BUMPER ON MY DESK CHAIR

Good evening, ya'll. Come on in the house and get out of the cold, rainy, damp weather and have a cup of coffee. If you don't like coffee, shame on you, but I can fix you some hot tea or hot chocolate. I aim to please as the Southern Lady Pledge states.

We find it of utmost importance here in the South to be hospitable to friends, foes, strangers and family. Family can be the most difficult to be hospitable to sometimes for as the old saying goes, "You can choose your friends, but your family is inherited." We all have those who can be challenging to love or stay around for a long time. To avoid getting to the point of being rude, I spend brief bits of time with these beloved kinfolk and then leave to refuel the hospitable genes. Now you know who I am talking about for every family has those who challenge your hospitality but we persevere and always make them welcome.

Some signs of spring are peeking out from their winter beds and I am anticipating their full arrival. I have 1 little jonquil and the tulip tree or Japanese Magnolia is about to burst into bloom with lavender flowers covering the tree. As you drive by the woods you see the red tips buds growing rapidly into little green leaves to herald the arrival of spring.

The weather is swinging back and forth between spring and winter but the signs are there. Yesterday we were enchanted by the blooming cherry trees in Tifton, GA. They have planted lots of these in the medians of the interstate and in beds around the town and they are beautifully gowned in dark pink clusters of flowers. I want one for our yard and I wonder if there is one which has cherries you can eat. Those in Tifton are the ornamental trees with no fruit. Cherries are one of our favorite fruits and are quite expensive in this area.

Well, I bit the bullet today and began my food diary so that I can lose some weight. I have let it slowly creep up and live in my thighs, stomach and various other places on my body. When it takes you 15 minutes to find some clothes that will button or zip, it is past time to loose some of that fat.

Exercise has to be a component of this weight loss and thank goodness it is almost warm enough to walk outside around the sod farm. I have the best of intentions to go to the exercise center but keep finding excuses not to go. There is a stationary bike sitting in my entrance hall and the dust is gathering on it so that is available to begin and I will this afternoon. Not sure why but writing down every bite which goes into my mouth and what the WW points are for each is a powerful deterrent for me and I began the food diary this morning.

Speaking of food, I have a couple of recipes for you which are quick, easy and not too high in calories if eaten in moderation. I dislike that word "moderation" for I tend to whole hog or not at all. Ya'll pray for me!

Tomato Rice Pilaf Soup

2 cans tomato soup - I used Campbells
1 1/2 cans milk - I used 2 percent but you can use whole or skim
1 pkg. Rice Pilaf - Near East brand
1 3/4 cups chicken stock
1/2 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. powdered onion
1/4 tsp. powdered garlic

Prepare the rice pilaf mix as directed on the back of the box but substitute chicken stock for the water.
Pour soup into large saucepan add the seasonings and the milk. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer over a medium heat. Drain the rice pilaf when tender and add to the tomato soup. Remove from heat, stir, return lid and let sit for about 5 minutes for the rice pilaf to absorb the soup.
Serve in warmed bowls and sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese. It would also be good topped with homemade, large, croutons.

Wild Cranberry Pancakes with Nuts

I pkg. Country Gourmet Wild Cranberry pancake mix

1 3/4 cups cranberry juice

1 lightly beaten egg

2 Tbsp. melted butter

3/4 cup of finely chopped pecans

Mix cranberry juice, lightly beaten egg, and melted butter. Pour over pancake mix and mix only until smooth. Add the chopped pecans and mix lightly. Drop by spoonfuls on hot griddle - I use an ice cream scoop. When bubbles have formed on top of the pancakes, turn and lightly brown on other side. Serve with syrup and butter or topped with fresh, sliced fruit such as blueberries or strawberries.

If you cannot find this specific mix, you can use the plain pancake mix and add 1 cup dried cranberries and use cranberry juice in place of water or milk. The cranberry juice adds another layer of flavor and is very good.

The picture above is our cat, Bumper. For some reason know only to a cat, he decided to perch on the back of my desk chair at my computer.

You can go away now, he told me as he sat on the thin back of the chair.

Then he settled down, folded his paws under him, closed his eyes and took a nap. It's amazing how they can become so comfortable on less than an inch.

I hope you enjoy the recipes and let me know if you did and if you enjoyed them.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

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My Fluffy Alarm Clock

Good evening ya'll. I hope this finds you and yours doing fine for we are. The only problem I have is that is hot as firecrackers lit and ready to explode. Needless to say, I have hibernated in the house where it is cool.

Now you all know I am retired and enjoying it. However, I have a problem. I can sleep until whenever and no one is going to wake me up. It's the no ONE that is the problem for it is not a ONE but an IT. Our fluffy, yellow cat, Bumper whose picture is on my blog and above, seems to think I need to get up about 5:00 and let him out. He sleeps on the foot of our bed and you can just about set your watch by his timing - 4:30 or 5:00 he is going to want out. Now he has a litter box, dry food and water at his disposal at all times but you think this is enough. Nooooooo. He wants out for about 30 minutes and then back in and a pouch of cat food. The dry is only if starving to death.

