Teas and T's

Thoughts and Quotes: I'm not sure who said it, but it went something like this, "Life is what happens while you're making other plans".

This is a perfect example of what's happened to me. I haven't mentioned what I'm about to tell you because I wasn't sure how it would end. You remember that my precious kitty Tiki went to Kitty Heaven in January and I swore I'd never have another kitty. She was my one and only. I disposed of everything which would remind me of my baby, and started making plans to travel in the fall. I still cry for her every single day.

However - On July 3, I took a feral kitty who had been injured to the vet, and he's still there. He's a black kitty like Tiki and about two years old. He was born somewhere around my neighbor Martha's backyard and has been hanging out around there since he was born. We started calling him Pepper. We decided that he was a male because he didn't show up with a litter of kittens. If I called him, sometimes he would slip under my back fence and I'd feed him. Sometimes he'd just show up, and if I saw him I'd feed him. Well, we didn't know if Pepper would survive, but the vet just started treating him as if he would. He has two large injuries on his forehead and deep scratches on his front right leg. The vet said that another cat couldn't have inflicted such deep scratches, and thought maybe a coyote. The big yellow kitty I called Bomber disappeared the day we found Pepper injured, so I'm thinking more than one attacker. Anyway, here is my newest purchase.

I took it to the hospital so that maybe he'll sleep in it and have something familiar when I bring him home. He'll need more recuperation time. Now that he's getting used to people, perhaps he'll be happy as a house kitty. Maybe not. He has to stay inside until he's over his trauma enough to be neutered, because if he does insist on going back outside, we might not be able to catch him again. With feral kitties, you just don't know. He's going to have some permanent scars with a loss of hair, so I told him that he'll look like a washed-up boxer and his new name is Kid Pepper. To be continued. . . . .

Thrifting: Still looking for the elusive yellow teapot for the library. Remember the thrift store kitty? She was outside chewing on some grass, and then later she was hanging out in the check-out area begging pets. She's sporting a new blingy collar and acting like she's the princess of the palace.

I found some really great bargains. I can't believe I went all those years refusing to wear second-hand clothes. Now that I've grown up and don't have to, I love shopping thrift stores and searching for bargains. I hit the jackpot. It was two for the (low $3) price of one on clothes and senior day, too. I bought two jackets and six tops for $1.20 each. Such fun!

I also found these happy candle holders for 40 cents each.

And six of these sweet little bread-and-butter or dessert plates for 40 cents each.

It was Christmas in July with brand new jewelry, total cost $7.20, less than the retail sticker price on the back of the pin.

What fun I'll have making cards with this stationery set that cost 80 cents. The paper is two-sided, and the envelopes can easily be cut down to card size.

Temptations: I know this is supposed to be a week of salads, but I just had to pick up Mexican food for one last splurge. It came with tortilla chips and salsa also. Burp!

Tasting - LOTS of Tasting: While we're on the subject of food, I have lots more to show you. Remember the photo of the new place in Ozark I posted before?

Friend Katy and I had lunch there and what a delightful place and wonderful food. The inside has an eclectic decor, with all sorts of mismatched things which make up an interesting whole. And things I've never seen. Like this hanging light.

There were fresh flowers on the coffee bar.

The place is rather dark - restful and comfortable.

I ordered the beef brisket and Katy had a vegetable pie. Sorry about the blurred photo.

Iced tea or hot coffee comes with the meal. We both had tea and we also got a bottle at our table for refills.

Katy ordered chocolate-berry creme brulee which I tasted and declared it divine.

This is Cafe L and you can find it on Facebook. They're located just one block north of the Ozark square at 2nd and Brick - 209 North 2nd. Phone 417-581-0477. They're right next door to The Persimmon Tree.

They keep the door between them open, so you can also browse for unique home decor or gifts. Cafe L is run by a mother and daughter with a chosen sister-aunt. The Persimmon Tree is separately owned by a good friend. A perfect combination.

The Cafe L team also does catering and arranges special events through their company The Frog Prince. Here's the mascot.

Seems we go to Ozark restaurants a lot. Friend Joey's husband Robert took us to Rosie Jo's yesterday for lunch. They're an Ozark institution and their secret ingredient is grease.

Robert had Frito Pie

Joey had a Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

And I had a Patty Melt

And here's the cake I didn't post on Bastille Day. It's a new recipe I found on the website www.greatgrubdelicioustreats.com called Apple Pecan Cake with Caramel Glaze. I'm not sure what I did wrong, but my cake didn't turn out like I wanted. It seemed too fragile to try to remove it from the tube part of my pan. It tested done at 50 minutes, but hadn't baked all the way through.

It's rather labor intensive, so I'll probably just make the apple bread my friend's mom came up with and add the glaze from above (but only half the recipe).

OTHER MOM’S APPLE BREAD

Effie Cox

3 eggs

1 cup oil

2 cups sugar

2 cups peeled and grated apples

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour, sifted

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

1/3 tsp baking powder

3 tsps cinnamon (note)

1 cup chopped nuts

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Generously grease and flour two loaf pans.

In a large bowl, beat eggs fluffy.

Add oil, sugar, apples, and vanilla.

Add dry ingredients (sifted) into egg mixture. Blend well and then add nuts.

Pour into loaf pans and bake approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Remove immediately and cool on racks.

Freezes well. Good with peanut butter and honey spread.

Note: Yes, I know this is one tablespoon, but my tablespoon won’t fit into my spice jar.

And I actually did eat some salad this week, as I planned. I made Taco Salad which lasted forever.

