What's for Dinner Tonight?

Fort Christmas, both my daughter and my daughter-in-law gave us gifts of bread and beverage mixes they had made and packaged in canning jars and tied with nice ribbons and clever tags!  Well, Hubs and I spent the day with my mother in law, looking for a file cabinet and other office supplies for her and, in payment, she treated us to lunch.  Lunch was very good -- grilled marinated chicken and seasonal grilled veggies.  It seems that when Hubs and I have a large lunch, we tend to not eat much for dinner so I decided to try some of the mixes that we received as gifts.

The first thing I made was Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bread from my daughter.  I wish I had taken a photo of the jar with all the ingredients in it first but I didn't.  However, I did take photos of the process.

And with this, I had some Peppermint Stick Cocoa.

It was all very good and very sweet and I might do it all over again for breakfast.

A View from a Window

Late, yes, I know.  However, this week I did actually take the photos from inside the door, through the glass instead of opening the door and essentially taking them outdoors.  So, here you go!

Little Blurry -- Maybe it is better with the door open!

This one turned out better!

I did go out a few days ago to see what was left in the garden after our freezes and I actually had the forethought to take the camera.  This is what I came up with

Hubs making yard art while making the birds happy -- being creative with shepherds hooks and bird feeders!

Seems the Pin cushion plants survived the freeze and are thriving!

Renegade mint coming up where it doesn't belong

Squirrel nest in the pear tree

Squirrel nest in the OTHER pear tree

Yep, more mint -- it is everywhere!

So there is the garden in late December/early January.  If I can get a photo of the Orange Cat, I will.  He didn't run away when he saw me the other day so maybe he is getting comfortable in the yard -- or else the multitude of doves are more interesting than he is afraid of us.