MEMORIAL DAY

These are photos I took at the Memorial Day Parade It was a great day for American history and the feeling of nostalgia

BUTTERFLY AWARD,SECONDO PREMIO FRA ARMANDA

This is a lovely award from Armanda. Thank you so much I really appreciate and am happy to receive it. This is the second award I have recieved from this lovely lady and great chef.I want to pass it on to the following: 1. Luisa 2. Jenny Eshley 3. Het 4. Bonnie 5. Carmen 6. Anne-Berit 7. Sarah Sofia 8. Lellina 9. Roberta 10. Arie Congratulations to Sandy and Rita and Sabrina &Luca who also received this. Thank you so much, Armanda ! P.S. Adesso ho metto piu unaltra premio de lemonata, questo premio e de Armanda :)E per voi anche.Grazie

LOBSTER DINNER

lOBSTER WITH PLENTY OF BUTTER, GRILLED POTATOES AND CORN ON THE COB.

PREMIO FRA SABRINA & LUCA, AWARD

I just received this beautiful award from Sabrina & Luca, from Bologna, Italy, who share a wonderful, versatile blog with food , recipes, travels, wine, very fashionable chic from Sabrina and much more. Sabrina & Luca are Bolognese who I'm lucky to befriend. Their website called Sapori diVini is a treasure of variety. I would like to share this award with the following great bloggers : To Jenny , whose deep thoughts and reflections about life and family can be read in her blog. To Rita, gifted with humor and wit and educated with many cultures and languages, as a teacher, and writer of her blog. Sandy, who sews the most fine, dainty and delicate creations imaginable on her beautiful blog. To Carmen of the blog, Carmendavino, whose cooking delicacies you can almost devour right off the computer screen. To Het, for her lovely blog about her lovely family and creations. To Carmen,a talented gourmet, with a delectable blog called Recitas De Carmen. Armanda, chef extrordinaire of her newest blog, fantasiedelizienonsolo. Tammy, who loves roses, sews gorgeous quilts for her flowery, fanciful blog. And to Tammy's husband Woody , for his new and promising blog , about his auto and other projects and wonderful photos of his dogs. To Laura , whose featured cuisine will have you salivating. Lastly, to Sarah Sofia, for every one of her informative, outspoken and helpful blogs. Have a great weekend , get a little sun and enjoy your awards. Thank you again,Grazie tanto, Sabrina & Luca. Brad

BRACIOLE

This is a Braciole recipe typewritten on an index card, it's faded and old but still as delicious as ever. my steaks are ready some fresh parsley and some minced garlic are added to the egg and bread crumbs mixture. I'm going to leave out the egg & bread crumbs next time and just roll them up with the raisins,pine nuts & parsley (solo uva passa, pignoli e prezzemolo) with some Parmigiano-Reggiano throw is some pine nuts and raisins Saluta !

AWARD FROM ARMANDA (PREMIO)

This is a very cute award I received from Armanda whose delicious wide ranging recipes can be found here on her blog. I'd like to share this adorable award with Sarah Sofia,who I finally get a chance to give an award to, after receiving her awards ! for her intriguing and thought provoking blogs. To Sandy,fellow Beatrix Potter fan, whose lovely, artistic sewing projects can be found on her blog. To Het, who creates beautiful things with her hands on the blog, along with photos of her lovely children,on hetlieveheersbeestje. Tammy, a creator of romantic quilts, pillows and sachets, for her blog, A Stitch in Thyme. Arie, a very sweet lady who posts her beautiful family (and much more) on her blog. Jenny Eshjey, who writes so insightfuly on her blog devoted to her hubby and three "precious jems", which are her children. To Mammazan, whose kitchen table always features her delicacies on her blog, A Tavola Con Mammazon. Congratulations to Rita, who has also gotten this award. And of course to Armanda, making it possible for me to honor my friends:) With that I'd like to wish you all a great weekend. Brad

CUCUMBER SALAD

For me, Summer foods are lighter and healthier. These cucumber slices hardly need anything to enhance their taste. They are so cool and refreshing. One of my Summer time favorites. I have planted cucumbers, tomatoes, pumpkins, onions, rosemary, basil, and mint. And when weather permits, cantaloupe, watermelon and artichokes. My little garden helper here was pretty annoyed at having his picture taken during hard labor on the petunias. Check out my fishing trip to Canada 2005 you may also like my photos from my fly in fishing trip to Ontario in 2004. (these 2 links are from previous posts in my blog)

A LOVELY AWARD (PREMI MERITATI)

This is a beautiful award I received from my friend, Sarah Sofia. She is the author of many interesting blogs, including Living in Scandinavia, A Healthier Way of Living and a blog about her quaint, charming bed & breakfast. I would like to pass the award to the following kind people, who I've come to know : 1. Sandy, a sweet lady who creates the loveliest and very finely detailed hand made items and her blog, Stracci per Topi, (which translates to clothing for mice). 2. To Rita, a sweet and gentle soul, whose thoughtful messages and sense of humor provide entertainment to readers of her blog Rita . 3. Luísa, a lovely lady and fellow nature lover for her excellent blog, _Mul_ti_vi_as_. 4. To Armanda with her divine culinary expertise of the blog, La Cucina di Casa Mia. 5. CrisLyric, whose a master poet and her blog Daydream Corner. 6. Tammy, whose blog captures a quaint, nostalgic feel and her beautiful handmade quilts, called A Stitch in Thyme. 7. To Arie Silviyani, who received this beautiful award from Sarah Sofia for one her blogs. I'd like to give you this for your other blog which is just starting out and looks delicious, Ariefeb Online. 8. Anne-Berit, for her gorgeous photography of her two beautiful, healthy, happy dogs, of her blog named after the pair, called Titta og Toya's Blog Spot. 9. To Laura, whose blog includes a splendid variety, including her amazing recipes, of the blog L'Antro dell' Alchimista. 10. Roberta, a talented lady who makes incredible miniatures, for her blog, Il Boratorio Di Pitosfora.

DEAR MOM, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH !!!!

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Who doesn't love fresh strawberry shortcake ? Deliciously simple and traditional, A summer time favorite !

WEEKEND AHEAD

One of my favorites, corned beef with plenty of mustard and some roasted potatoes. With my planting out of the way for now.I'm looking forward to the weekend. Walking the Dog ----------------------------------------------- My dogs keep me busy with their walks.Today, though it's pretty cloudy and should start raining any minute, I thought I'd bring my camera along. Here she is. Boundless energy ! Blooming, pretty magnolias and dogwoods bursting with color beckon you to the outdoors. Some people take "flower beds" quite literally. None of these bright flowers mean much to a dog. Dandelions, however, are different and she could not help but make a wish! I'm not sure what she wished for, but like us, it must have been for something good.