Thursday Thoughts ~The Days Seem Long ~The Weeks Go Fast

Every Day is the same, but my routine feels safe.

For that I am Thankful.

Hubby has mastered the art of preparing our Weekend Brunch...

Perfect Over Easy Egg on Toast, Hash Browns, and Bacon.

And it is now Peak Season for many types of Fresh Fruit.

These Cherries are juicy and delicious.

None of us know if our communities

will host a Winter Arts Festival, so

I have been busy taking photos and listing

our creations in my Tins and Treasures Etsy Shop. 

This week we enjoyed one of our Go-To meals...

Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta.

It also involves mushrooms, red pepper, and green onions.

It fast and easy to prepare and so very tasty.

Hubby enjoys spending time in his wood shop after

a day at the office working with Unemployment.

This is just one of his hand turned bottle openers that is available

for purchase. It would be the perfect stocking stuffer

for your favorite bartender.

Remember if you are a local friend, you can contact me

to make arrangements and we can bypass the Shipping Charges on Etsy.

Stay Safe and Well.

Take care,

~Natalie

Visiting Boston ~Spending Time with Family ~How We Spent Our Last Day In Boston

After a long and stuffy Uber ride home from Fenway, 

we enjoyed a cold beverage and fresh air 

up on the Apartment’s Roof Deck. 

Emily and Jake prepared a lovely Birthday Dinner of 

Garlic Herb Chicken Breasts

Crash Potatoes

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

And then it was Monday Morning...

Both Emily and Jake needed to work.

Hubby and I needed time to organize and pack our suitcase.

After lunch, Jake dropped us off 

at the nearby Derby Street Shoppes.

My favorite store was Crate and Barrel.

Just check out those wide, wheelchair accommodating walkways!

I also love their tablescape displays.

Cheerful summer dinnerware for the patio.

There’s something that appeals to everyone’s tastes here.

Another favorite store was the Anthropology.

This display looks like summer, too.

Can you tell I have a “thing” for pretty dishes?!

We didn’t buy anything,

but we sure had fun browsing!

And Hubby has a “thing” for fried seafood.

We had dinner here.

We had a great table on the patio...

...right across the street from the beach.

After our fill of clams, scallops, shrimp, and fish, 

we enjoyed a walk along the beach.

It was such a nice evening. 

We retired early, as our alarms were set for 3:45 a.m.

to catch our early flight home.

Thank you for such a fabulous week.

We are blessed.

Take care,

~Natalie 

National Pasta Day ~It Was Yesterday ~Check Out This Fabulous Recipe

Macaroni and Cheese...

brought to a whole new level.

Remember, on Monday,

I bought some special cheeses in the deli.

My friend, Debra, sent this recipe.

It is one of her hubby’s favorites.

It is easier than it first appears.

There’s cheese, eggs, and milk. 

(I used half and half)

And my cheeses?

Fontina, Smoked Gouda, and the Parmesan Romano Asiago mix.

Bake it in a buttered Bundt Pan.

Does the outside of my Bundt Pan 

look like it has seen  a lot of love?

On the inside, it browns beautifully. 

Jasmine thinks so too... 

She is ready for dinner!

I do hope you enjoyed some pasta yesterday!

Take care, 

~Natalie

Hubby’s Birthday Weekend ~This is How We Celebrated ~Day One

It was Hubby’s birthday.

These empty nesters made plans to celebrate in the cities.

Our first stop was to get hubby’s 

favorite breakfast on the road...a breakfast pizza.

(I took over the wheel so he could eat.)

Our next stop was in Montevideo 

to get fuel for the big pickup.

A stop in Hutchinson...

We enjoyed a Birthday Beverage and a delicious Burger.

Next, our destination...Minneapolis.

We had made reservations to stay downtown.

When we checked in, 

we were upgraded to a room on the 21st floor.

This was our view.

It was Bison Fan Appreciation Night at Target Field.

There was no shortage of green and gold.

The NDSU Alumni Association had 

arranged a happy hour at Kierans.

We shared the Smoked Sausage Bites.

Seriously...

Sausages wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon, 

drizzled with 7 pepper maple glaze.

I would order those again!

It was a quick walk to the ball park.

We each got a hat and a couple of beverages.

Plenty of hits...The Twins win.

It was a great start to our celebration weekend.

Stay tuned for Day 2.

Take care,

~Natalie

The Good Ole Summertime ~What’s for Dinner ~Tuesday’s Tip of the Day

We all love the lazy, hazy days of summer. 

If you have been reading my blog, 

it appears that I spent my entire summer 

gallivanting around the countryside. 

Not true. 

There were plenty of weeks when we were at home...

and I spent my time cooking and cleaning...

and cleaning and cooking!

Photos of me cleaning, would not be interesting, 

but perhaps you like to see what we make for dinner.

Boneless Pork Loin Chops 

with Sautéed Mushrooms, Green Onion, and Garlic.

I have been experimenting 

with Homemade Rib Rub.

I cook them in my crockpot first, 

and they turn out so tender.

‘Tis the season for fresh Corn on the Cob.

Our new favorite is brushed with Coconut Oil and Lime Juice, 

then dusted with Smoked Paprika and roughly Chopped Cilantro.

Roasted Vegetables...so tasty!

A Massaged Kale Salad is the perfect side for BBQ Ribs.

The Beer Butt Chicken is 

another summertime favorite for us.

By now, you have figured out that 

we like to use our grill in the summertime.

It sure beats turning on the oven in the kitchen

when it is hot and humid outside.

These ingredients became 

a marinade for Chicken Breasts.

Overnight in a ziplock baggie, 

in the refrigerator...

Grilled to perfection.

Grilled Salmon is also such a treat.

Chicken Fajitas are a Quick Dinner 

for a busy weeknight.

Our Basil Plant is growing like crazy.

Here is my

Tuesday Tip of the Day:

After washing your herbs,

Use your Salad Spinner to dry them.

Homemade Pesto is so easy to make in a food processor.

Basil, garlic, toasted pine nuts, Parmesan cheese and olive oil.

Penne Pasta, Asparagus, Peas, Artichoke Hearts 

tossed with the Homemade Pesto.

Yum!

Check out my Pinterest Page 

if you are interested in any of these recipes.

Take care,

~Natalie