Wassup? And a Recipe Share

Outside my window: It's a grey and rainy day at the beach. Still, the dolphins have flipped by.

I am thinking: That I hate days like this. It's the last day of our trip---which is depressing.

I am thankful for: Good friends who are such fun to be with. Everyone pitches in---making for such an easy vacation.

From the kitchen: I pre-planned my food for the beach. I made chocolate chip cookies and an oatmeal cake before I left. For my lunch, I made a nicoise salad. I love big salads. I made an appetizer down here. They are always a hit.

Blue Cheese Crisps

1 loaf of French bread

1/2 cup butter, softened

4 oz. blue cheese

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Slice French bread in to 1/4" pieces and place on baking sheet. Toast at 350 for 5 minutes (my bread was really soft, so I baked it for 10 minutes). Remove from oven and flip over. Combine remaining ingredients and spread on toasts. Bake 5-10 minutes until melted. Store leftovers in the refrigerator. They'll be soft, but still good.

I am wearing: Lounge around clothes: Titans t-shirt, capris, slippers, hoodie---and a big smile!

I am hoping: That our trip home is uneventful and as quick as it can be---probably not much shorter than 9 hours.

I am reading: The Chaperone. I just finished For the King's Favor---very good. I love historical fiction. I haven't actually started The Chaperone but plan to this afternoon. I have plenty of time since our book club doesn't meet until November.

I am busy creating: Not really creating anything. I am stitching---I brought the "gusset" to the needlepoint star tree topper that I'm making.

 I'm bummed: That my photos won't transfer from my phone to iPhoto via the cloud while I'm out-of-town. That one of my favorite things about my phone. I should have brought my regular camera.

I am hearing: "You Don't Own Me" on Pandora. Everyone is reading.

Around the house and garden: I don't know what's going on at home.

In other news: We've been playing cards. Last night, we played "99" until it was time for dinner. I won a dollar. Nancy was the "big" winner at $5.00.

One of my favorite things right now: I planned a "favorite things" swap for our trip. It has been so much fun to see what $5.00 items each person came up with. Nancy, assorted notepads and her favorite pen---Pilot precise B-5 rolling ball; Pam, a tube of Gold Bond body lotion; Karolyn, candles in beautiful lotus candle holders---we really "scored" with hers. They messed up on her order and were willing to do anything to make her happy. So, that's why we got something worth way more than $5.00; Connie gave us the specialty issue of Entertainment Weekly that has the "100 All-Time Greatest Movies, TV Shows and Novels." She went through quite a lot to get enough since it came out in July. Finding it months later was a trick! As for me, I gave everyone an envelope of pumpkin spice potpourri. You can put it in a bowl, simmer it on the stove or put it in your vacuum bag. I gave them the little raven Halloween decorations that I made, to go with it.

 I appreciate: Connie's beautiful beach condo and the fact that we get to enjoy it!

I regret: that it's almost time to go home. We could definitely stay a few more days---which, Connie offered. But she has to go back to work and it wouldn't be as much fun without her.

How the weekend is shaping up: I have to do my layouts for AYM. Plus, we're having a family brunch on Sunday. Looking forward to that!