This was the week . . . . . . .

Good Morning and good news. . . . . . . the house next door was sold

 and the closing was on Tuesday.

Two months with new owners who at first planned to raze it and build a

 fancy larger home for themselves, then made the decision to sell it on as 

they apparently couldn't fit their 'dream home' on that size lot - thank goodness!

Many people viewed the property offered 'as is', but as major renovations are

needed to bring the house back into shape, wouldn't pay the asking price.

Our new neighbor, Frank, in his early forties, we feel is going to be really

 nice - having chatted with him briefly to date.

Back view of the house next door.

I'm looking forward to  hearing what his plans are for the renovation. 

It may be a while before he moves in but yesterday there were

already people at house with cameras, laptops and clipboards etc. 

perhaps planning interior renovations/changes/updates etc.

The weather is changing. 

Yesterday's fall out from the most recent hurricane to make its final sweep

 across North Carolina, brought some rain and very strong winds. 

Acorns are almost over at last, it's now leaves, leaves, and a million more

 leaves, sailing through the air, piling up along the roadside curbs, and 

covering the garden which means plenty of raking and blowing ahead.

I love my newest mug, one of the many great birthday gifts received from 

granddaughter Jasmin.  Look at that naughty 'exploring' squirrel on the handle.

I also have a new book with a very interesting cover, a birthday gift from

 dear friend Ruth in England who knows what I enjoy reading and always

 picks amazing stories to share. 

This will be the perfect color mug for my coffee while turning the pages.

Autumn inspired breakfasts started this week.

Some days hot oatmeal, today and often, yogurt with toppings such as

 these, dried cranberries, chia seeds, muesli with nuts and oats etc.

Before the weather changed - time for some clean up jobs

 around the garden. . . . 

. . . . . and some perfect days of sunshine and warmth before the leaves started

their change to rust, orange and shades of brown.

Colorful flowers are almost gone other than a few dahlias and re-blooming 

azaleas in the front garden, however the camellias in the back are blooming

 now. . . . . and, as you can see, the newly sown grass is doing well.

Time out for a southern breakfast. . . . . . . . .

Do you bake biscuits from scratch?  Living in the south one gobbles one's way

 through an inordinate amount of buttermilk biscuits, usually in fast food restaurants, 

diners, 'country kitchen' style mom & pop restaurants.  At home, in the rush of

 everyday living, all of us at some time or other has probably popped open a tube

 of rubbery, tasteless biscuits from the supermarket to throw in the oven and which,

 once cooled, are not very exciting. . . . . . but make good crumbs for the garden birds!

In New Orleans last month I tasted the best biscuit EVER!  It was at the Ruby Slipper

 Cafe, a short walk from the hotel, and a bit of a wait to get seated. . . . . . but really

 worth waiting for. I ordered eggs and grits along with a biscuit. All was tasty, hot, good,

 BUT it was the biscuit which had me swooning. Piping hot, crisp and lightly crunchy on

 the outside, fluffy but with a bite and fresh bread flavor inside. . . . . . . .definitely the

 perfect biscuit.

Since coming home I've tried several 'from scratch' recipes and have made my

 decision as to my favorite. . . . . . .and therefore am spending far too much time 

baking and eating biscuits!  This is the 'classic biscuit' from Country Living (US version

 of the magazine), published some years back I think. It has been tucked away in my

 folder of torn from magazine recipes. There seem to be plenty of similar recipes

 online. If you would like the recipe I'll share after the Christmas rush. . . . . . . right

 now I'm off to have one for breakfast!

Still tweaking the Christmas decorations. . . . . . . . and now planning some

 holiday baking. Any biscuits this week will be from the freezer, which these

 handle really well, so I plan to always have some stashed away!

NO green thumb required!

Word Origin: 

Noun - green thumb

An exceptional aptitude for gardening or for 

growing plants successfully

House plants provide much pleasure for the city dweller with a green thumb. . . . . 

. . . . . and you can always cheat a little bit!

You just knew, didn't you? It didn't take long to realize I was not satisfied with

 two planters taking up all that dining room table space! 

We don't eat every meal there but when we do

it's good not having to move too many items, including faux plants.

Yes, tried placing them UP on the top of the Welsh dresser - much too close to

 the ceiling - I wish I had high ceilings. Cottage style homes don't of course!

I decided to split the planters - leaving just one on the table - and this is working well.

Yesterday morning when granddaughter Jasmin came 
for breakfast (she's dog sitting for my neighbors this weekend), we indulged
in fresh-made fruit smoothies with scrambled egg croissants and had plenty of
 room to eat.

Photo via Jasmin's iPhone

 The second planter I've placed here on the hearth, lightening it up,

bringing a little more of a summery feel to the living room.

Heavy rain last evening - I swear the grass grew an inch over night.

Today is so humid - the only garden activity here will be squirrels, birds,

and I see my very tiny chipmunk already out there munching on 

dropped seeds under the bird feeder.

Have a good Sunday - 'see you' here during the week!

Breakfast with Apples. . . . . . . . .

I've been really busy with apples lately. Peeling, slicing, chopping. 

Baking them into cakes, desserts, and yesterday an apple pie (my lovely
 friend Penny's recipe of course). All are always good as apples never fail.

Have also been poaching them for adding to my morning yogurt or oatmeal,
 even better from a nutritious point of view I guess.

Sadly, due to throat issues, I can no longer swallow raw apples.

Luckily I always preferred them cooked anyway, so I'm

happy to keep trying new recipes containing apples.

My favorite yogurt is definitely Trader Joe's Greek Yogurt with Honey
which comes in the useful and inexpensive 2 pound tub. 
It requires nothing to enhance it really, it's so amazing, but of course to make
 a meal of it I often add fresh fruits, perhaps a few nuts, some chia seeds, 
sometimes apple sauce - the little unsweetened tubs when in a pinch.
 But now I like to chop up a few apples, Golden Delicious being my favorite,
 they hold their shape and don't go mushy when poached quickly in a small
 saucepan with a couple of tablespoons of water and a sprinkle of Demerara sugar.
I keep them in a covered container in the refrigerator - they last several 
days - to add to yogurt or oatmeal.

Did you make yourself a nutritious breakfast this morning?