Our Resident Lizards

We have two lizards that live in our courtyard. This one is bigger and hangs out by the front door.

This smaller one was in the house for a few days until Art caught it and put it back outside.

They're both enjoying a break in today's rain.

The Zoo

 On Saturday we visited the zoo.

 Gracie is about to take her first carousel ride.

 We visited the elephants and admired the two newest members of the herd.

I took more photos of interesting designs than of the animals! This goose is on the entryway arch leading to the Children's Zoo.

Just inside the Children's Zoo there were a few of these flowers around a picnic area.

 I love this iron work along the pathway.

 Interesting tiles near the entrance.

Autumn Leaves

I've been finding/making/stealing time to do some creative projects, anything quick and easy and fun is a good choice. Like these fall leaves I made the other evening.

I used felt from Felt-O-Rama. I recently bought the 24 color sampler of 12x12 inch squares. For 4 of the 5 leaves, I used a pattern from Creating Cupcakes Blog.

Sewn onto a brown ribbon, the garland adorns the lamp above our dining table.

Rustic Italian Bread

It's not so easy to find crusty bread in Houston, so I decided to bake some from the recipe in the Cook's Illustrated Baking book. Not bad for my first attempt! It's very good toasted with butter.

Shortbread Cookies

I've been playing with shortbread the last couple of weeks. I get an idea and just have to try it!

 I used regular and chocolate shortbread dough.

For the stamp I used a canape cutter from a set I inherited from my grandmother. For the address (a little hard to see) and the cuff of the mitten (below) I used a fluted pastry/ravioli cutter.

It looks as if Christmas baking is starting early this year!

A Halloween Dinner

We invited some friends over for dinner, and since it was scheduled for Halloween weekend I decided to make it appropriately festive. Unfortunately, they had to reschedule, but we enjoyed the party anyway.

Black paper bats flying over the table.

These napkins are really more yellow than orange but in this light they look perfect for the occasion!

I made black bean chili. My sour cream spiderweb isn't quite as dramatic as I had hoped.

I baked cornbread yeast rolls with a few that looked like spiders. This is the best one. Some of the others looked more like fleas.

Apple Pie!

Crust cutouts in the shape of ghosts.

The Martinelli's is being poured, it's time to sit down and enjoy this dinner!

Shortbread Ghosts

I made a batch of shortbread ghosts to take to our friends who hosted a little pre trick-or-treat pizza party.

A Frog

I moved a pot of pansies into the shade the other morning. Under the pot I found this tiny frog!