The Face That Launch a 1000 Riots

I have changed Penelope's name to Princess Brouhaha because like Helen of Troy, she can launch a thousand riots (not ships) with her face. Sometimes I look at her and wonder what makes her so very pretty. But pretty she is!!

Kitty Came Home

I will tell you straight out, I do not like representations of cats. No paintings, note cards, sculpture, wind socks, anything that looks like a cat and isn't. I really like the real thing. I like the living, breathing, purring, talking, moving cat. I think that I have offended more than one of my friends when I didn't go into ecstasy over some sculpture or windsock. It is just how I am.

Well, that said, I was at a friend of mine's house about ten years ago and I saw this carving. I flipped over it. I started heavy breathing ( a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea). She told me that she had found it at a yard sale. Lucky her. Then she said that she paid .50 for it. Lucky her. I complimented her on her taste and her luck. Sometime later this friend came to my door carefully carrying this little bundle. In her arms was this carving. My friend told me that the kitten needed a better home. I opened up my arms and took the little baby and she has been treasured ever since.

I don't know how old she is or who carved her. But to me, it is obvious someone "channeled" cat spirit because I look at this baby and I see the essence of cat.

Kitty measures 6" x 6" x 3 1/2". She is made out of wood. Probably Fir.

The Cookie and the Kitten

Last thursday night I went to the dog Club meeting. A lovely lady brought this wonderful cookie. They were so good I asked for the recipe. Then she offered me some to take home. I have been squirelling them away and eating one a day. They are that good!

But everytime I take one out of the refrigerator, no matter where he might be, Chester smells it. Then his panther imitation begins. I have hid it in my pocket, put it in the cracker box, repeatedly thrown him off the table and even locked him out of the room. I don't know what he finds so attractive about these cookies but he is a total pest.

P.S. I think I agree with him, they are that good.

Guilt Free Cookies by Barbara Karoff

1/2 cup dried apricots, cut up

1/2 cup golden raisins

1/2 cup dates, cut up

6 oz. can frozen orange juice concentrate

1 and 1/2 cups rolled oats1 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup canola or safflower oil

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/4 cup sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In small nonreactive saucepan combine apricots,raisins, dates, orange juice concentrate. Simmer 10 minutes and let cool.Combine oat, flour, salt, baking soda in large bowl. Add egg and oil and mix well.Stir in cooled fruit and seeds. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drop by spoonfuls onto parchment paper lined baking sheet. Flatten with spatula to 1/4 inch thickness.Bake 12 to 15 minutes. Cool on rack and store in airtight container