B is for Barbecue ~ A to Z on Monday

It's always a fun day when we BARBECUE something!  Of course we like the trimmings, too.  There's usually potato salad and baked beans and maybe slaw and some garlic toasted bread or rolls. 

This was back in the summer when Jeep cooked some ribs and Johnsonville Brats.

If the weather would warm up above freezing, we could cook out even now!  The low last night was 14!

He watches faithfully and bastes often for some real tender and juicy ribs.

I think that smile says they are about ready and he is pleased with the way they turned out!

Check out Jen's sidebar to see other 'B' food posts or to join this meme.

Today I am thankful for a husband who can cook!

Looking for Eagles

Today we went to Oxford for my one week post-op checkup on my eye.   I got a good report!  They said I had 20/20 vision in that eye.  The other one is still recovering from the vitrectomy and we will wait a little while before it gets the cataract surgery.  Just because you have a doctor's appointment, doesn't mean that you can't have a fun day.  We shopped at Wal-Mart and Rebel Music Store, then Jeep suggested we pick up a lunch of Barbecued ribs and trimmings and drive out to Sardis Lake for a picnic!  (He sure knows how to please me!)  On the way he called his son, Doug, who lives in the area for directions.  Doug wanted us  come by there so we ate our picnic in style at his house.  Then we drove out and found the place where Eagles have been spotted.  There is a boardwalk, complete with benches,  through a swampy area below the dam.  We had it all to ourselves, because most everyone else knew it was too cold to be out there looking for Eagles. 

I had my scarf, gloves and ear muffs in the car and I was glad that I did.  I loved being out that like that...just being still and listening to the birds and sounds of Nature.  We saw a couple of woodpeckers but couldn't get a picture.

The picture above was made looking down from the boardwalk at the reflection of a tree and the sky.

I heard a Chickadee's song and barely managed to get this shot before he flew away.

We thought this might be one of the Eagle's nests.  It's way up in a dead looking tree.

We spotted this hawk but he flew just as we saw him, so the picture is not good.

The boardwalk looped around and met the road at a different place and as we walked back to the car we saw this pretty green moss on the bank of the road.  When I said it was pretty, Jeep reminded me that a little while earlier we had seen a car that color in the parking lot and I had said that I didn't like that color!!  Well, not for a car!!

Stopping by the spillway, we were greeted by a zillion gulls.  I think there were two kinds because some were much larger than others.

This one is a Ring-billed Gull.

I thought this was an interesting moss covered old hollow tree by the road.  Looks like a nice hideout for small animals!

Today I'm thankful for a good report on my eye, for a delicious lunch, and for a fun afternoon with my sweetheart.

Happy Birthday to Jackson!

A year ago and now!

I'm walking now!  What fun!  Jackson is one year old today.

First piano lesson?

Jackson likes bath time!

Cutie Pie has dimples.

These last two pictures were made at Thanksgiving and since then he has sprouted 4, maybe 5 teeth!

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!

Today I am thankful for healthy grandchildren!

A Bird in the Hand...

This morning Jeep and I heard this Pine Warbler make a loud 'thud' as it hit the window at full speed.  He was just sitting there stunned and I picked him up and brought him inside.  Jeep got the camera and made a few pictures.

Isn't this Pine Warbler a pretty little bird?? 

"If you don't mind, I'll just sit here in the sun a little longer before I fly away"

I like to think he's saying, "Thanks for keeping me warm after the shock of hitting your window"!

Now he is ready to fly away.

I think he came back for lunch at the bowl of bread crumbs, but I can't be sure.  It may have been his brother or cousin:-)

Today I'm thankful for the beautiful sunshine and for the experience of holding this bird!

I'm Watching You!

Today I am thankful for the beautiful birds that God created!

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much valuable than they?  Matthew 6:26 NIV

A to Z on Mondays ~ Letter A

Applebees Blonde Brownies

2 Cups Flour

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter

2 cups packed golden brown sugar

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup milk chocolate chips

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Flour and butter a 9" x 13" x 2" pan. Sift flour into a bowl. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside. Melt butter. In a mixing bowl, place melted butter and add sugar, mixing well. Add flour slowly while blending. Batter will be slightly thick. Spread in pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips and chopped pecans over the entire top evenly. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes depending on your oven.
Top with vanilla ice cream if desired and whipped cream. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Today I am thankful for Jen at Unglazed, for hosting this meme, where I'm sure we will find lots of good food we want to try!

Scenic Sunday # 80

We almost missed this sunset somewhere in Wyoming.  We stopped for the night at a motel and walked across the street to eat.  When we came out, we saw that it was going to be a pretty sunset and our cameras were in our room.  We almost ran to get them and barely got a few shots before it faded away.  This moment is a special memory!
Click Here for more Scenic Sunday pictures.

Thank You!

♫  Praise God from whom all Blessings flow,  Praise Him, all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye Heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost! ♪

This bouquet is for YOU!
Thanks to all my wonderful blogger friends who took time to say a prayer for me!
All went well and I should be seeing better than ever real soon.

Today I'm thankful to God for giving doctors, nurses and technicians the knowledge

and skill needed to do delicate eye surgeries.

A Few Favorites from the archives

All of these pictures are from our honeymoon trip.

I just love this Wild Foxglove we discovered while we were lost on Mt. Hood.  If you click to enlarge it you can see the details and the droplets of water caused by the dense fog or cloud on the mountain.

 We saw this rainbow in the east when we stopped for the night at a motel.

We loved watching the waves crash on the rugged coast of Oregon.

This pretty pink sunset was near Yosemite.

This is beautiful Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge between Washington and Oregon.

We saw this Bald Eagle in Yellowstone National Park.   This was my first one to see in the wild.

~ ~ ~

Today I am thankful for each one of you who will take time to send up a prayer for me to have peace and healing as I undergo cataract surgery on Thursday, January 21st.   I know that this is considered minor, but that's when it's on someone else:-)   As you know, I've already had surgery on both eyes recently, so I kind of know what it's like.  The way I feel about it is, you can't have too many prayers going up to God!