maison rustique

There is a cherry tree in the backyard, so I hope to spend less on birdseed! LOL!!

After a few months of looking, I bought a house! Assuming it passes all inspections tomorrow, I will close on 6/20. Ranch with fully finished basement and awesome sunroom and deck. Will be an adjustment to get used to a smaller place after so many years in huge places, but it will be a good place for this little old lady. Still in Kansas City area. Will be a couple of months before I move--still downsizing and packing, but I will start taking things over gradually. Excited to be entering this new chapter of life.

I actually cooked! Italian sausage, a little diced potato, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, herbs/spices. Baked to cook them topped with spinach and cheese and browned. Pretty tasty.

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Many condolences for you all.

I've not spent much time there (though I have aunt/uncle who live in Mountain Home). But should you decide to go for whatever reason, Eureka Springs is OK. And not too far from there, Crystal Bridges museum is nice. We went when it very first opened and it was not fully open, but I understand now that it is wonderful.

I recently asked on FB about good places to make an overnight trip. Several people recommended Des Moines. Apparently they have some superb restaurants there.Who knew! I keep saying that one of these days I will make a driving trip through Kansas to go see the salt mine and all the funky "World's Largest" type attractions. A kitsch trip if you will.

My sweet little Black-Eyed Susie is getting bolder every day. She is my little early bird who always watches for me to put out the food in the evening and comes immediately. I'm guessing she is pregnant by the appearance of her nipples.

It was my lucky day. I got a big box of cookbooks on the local Buy Nothing group from a very nice lady. A friend offered me a huge bunch of moving boxes--the big, expensive to buy kind in great sizes/shapes--and bags of packing materials. And another friend brought me 2 packages of fresh raviolis and a carton of ice cream.

I had milk and cheeses to use up so made a very small baked mac and cheese with cheddar, blue cheese and some of the pepperoni and mozzarella crisps I got at Costco. Very tasty and my doctor would probably not be happy about it.

An Indigo Bunting this morning! They are so striking!!

American Crow Northern Cardinal Red-eyed Vireo !! Eastern Wood-Pewee (Never even heard of this!!!) House Sparrow Mourning Dove

House Finch Cedar Waxwing Northern Mockingbird Northern Cardinal American Robin House Sparrow Mourning Dove Brown-headed Cowbird

A friend dropped off a bag of lovely fresh herbs for me yesterday morning. So, I had an arugula/herb salad for supper. With tomatoes, tomatoes and some crumbled crisps I got on sale at Costco. With buttered Cristal bread.

You forgot Mannix.

RIP and thanks for the many years you shared your knowledge of the Mexican culture and foods.

So sad.

Whew! The team came through!!

Still lots of migrating birds. Couple of newbies to my little part of the world. House Sparrow Baltimore Oriole!! Northern Cardinal Cedar Waxwing!!! American Robin And then my neighbor came outside and started talking to me. Quieted all the birdies.

Maureen's husband posted this on Facebook for those interested: The Celebration of Maureen O'Reilly life is just three weeks away. It will be held at 1111 Hermann Drive in Houston at 4pm on Saturday, May 31. It will also be shown live on Zoom. For purposes if planning parking, event space and refreshments, we need a count of those who will be attending in person. For those attending via Zoom, I also need your confirmation ans email address to send you the Zoom invitation. Please let me know if you plan to attend either in person or via Zoom by emailing your intention to rdpulver1@yahoo.com. Thanks, Russell D. Pulver, Maureen's husband

Northern Cardinal American Robin White-throated Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Carolina Wren House Sparrow Great Crested Flycatcher!! Northern House Wren Tufted Titmouse Mourning Dove Northern Mockingbird

It was a beautiful day yesterday. Went to a small party at friends' and it was just perfect for sitting outdoors. Came home and had a bird party: Black-capped Chickadee Chimney Swift Northern Cardinal American Robin White-throated Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Carolina Wren House Sparrow Chipping Sparrow

Salad of lettuce mix, bacon, tomatoes, onion, avocado, blue cheese and the Amish tomato bacon dressing I got recently. With toasted buttered Cristal bread.

A couple of weeks ago NYT had a recipe for Lemony Turmeric Potato Soup. I thought it sounded interesting. I had a couple of potatoes and some cream that needed to get used immediately, so I played off that recipe and made a version with cream. Very rich, but absolutely delicious. I will definitely make it again, with or without cream.

Celtics still going strong!

And on our one non-rainy day this week: Carolina Wren Red-bellied Woodpecker Brown-headed Cowbird Mourning Dove Downy Woodpecker House Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Newbie!!) Gray Catbird (first one in a while) Blue Jay Northern Cardinal