Fresh Salsa!!

With Summer coming to and end I'm really going to miss those

garden vine ripened tomatoes and fresh Summer fruits!! 

My dear friend Mary and her hubby has kept me well stocked this summer,

Thanks guys!!!!

So did you plant a veggie garden this summer? 

Or were you lucky like me who had friends that did?!!

My favorite thing to make with those vine ripened tomatoes is

SALSA!!

I don't actually have a recipe that I follow,

but these are the basic ingredients that you see here.

Approximately:
4 or 5 tomatoes
1/2 white onion finely chopped
2-3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1 Tb. chopped garlic
approx. 1 cup chopped cilantro
approx. 1 Tb. lemon juice
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Below is my typical breakfast/lunch,
hmm.... I guess that would be called brunch!! 

An egg scramble consisting of, two free range eggs minus one yolk,

a Tb. Oscar Meyer bacon bits, (only 25 calories!),

Topped with a small sprinkle of pepper jack cheese,

A half an avocado, chopped

and my fresh salsa!

A cup of mixed fresh fruit on the side (cantaloupe, strawberries, and pineapple) today!

and one slice of stoneground whole wheat toast,
with a tsp. Smart Balance Omega light spread with EVOO in it.
Yummy!!

Fresh salsa is always great snack for your Labor Day celebration!
Add some tortilla chips and how about a margarita TOO!

You can make your own Margarita mix using fresh or bottled lemon and lime juice and Splenda if you're watching your sugar intake like me!  

(Btw, Jose Cuervo Margarita mix has 24 grams of sugar in a 4 oz. serving) 

 YIKES!!

Adding fresh Salsa on many of the foods I eat

is a tasty and easy way to get my daily veggie intake.
Also a batch stays fresh in the frig for several days!

Salsa also looks so colorful and has soooo many good nutrients too:

Tomatoes~ Excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A. good source of niacin, vitamin B6, and folate. Contains the anti-oxidant lycopene.

Cilantro ~ Good source of dietary fiber, iron, magnesium, and manganese. Anti-inflammatory, controls blood sugar, cholesterol, and fights free radicals.

Onions ~ Helps lower blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. Protective against many types of cancer.

Garlic ~ Good source of manganese, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-viral properties. Promotes optimal health.

Jalapeno peppers ~ Contains Capsaicin, which is good for helping with weight loss. Capsaicin also acts as an anti-inflammatory. Also kills bad bacteria in the stomach and intestines that can often lead to stomach ulcers.

Lemon juice ~ Rich in vitamin C and calcium, promotes healthy digestion, is a natural immune system booster, and diuretic.

              NOW...

                 ♫ EVERYBODY SALSA ♫!!

....and when your done here, dance on over to "Designs by Gollum" for

**Foodie Friday**

 Don't miss out on Michael Lee's KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway!!

WooHoo!

What's your plans for Labor Day weekend?!

What ever you doing... I hope you have a good time and stay safe!!

Hugs, Sherri:)

Poolside Pigeon?

I've lived here for almost three decades and 

I've seen many different visitors drop by to visit our pool,

but this is the first time I've had a pigeon stop by...
But is it really a pigeon? Or is it a dove? 

Hey Lady what are you looking at?  Wait a minute, is that a camera?  COOL!

Now I knew there has been a pair living in my yard for some time now,

because I've seen and heard them in the large pine tree behind my pool 

always making there cute little cooing sounds. 

 All this time I've been calling them doves.  

So I ask you... What is the difference between a dove and a pigeon??

Well I read...in a word... none! 
They are literally the same thing!

Huh??  
I don't get it! One in the same? 

So why is it that pigeons get such a bad rap, 

and not doves???
and why don't they call them ALL either doves or pigeons?

Anyone??

When I first saw this pretty dove/pigeon (whatever) I thought no way will I be able get my camera in time to get a pic of it before it flies away....

But suprise, suprise,
not only did I get there in time
but it let me get so close to it
I think it might have let me pick it up if I had tried.

Of course I didn't actually try to though!  

I was cracking up because I think it was actually posing for me!

How funny!

Hey lady...what'a ya mean funny! Dont ya mean cute?!  Alright, now thats enough picture taking... you can go now, I think I might take a swim!

Okay, Okay!!  I'm going!!

As you can see... it takes very little to entertain me

LOL!

Have a great day! 

Oh and be sure to stop by Susan's at "A Southern Daydreamer"

for 

Outdoor Wednesday
after your visit here!

Hugs, Sherri :-)

Romantic Roses, Lace and Sterling Tablescape~

 

This tablescape was was inspired by this rose patterned china I found when thrifting. 

I have also collected many sterling silver pieces over the years,

and a few crystal items as well, so ... 

 it was just a matter of putting all of them together.

What I didn't have though, was a beautiful lace tablecloth...

and it was just what this setting needed!

But no way could I justify buying a new one right now,

 just to complete this tablescape.

Especially after checking out prices on them at a few places...

YIKES! 

So I sent this message out into the universe ...

"I will find a beautiful round lace tablecloth when I look at the thrift store"...

repeat, repeat, repeat...

Then off I went to my favorite thrift store,
which happened to be on on 30% off day. 