And that wonderful Sweet Kale Salad which comes in a kit and you buy it at Sams.

And today I made Dana's Library Soup with pork instead of chicken. It worked. You can find the recipe on Week 3.

Tablescapes: More from The Tour of Tables.

Here's Summer Fun

Fall Harvest Time

Things That Grow: Friday will mark six months since Brother Sonny had his fatal accident. I felt brave enough to go to the Botanical Garden to order a memorial brick in his name. The director, Lisa, was very compassionate, passed the tissue box, and we got through it. We followed Sonny's wishes and scattered his ashes over his property, so there's no headstone. Brother Jim and his wife Becky bought him a memorial brick in a Veteran's Monument in Kansas, but I wanted something here where Sonny was born and grew up. I chose the White Garden which is very beautiful at this time of year.

The memorial walk goes through the center of the White Garden -

and ends at the Hosta Garden, another of my favorites.

Togs: And the brown goes on and on . . . but next week we'll take a break from brown.

Day 57

Day 58

Day 59

Day 60 (Change jacket and necklace)

Day 61

Day 62

Day 63

STAY HYDRATED

BE SURE YOUR PETS HAVE SHADE AND COOL WATER

WEAR A HAT WHEN YOU'RE IN THE SUN

GO TO AN AIR-CONDITIONED MOVIE

EAT A STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM CONE

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

P.S. To those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, the above suggestions do not apply. Wear your mittens when you go out, and feel sorry for those of us who are having a heat wave.

Thoughts and Quotes: People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us.

Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat

And to make you mad with joy, I take you to -

Things that Grow: Chel is a gifted photographer and writer who takes us on little jaunts around England and when I received this post of the Flower Festival at Castle Howard, I knew I had to spread the word. So here you go - Enjoy

Tidbits: In addition to wallpaper, you can make gift sets from grocery bags.

Tasting: The "National Days of" seem to be all about food. For National Blueberry Muffin Day, I made the Blue Blueberry Muffins from Joann Fluke's book, The Blueberry Muffin Murder. I'm not a fan of crumble tops, so I left mine plain. You can get the recipe with an internet search.

July 11, Blueberry Muffin Day

This is the bottom of the muffin papers, which I deemed appropriate, as this is how big I will be after eating them.

I was torn between National Pecan Pie Day and National Eat Your Jello Day, but opted for the jello, as it has fewer calories. I thought I'd see if my silicone bakeware would work as jello molds. This seemed perfect for a swirl of peach slices in jello.

July 12, National Eat Your Jello Day

I had the peaches all nicely arranged in the swirls, but while walking to the refrigerator, they swam around and rearranged themselves.

The answer as to whether you can use silicone bakeware as jello molds is a definite "NO".

And July 12, National Pecan Pie Day

I'd been looking at pecan pie recipes and really wanted to try something new, so I ended up making it, too. The recipe came from Gretchen Eickhorst in St. Charles, Missouri, and was published in Taste of Home (I think). The recipe had been cut and filed, but looks like Taste of Home. Here's the recipe:

MYSTERY PECAN PIE

Taste of Home

9” unbaked pie crust

Bottom Layer

8 oz. package of cream cheese

1 egg

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

Top Layer

1 cup light corn syrup

3 eggs

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans

Heat oven to 350°.

Beat the ingredients for the bottom layer together. Pour into the pie crust. Sprinkle pecans over.

Stir top layer ingredients together and pour over the pecans.

Bake 50-55 minutes or until set.

I guess the mystery is, "How did those layers switch places?". I had only dark corn syrup, and only 1/2 cup, so I added enough apple jelly to make up the cup, and it worked. I love pecan pie the regular way, but if you're looking for something with a new twist, this will work.

July 13, National Beans 'N' Franks Day

This suited me just fine. I've never outgrown my love of Wienies and Beans. I like using baked beans instead of pork and beans. Add Cole slaw and corn muffins and chow down.

Wienies and Beans - perfect

On a tray

In the family room

Watching a baseball game on TV

July 14, Bastille Day

Instead of posting a cake recipe, I should like instead to send prayers from the USA to our friends in France in the wake of the vicious attack by terrorists in Nice. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured, and we send our condolences to the families of the deceased, wherever you are.

July 15, National Tapioca Day

I love trying new recipes, so I decided to make a recipe called Strawberry Tapioca Salad which I found on the internet here. I'm not sure why it's called a salad, because it's definitely dessert to me. It's made with tapioca pudding cook and serve; vanilla pudding cook and serve, strawberry jello, Cool Whip and strawberries. If you're trying to avoid prepared foods, this may not be for you. And it makes a lot. I put half in the freezer. We'll see how that works.

July 16, National Corn Fritter Day

I sort of made corn fritters - they're more a cross between corn fritters and hush puppies. I just made up a Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix and added a little extra milk, some canned corn, and so they wouldn't be too sweet, some yellow corn meal. I deep fried them in a saucepan on the stove.

July 17, National Ice Cream Day

Can you think of a better way to celebrate National Ice Cream Day than with a root beer float?

Some of the National Days next week are Fudge, Lollipops, Sour Candy, Junk Food, Vanilla Ice Cream, Peach Ice Cream (I think Baskin-Robbins made a lot of the National Days selections), Caviar, Daiquiri, Tequila. As the elastic in the top of my pants won't stretch any further, I have designated next week as National Week of Salads for Patsy.

Tablescapes: I've included only one table from the Tour of Tables this week, as it has so many interesting things that I think are worth a look.