How about this guy 
(Vermillion Flycatcher) 
sighted in 
Morongo Valley Park!!

The western tanager family are
back and visiting us daily.

Such a beautiful site.


They are nesting close by
the house evidently.  

Fried Pickles

Has the whole world been frying pickles behind my back and no one bothered to tell me about it?  I saw these in a magazine and thought how brilliant, but something tells me this is not a new phenomenon.
I love them.  They are my new go to way of eating pickles.  I think I might even put them on burgers. Or fish sandwiches.
Dipped in ranch dressing they are the perfect little bite-sized apps, the ones where you mindlessly devour ten of them before you know what has happened.  Maybe that's not good.


Anyway, whip these out at your next gathering and watch folks swoon.


Beat egg, milk and a pinch of cayenne.  Place 1/2 cup cornstarch in a shallow dish.  In another dish, mix 1/2 cup each cornstarch and cornmeal with dill, paprika, salt and pepper.


Dip cold pickle slices in the plain cornstarch, then the egg wash, then the cornmeal mixture.  Fry in 2 inches of 375^o F canola oil until golden, about 3 minutes.


Drain on paper towels and serve with ranch dressing.


Maybe with potato salad?


I ate way too many of these.  Thank goodness my life is filled with lots of hard physical labor to burn off the calories, LOL.


Fried Pickles
Adapted from Food Network Magazine

1 large egg
3/4 cup milk
Pinch of cayenne
1 cup cornstarch, divided
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
2 Tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
36 dill pickle slices, cold
Canola oil
Ranch dressing for dipping


Beat egg, milk and a pinch of cayenne.  Place 1/2 cup cornstarch in a shallow dish.  In another dish, mix 1/2 cup each cornstarch and cornmeal with dill, paprika, salt and pepper.


Dip cold pickle slices in the plain cornstarch, then the egg wash, then the cornmeal mixture.  Fry in 2 inches of 375^o F canola oil until golden, about 3 minutes.


Drain on paper towels and serve with ranch dressing.

Hello everybody:
Years ago I decided my job here on earth was to pay attention to the
little things. Life's little "nothings" that don't seem all that
important, when I think about them, or try to explain them to
somebody else. But when I'm on the receiving end, when someone does
one of the little things in life for me, it makes a huge difference
in my day and how I feel about myself.

I went to Target today, and as I was getting out of the car I noticed a woman
coming out of the store pushing a basket. When she got to the edge
of the walk where it dips into a ramp, she raised her hands and let
her basket roll down ahead of her while she sort of skipped along
behind it. She was obviously just enjoying herself with a little
playful moment.
And then yesterday, I accidentally overheard a "little nothing" from
a stranger. I was sitting on my glassed in patio and a mother
and her two young children were going by in a golf cart. They
couldn't see me, but I heard the mother talking to her kids.

"Oh, look! This is the house of the lady who sits outside and turns
on her bubble machine. And look at her beautiful flowers. That lady
is so cool."
Yes, sometimes I'm lucky enough to be out of sight and accidentally
overhear, and other times I'm fortunate enough to have a friend who
takes the time to do the little things.

'I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chattered all the way,
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.'

'I walked a mile with Sorrow
And ne'er a word said she;
But oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me.'

Carlsbad by the Sea

Thanks, Joyce, 
for a great week
down at the bea;utiful 
flower fields 
Carlsbad by the Sea.

It was a glorious week shopping 

relaxing

fisherman's wharf

eating sanddabs

donuts made by a little ol' man

Down by the sea.....................