News from the Nest, August 15

What’s up, buttercup? 💐

How’s it shakin’, bacon?🥓

What’s cookin’, good lookin’? 😉

What’s the deal, banana peel?🍌

What’s the story, Morning Glory? 🌸

What’s the word, Hummingbird? (sadly, no hummingbird emoji!)

I hope you are coming off a wonderful weekend! We did yardwork and relaxed!

Our master bathroom was finished last week (hallelujah!), so I’ve been slowly moving all our stuff back in and organizing it. I actually enjoy organizing; it is very relaxing for me!

Since we’ve traveled so often this year, many ‘things’ in our home and life have been neglected. I need to have my world fairly well-buttoned up, and this past week was my chance to get some buttoning done. I’m making slow progress, but progress nevertheless.

And, it’s a good thing! Because this Friday, we are heading across the country to visit our son in San Diego! He started working there this summer, and this will be our first opportunity to visit him.

new on the blog

We went to dinner at our friend’s home this week, and I took an appetizer. Since the meal was Latin-inspired, I decided to bring this Shrimp Salsa. In preparing it, I realized that I have never shared this simple and delicious recipe with you! Bad me! I could eat this salsa by the spoonful, but try to moderate myself by using chips.

on a related note

If that 👆🏻 Shrimp Salsa has you thinking of putting together your own delicious Latin-inspired meal, here are some other tried and tested recipes to consider:

• Of course, you must start with my dad’s Margarita recipe. This recipe is ALWAYS in the top ten of the most popular posts we have ever published, and for good reason.
• Another super simple appetizer recipe to pair with the shrimp salsa is this Habanero Mango Salsa.
• For your main course, consider either these Spice-Rubbed & Chile-Braised Short Rib Tacos or these Beef Barbacoa Tacos.

other treats from the kitchen

• This fig conserve is the perfect fall treat on a charcuterie board, in a grilled cheese sandwich or dolloped over yogurt. Go ahead and makes some, so you have jars of it ready to gift.

• If you feel the pull of fall, you may want to make a few loaves of this Apple Spice Bread. You will want to keep some on your own, but they also make very appreciated gifts.

• I could wax on about these Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars for days, but I’ll let these wonderful reviews speak for them:

This was the first cookie I learned to bake in 7th grade Home-Economics class many years ago. This recipe is a big step up. WOW – Delicious!! Husband loves them too, and we agree they definitely work with coffee as a morning treat, reminding us of a very tasty coffee cake. The soft middle is so good! We hadn’t quite finished the first pan when I baked the second pan….half of which I passed along to our dear friends as a bonus dessert for them tonight. She’s now having some with a pot of tea. My go-to cookie normally involves chocolate in some way…..now there’s some competition!

Pam

I made these for my family to take on a recent camping trip. Everyone LOVED them! I loved them so much that I contemplated making them again as soon as we got home, until I stepped on the scale! Ha! I’ll wait a couple more days…. maybe. Thanks, Lynn, for a delicious recipe!

Debbie

bits and bobs

• Nine free knit blanket patterns

• How to Simplify Your Life to Reduce Stress

• Make a Coldframe using old windows.

• I love my cast iron skillets, but I didn’t always take good care of them. Here’s how to rescue your neglected cast iron and keep it in tip-top shape.

• Ten questions to ask yourself when decluttering.

• These customizable drawer divider holders make organizing a drawer so easy!

• Do you use a moisture meter when watering your houseplants? I had never used one before, but mom left one behind, so I inherited it when we bought the house. I began using it with my Fiddle Leaf Figs, knowing that overwatering can be a problem. I have two thriving Fiddle Leafs, which I attribute to keeping the moisture level correct. And so, after losing a fern in my Tabletop Fern and Orchid Garden, I started to test the moisture before watering, and now they are all thriving. It is an inexpensive but handy tool for indoor gardeners.

• Speaking of indoor gardens, I couldn’t be happier with these little indoor pot feet! So simple, yet effective.

Well, dolls, I hope you have a Marvelous Monday, a Terrific Tuesday, a Wonderful Wednesday, a… you get the idea.

Until next week…

Hugs,

Thanks for making my day by SHARING!!