Zucchini Soup ~ Barn ~ Dr. Pelson ~ Conundrum ~ Dog Day

Good 52º morning. Don't want to be up. Bruiser made me get out of bed because he was hungry!

Here is a good recipe for all of you who have a ton of zucchini from and in your gardens....

ZUCCHINI SOUP

1 T unsalted butter

2 T extra-virgin olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 garlic clove thinly sliced

Kosher or sea salt

fresh ground pepper

1½ pounds zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced ¼" thick

2/3 cup vegetable stock or low sodium broth

In a large saucepan melt butter in the olive oil. Add onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 7-8 minutes. Add zucchini, cook stirring frequently, until softened, about 10 minutes. Add stock and 1½ cups water. Bring to simmer, cook until zucchini is very soft, about 10 minutes

Working in 2 batches, puree the soup in blender until it's silky-smooth. Return to saucepan, season with salt and pepper (to taste). Serve it either hot or chilled, garnished with julienne zucchini. Or, freeze it for later.

Yesterday Chad and Darin came back to finish the mesh over the openings in the barn eves.

It's weird how the barn roof is so busy looking in a photo!

I went to my eye doctor for my annual exam yesterday with Dr. Pelson. He still looks like he's in high school. He had gone to school, been in the Navy, and has 4 children. So nice. Said the old eyeballs are perfect. No problems. Yeah!

After the eye exam I met Dee at the Elk's for a glass of wine and a nice chat. Home, the Emmys (which I didn't see all of, napped, but good thing it's recorded!).

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(from Mike C) A Conundrum........

Seems we constantly hear about how Social Security is

going to run out of money. How come we never hear about welfare or food stamps running out of money?

What's interesting is the first group "worked for" their money, but the second didn't.
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Historically and births this date ......................

1818 – Illinois becomes the 21st state in the union of the United States.

1883 – The 1883 eruption of Krakatoa begins its final, paroxysmal, stage.

1920 – The 19th amendment to United States Constitution takes effect, giving women the right to vote.

1942 – Holocaust in Chortkiav, western Ukraine: At 2.30 am the German Schutzpolizeistarts driving Jews out of their houses, divides them into groups of 120, packs them in freight cars and deports 2000 to Belzec death camp. 500 of the sick and children are murdered on the spot

...............so horrible and disgusting. Too bad a Jewish man/woman didn't' get the chance to terrorize, brutalize and slowly kill Hitler!

1970 – The then new feminist movement, led by Betty Friedan, leads a nation-wideWomen's Strike for Equality.

And births this date include...

1864 - my paternal grandmother, Emma Laney. Unfortunately I never got to know her... she would have been 81 when I was born, but she passed away before that.

1910 – Mother Teresa, Macedonian-born Indian missionary; Nobel Peace Prize recipient (d. 1997)

1980 – Macaulay Culkin, American actor

    .........can you say 'drugs' !!!

FUNNY PICTURE OF THE DAY:

All I know. Happy Tuesday. Nuff said. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

August 26th

National Dog Day

(Dude and Maggie)

(Dude tolerating Bruiser!)

(My Scuffy Ann of Stockbridge)

(Lucy with Jerry)

(Our Yukon  aka Yukie Boy)

   

National Dog Day has two goals: to honor dogs, and to rescue dogs from homelessness and abuse. It's an opportunity for us to recognize and appreciate the value and importance of dogs in our lives.

This day is intended to honor dogs for all that they do for us. In addition to giving love and companionship, dogs help us out in countless ways. They are watchdogs for our safety. They lead the blind. Dogs aid in search and rescue, and they seek out bombs and drugs.

The second goal of National Dog Day is to rescue dogs in need. On occasion, dogs need us to save them from homelesness and abuse. The goal of the National Dog Day foundation is to rescue 10,000 dogs a year. Lend a hand to help a dog in need today, or any day.

---

Origin of National Dog Day:

National Dog Day was created by the National Dog Day Foundation. Their motto is "Saving 10,000 Dogs - One Day at a Time".

President George W. Bush, a dog owner himself, sent a letter to the foundation in support of National Dog Day. (YEAH GW!!!!)

Taquitos ~ Dee's Salsa ~ Guacamole ~ Edda GloW John and Jackie

Good 50º morning

93º yesterday. UGH.

Historically and famous births....

1933 – The Diexi earthquake strikes Mao County, Sichuan, China and kills 9,000 people.

...9,000!!!!!

1944 – World War II: Paris is liberated by the Allies.

1989 – Voyager 2 spacecraft makes its closest approach to Neptune, the outermost planet in the Solar System.

And births this date include....

1913 – Don DeFore, American actor (d. 1993)

... "Thorny" in Ozzie & Harriet and "Mr. B" in Hazel.

1916 – Van Johnson, American actor (d. 2008)

.... one thing I remember about him is that he always, always, wore red socks!

1930 – Sir Thomas Sean Connery, Scottish actor

....My favorite! Mmmmmmmmmm.......

1933 – Tom Skerritt, American actor

1949 – Gene Simmons, Israeli-born musician (Kiss)

1958 – Tim Burton, American film director

.... He directed on of Kristen's favorite films... The Nightmare Before Christmas....

 

1961 – Billy Ray Cyrus, American singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist (Shudda done a better job raising that nutcase half naked bootie wiggling tongue wagging daughter of his!)