...and just like it was meant to be... 

There it was, exactly what I wanted!  

Right color right size and not a flaw on it!!!

Wow... did I feel lucky?!!  

YES!

When I had priced these tablecloths new and they were around 50 bucks and up!

So, now hold on to your hats... this one was marked 5.99! 

and with 30% off it was a only 4.19!! 

Woo Hooo!!!

My favorite Sterling silver vase for the centerpiece,

on top of a mirrored silver tray.

With greenery from my yard added to a faux rose arrangement.

Cute little crackled green birdie form Michael's Craft store.

Also added my crystal stemware, and candlesticks.

I dug out a couple of my serving trays

that were in my silver collection and polished them up. 

They made perfect chargers! 

The smaller faux silver roped trimmed trays/chargers I bought at the Dollar Tree.

Oooo, This tray is my fave! 

Sterling butter dish from my Mom (I think). 

Sterling salad servers, T/S.
Darling Sterling salt and pepper shakers from my dear friend Mary.

Sweet sterling basket on the right, another gift from my dear sweet friend Mary.

Well friends, I had such a fun time putting this together!  I hope you enjoyed it!

I'm afraid my camera is not the greatest

and photography skills really don't do this setting justice.

But we do the best we can with what we've got, right?! ;-)

I'm going to be linking up with a few meme's for this post... 

I'll add the links as the events come up!

I'd like to give a big thank you to all of the gracious hostesses,

and hope you'll  stop by to visit them

and the other participants after your visit here!

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit me today! 

Won't you please take just a little extra time and leave a comment?  

I really love hearing from you!!

Hugs, Sherri :-)

Links:                                        

 "Tablescape Thursday" ~ Hosted by Susan at  Between Naps on the Porch

 "Show and Tell Friday" ~ Hosted by Cindy at My Romantic Home

         

 "My Favorite Things" ~ Hosted by Laurie a Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie

 "Mosaic Monday" ~ hosted by Mary at Little Red House

 "Thrifty Treasures" ~  Hosted by Rhoda at Southern Hospitality

Harvest Time ~ Mosaic Monday/Outdoor Wednesday

It's harvest time again folks! 

Hubby and I took a drive out our almond orchard a few days ago.  He wanted to show me how much the baby trees had grown already and also how large the almonds are this year.  So I brought along my camera and made this mosaic from the photos I took. 

I'm joining Mary (a little late) at the "Little Red House" for
Mosaic Monday.
Also I'll be joining Susan at "A Southern Daydreamer" for
Outdoor Wednesday.

 Please stop by to visit them both and the other participants after your visit here.

click on photo for a close up

While we were there we had a "deer" little visitor walking through the orchard...
Can you see it in the lower left photo? 
My hubby gets a bit cranky when the deer come in and eat the bark off his baby tree's.  See the white protectors at the bottom of the baby trees?  Those are to help protect the bark from ALL the critters that like to eat away at it. Jack rabbits love to eat it too!

That's my farmer hubby in the center photo standing next to one of his babies... he's so proud of this one that's already grown taller than him! 

Well we don't have a huge crop this year but the size of the almonds are huge! 

See the one I'm holding in my hand?

Thats from MY special tree

(the photo on the upper left)

... it was just a little twig and now it's gotten so big!

The Buttes (mountains) are golden brown now and there are all kinds of wild flowers growing alongside the road that look like cute little sunflowers to me...

So of course I had to get a photo of them too!

Well friends I hope you have a nice week! 

I truly feel for those of you who are dealing with heat waves where you are living.

After having the same here last year I remember how unbearable it was!

I'm so GRATEFUL this year we have had the most pleasant summer I can remember in a long time.

Hugs, Sherri :)

Rooster Party at Barbs!!!

I know I've been MIA for quite sometime!!  

But I just couldn't miss out on Barbs second Rooster Partay !! 

I Had such a great time last year! Didn't you?!! 

 But I'm really havin to shake a tail feather to get this ready in time!!

Hopefully our wonderful hostess won't mind that I'm a bit fashionably late! 
I tried to book the banjo boogie band again for the party this year, but unfortunately they were already booked up! Darn it!! 
(I'll bet you're really disappointed aren't you? wink wink)
Oh well I guess that's what happens when you wait till the last minute!! 

Anyway, I know I needed a few more roosters like I need a hole in the head. 
If you don't believe me have a look here at last years Rooster Party.

but I couldn't resist just a few more!

This cute little polka dotted rooster serving tray and spoon rest below I picked up at the local Ross Store.

 

This Warren Kimble plate set and rack below I found at my favorite outta town T/S.

Last year I forgot to show this cute lil apron my Mom made for me!

and nearly forgot it again!

Finally these darling french country rooster plates I believe are a big hit for this years party!  I've already gotten a glimpse of them at a couple other blogs so far, Including at our wonderful hostesses blog (hers is just a bit different I think)...  She does have impeccable taste though!  Doesn't she?!

On that note I'd just like thank Barb for being such a SWEET hostess with the mostess!!  Be sure to stop by "Bella Vista" to visit her, and check out all the the other sweet chicks at the party!

Have FUN everybody!!! 

Hugs, Sherri :)