His method of waking me up is to tap me lightly on the cheek with his paw. The claws are not out and it is a sweet tap and soft purl. If I don't wake up, I get the tap again and there is a meow. Now if am not ready to get up and still will not roll out of the bed, the tap becomes a claw slapping me on the cheek and a loud MEOW. This will get my attention every time and I slowly get out of the bed. Slowly is about all I can manage at that time of day. He sits on the corner of the bed until I go to the bathroom for he knows that has to come first. As I walk down the hall, he jumps off the bed and comes galloping by me with his fluffy tail up in the air and heads to the door. There are 2 doors from which he can choose and some days it's one and other days it's another one. Just depends on his mood at the moment.

As I open the door, he sticks his head out and looks around and checks the air with a sniff. He then pops his tail up in the air and jumps out of the door and heads for a piece of wood to sharpen his claws where he dulled them trying to wake me up. Only then does he locate a spot of dirt to tend to his morning duties.

We have a problem if it is raining for like all cats, he does not like to get wet. If it's raining, he will stick his head out of the door, see the rain and immediately turn around and pop that tail about 3 times at me. He looks at me sniffs and snorts and stalks off like it is my fault it is raining and expects me to immediately go and get his pouch of food to pacify his majesty. You can hear the cat litter flying as he scratches it all around when he has completed his morning duty. You also get this behavior if it is too cold, for even though he has a lovely fur coat, he does not like cold weather.

After all this, I go back to bed. Now do you think I can go back to sleep? Noooooo way. I toss and turn for awhile and try everything I know to go back to sleep and usually just give up and get up. The sun room is a great place to spend the rest of the night and I study my Sunday School lesson, check email and facebook and by the time my sweet, lovely, handsome, LAZY, husband arises, I have had a day. I have watched the sun come up, the cat eat, bathe and go back to sleep, and had 3 cups of coffee and he wonders why I am already tired.

Why am I tired? I've been up for hours, pampered a cat, studied, read email, played Bejeweled Blitz, Farkle and Farmtown. I have looked at every free sample sight on the Internet, read several blogs, and planned my day. Tired? I am worn out. I tell him it is his time to pamper His Majesty, Bumper and like a child, Bumper jumps up in his lap, loves him, and settles down by him and goes back to sleep. You would never know what a pain in the beehind, he has been. He looks like an innocent, little, furry angel lying there.

Breakfast? Now? I'm tired I say just drink your coffee and you know where the cereal is. Not really, like a dutiful, loving and submissive wife, I prepare him a smoothie or cheese toast, or some other goodies and do it with a smile. Right? You see, I am the perfect wife and he better know it.

Why can't the cat wake up Roy? Now that I have not figured that out except he knows I will eventually wake up and waking up Roy is like waking up the dead. He didn't hear the children when they were home and now he doesn't hear the cat, or so he says. He can sleep through most anything.

Now you understand why I am so tired by the time most other folks begin their day. The other problem is like a lot of other "old folks," I can't go to sleep at night and read or play games on the computer until the wee hours. Sleep deprivation is getting to be a way of life for me and some mornings there is a fluffy, yellow cat you can have. Free! Maybe a husband too if the price is right.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach

Saturday's Pictures

Good evening. A little late getting to my post today, but was baking bread and cleaning house. I would like to introduce you to may assistant editor who helps me post by sitting in my lap, or on the desk or by the computer. My assistant is Bumper, our cat. Bumper is a stray we adopted about 14 years ago. He was prowling around the kitchen door of our church and being fed by the kitchen staff and our Nanette, who lived next door. He was so pretty I told Nannette if she could catch him, we would bring out to the country where we live and she did, that day. When we brought him home, he jumped out of the carrier and disappeared behind an oak tree and would not come out. I took him food several times a day and water and sat an talked to him while he ate. Still not letting us touch him, he became accustomed to our voices and in about a week, he came to the house and rest you might say is history. He is our big fluffy baby who sits in our laps, sleeps at the foot of our bed, and assists me in writing.

His name was given to him because he bumps you under the chin every time he gets in your lap. He will also give you a hug around the neck and purr like a little transfer truck. When food time comes, twice a day, he can sing and sing until you feed him and then he will come get in your lap, give you a chin bump and settle down for some loving.

Bumper is the most affectionate cat we have ever had, but is afraid of anyone but the family. If anyone else shows up, he disappears until they leave. We think he was possibly abused as a kitten but he is our buddy, our friend and my asst. editor. Now to meet our Bumper!!

This is his most familiar pose. He likes the sofa and the lap robe.






Like all cats, he is curious about everything and loves to hide in boxes.





Roy's desk is one of his favorite spots. He will lie down under the lamp and sleep for hours. (Please excuse the messy desk, but that is the sign of a genius)





Of course, the lounge chair is just for him, and sleeps quite comfortably.


















This is King Kitty asleep on his pillow. He likes to have a pillow to sleep on, but I do too, don't you?

This is his watchful pose. His is listening to see if food is about to be prepared.

This is his "Assistant Editor" spot. He alternately watches the computer and the birds and squirrels out side. Last week, I noticed he was especially interested in a spot on the front porch and when I looked around the computer, he was nose to nose with a squirrel outside the window. I assume this is one of his friends.

Nuff Said,

The Georgia Peach