1968 – Rachael Ray, American chef and television personality

(....if only she could keep her open palms in her pockets instead of waving them all over and in front of her face when she's talking and brushing back her hair! But, I guess it's impossible since she's Italian, but also she NEVER stops talking. Even interrupting special guest (all guests!) Tom Selleck! She cooks great, but wish she'd shut up and keep her hands DOWN! Also, she needs to quit saying (in lyrical style) "I know.")

Yesterday afternoon I made taquitos. Warm corn tortillas on a dishtowel in the micro, cover when warm, roll raw ground hamburger (or chicken or turkey or sausage) into tortillas. I added in some onion and cilantro. Fry over med high heat until lightly browned on outside. Stack in warm crockpot if transporting or eating later.

I made Dee's salsa mixed with grated cheese for taquito dipping. So good!! Mix 1 jar salsa with equal (or more) amount of cheese.

Guacamole with finely diced tomato, lemon/garlic seasoning, sea salt and pepper. I was very unhappy with the avocados I got at Ray's. 2/3 of each was ok, but the rest was brown and with lots of stringy stuff. ICK!

Then headed to GloW and Johns place at Jump Off Joe Creek.

This is GloW and John's pup Jackie. Sweet boy!

GloW made yummy rice. Edda made great carnitas. We put them in warm tortillas. 

We had wine and chatted. NICE afternoon! Thanks guys!

I am experimenting with WD-40 and the bear. I sprayed the cans I keep the birdseed etc in and we didn't have a return visit from the bear as of yet. Since bugs, rats, mice, skunks don't like the smell of WD-40 and it keeps them away, I'm hoping this will also work with Mr. Bear!

 

OMG PICTURE of the day............. (look closely!)

 

All I know. Happy Monday. Nuff said. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

August 25th

Whiskey Sour Day

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/whiskey-sour-recipe.html#!

Napa Earthquake ~ 360º Paris View ~ Slow Cooker Bacon Ranch Chicken Pasta ~ Edda GloW John ~ Cat Wants In

Good 52º morning. Got to the high 80ºs yesterday.

 

Around 3am a 6.0 quake struck north of San Francisco.

http://abc7.com/news/60-magnitude-earthquake-hits-n-california/278694/

Here are pictures of damage to buildings in Napa...

My friend Linda's son and family live there so have an email in to her to find out how they are. If the email doesn't work, a phone call a little later this morning. Apparently the hospital in Napa is treating 70 people for injuries. 36 after-shocks...... Power outages throughout the whole area...

 

Here is a really neat 360º view of Paris France from the top of the Eiffel Tower.... sent to me from George Collins (LASD ret) Thanks George!

http://www.gillesvidal.com/blogpano/paris.htm

Betty Crocker has again tested the limits of my drool button! This sound sooooooooooooo good I can't wait to try it.

Slow-Cooker Bacon-Ranch Chicken and Pasta

1 lb chicken breasts

6 slices bacon cooked and diced

2-3 cloves garlic finely chopped

1 pkg (1 oz) ranch dressing and seasoning mix

1 can (10.75 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

1/2 t. pepper

1/2 cup water

8 oz spaghetti, cooked*

Spray 4 qt slow cooker with cooking spray. Place chicken in cooker.

In medium bowl mix remaining ingredients except spaghetti. Pour over top of chicken.

Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours or on High for 3-4 hours.

15 minutes before end of cooking time, cook and drain spaghetti.

Just before serving, shred chicken with two forks and toss creamy chicken mixture with cooked spaghetti.

*Or any pasta of your choice.

Yesterday Edda, GloW, and John visited for a couple hours to get the "cook's tour". We had a good chat. Dude is always happy to have company visit.... GloW and John have a dog and so Dude enjoyed a "sniff fest" on John!  

 

Historically this date and births this date:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_24

 

1814 – British troops invade Washington, D.C. and during the Burning of Washingtonthe White House is set ablaze, though not burned to the ground; as well as several other buildings.

1932 – Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the United States non-stop (from Los Angeles to Newark, New Jersey).

1981 – Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for murderingJohn Lennon.

1989 – Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose is banned from baseball for gambling byCommissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti.

And births this date include....

1955 – Mike Huckabee, American politician, Governor/Presidential candidate

1958 – Steve Guttenberg, American actor

1960 – Cal Ripken, Jr., American baseball player

1976 – Alex O'Loughlin, Australian actor

Mmmmmmm..... Hawaii Five-O

OMG this cat is a riot (you can get rid of the ad by clicking the X in the top right corner of it) Thanks PattyK for sharing this!!

http://www.flixxy.com/chat-with-a-cat.htm?utm_source=nl

Yesterday early Edda, GloW, and John came over. Edda wanted to see my place.

PICTURE OF THE DAY... (can you figure it out?)

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Sunday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo

August 24th

Mt. Vesuvius Day

http://wonderfulworldreview.blogspot.com/2011/08/mount-vesuvius.html

Vesuvius Day marks the date in 79 A.D. that Mount Vesuvius exploded.

August 24, 79 A.D. was an historic date for the world. This was the day that Mount Vesuvius erupted in a huge explosion. It was one of the largest volcanic explosions in recorded history.

This deadly volcano destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae. They were buried by volcanic ash and pumice. An estimated 3,360 people died in the volcano's eruption.

Mount Vesuvius also exploded a second time in 1631. At that time, it killed approximately 3,500 people.