Roof Rescue

I stepped outside yesterday morning to shake out a throw rug

and heard little Cocoa's tiny meow coming from above me!

I looked up and saw his little eyes and ears peering over the gutter

along the roof!   So I got a ladder and got myself with my shoulders

about even with the gutters and tried to get him to come to me.

But he backed away and was too scared to come!

Plan B was to go inside to the only window that opens up onto

part of the roof.  I took out the screen and called to him.

The incline was pretty steep and cats don't really enjoy

walking down inclines like that!  That's why climbing up trees

is easier than climbing down! lol....

He was exhausted...had a hoarse voice and he couldn't 

keep his eyes open!  I think he was stuck up there all night!

 After about 10 minutes, he finally decided that

coming close enough for me to grab him

up was his best choice!   And I told him that he was

too young for Rooftop Neighborhood Surveillance Duty!

♥

Baby Grackle

I saved this baby Grackle from the jaws of Jack last night.

He wasn't harmed, thank goodness!  The parents were

squawking and swooping around but I couldn't find

their nest!  I walked around a good 15 minutes with

this cute little guy but had a trail of 6 cats following me

every where and licking their chops!  lol....

I finally chose a pine tree and let him hop up into

the branches as tall as I could reach.

The boughs are too soft for the cats to climb.

It was almost dark when I put him in the tree.

I'm sure the mom and dad were keeping an eye

on me and took over when I went in the house.

I love his left over fuzzy baby tufts!

♥

A Little Kitchen Improvement

I wanted to show you what my men got me for Mother's Day!

A 15 piece set of Tramontina Hard Anodized Nonstick Cookware.

And new stainless flatware.

I didn't know I needed the cookware. ha.  I

thought my Caphalon was just fine!

But I have to say that the new is better...

conducts heat faster and more evenly

and I'm loving the nonstick!

Clean up is a breeze!

The flatware was from Taylor.

Smart boy!  After 25 years, we've had some pieces

go missing, not come home from school, (or be

replaced by cheap cafeteria pieces) or 

get bitten by the garbage disposal.

And last not certainly not least, this was the first year

I got a sweet Mother's Day gift from a girl!

Aw..the lovely Lauren gave me this gorgeous

glass pedestal bowl and beautiful potpourri

from Pottery Barn.  The colors perfectly

match the decor I have on the foyer table

for spring and I've been enjoying the

fragrance all week!

I felt totally blessed and loved!

♥

Apple Blueberry Crisp

Isn't this lovely?  A plate of warm apple blueberry crisp

in the evening light?  I just had to share a scoop with you! 

And I needed a good excuse to use my pretty set of dessert

plates that I found in the auction trash last week!

I had both apples and blueberries that needed to be used

so they both went together to make dessert!

I just layered both in a greased baking dish.

Added some Minute Tapioca and cinnamon...

And layered on the crisp topping of flour, sugar and butter.

The Mister was trimming all of our overgrown trees and

bushes outside.  Jack and I watched from the open window.

And while the crisp was in the oven, I made some tea....

...and photographed this sweet little guy in the grass!

Would you like some?

How about a little whipped cream on the side?

OK, a lot of whipped cream on the side. ha.

Fruit Crisp

3 c sugar

2 1/4 c flour

2 1/2 sticks cold butter

***

Pulse in food processor until crumbly.

Layer over fruit and bake 350

for 40-60 minutes until golden.

If using apples, add cinnamon.

If fruit is very juicy, sprinkle with some

Minute Tapioca before adding topping.

Recipe makes enough for a generous

layer over one 9x13 or two 8x8 pans.

Or use what you need and keep the rest in the freezer

so you'll be ready for the next one!

♥

Sun on Smoke

♥