. Around Houston Mosaic, 3. Gal Pals, 4. Pandu, 5. ICAD- Stand Up, 6. Around Houston, 7. Meditation, 8. Cheetah, 9. ICAD Have a Great Day, 10. Shell, 11. Jonathan, 12. Mina, 13. Zinnia Mosaic, 14. The White Iris Postcard, 15. ICAD - Giggle, 16. Cali and Jonathan

Thank you to Mary for hosting Mosaic Monday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy.