Life is A Bowl Of Cherries. . .

Okay, so there's only one cherry in this photo which means that life isn't JUST a bowl of cherries. It's a plate of fruit. Which could be considered the same as a cornucopia or "horn of plenty." At any rate, it's important that we remember all the great things in life - the things that are sweet but good for us, and the things that keep us healthy and strong!

Life is short. . .eat more fruit ;0

Dot

Smile for Me, Daddy - Whatcha Looking At?

Let me see your grill, your grill. . .whole top's diamond and the bottom row is gold. . .

(Paul Wall)

It's Halloween-time!

Berry Happy Birthday, Myra!

Here's wishing a Berry Happy Birthday to Myra on August 18. Her sister-girl hooked her up with this "birthday trifle," a nice change from the traditional birthday cake.

Myra is from the Windy City, but she's celebrating her big day in Nashville with her posse.

You go, girl!

xxxooo
Mochadot

Breakfast Isn't Just For Kids. . .

My brother-in-law has recently tapped into his latent artistic side ;0

WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS. . .

Refinish! That's what Amber did when she realized that her kitchen table was too small to accommodate her dinner guests. . .this belongs under the "Household Hints," category, but anyway here goes -- my niece got a call that old friends were coming to town. . .not just coming to town, but coming to check out her culinary skills which she had bragged about for years. . .just one small problem. . .her "dining" table only had enough room for two chairs - so maybe it was more like a "couples' table."

Anyway, after scouring the furniture stores and realizing that a new dinette set didn't quite fit into her grad student budget. . .she struck out this bright sunny Saturday morning in search of the perfect table. . .and guess what? She found it in her neighbor's driveway. . .at a garage sale!

She quickly went into "Martha Stewart" mode and refinished the entire set in one day!! And she topped it off with a jar full of what else- lemons! Because she learned when she was a little girl that "When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade."

Can't wait to see what she serves for dinner!

Mochadot

Where the Rooster Roam Free - Key West

My sister went to Key West, FL and snapped this photo which made me sorry that I missed the trip. . .did you know that roosters roam the streets fearlessly in Key West? And I thought that Key Lime Pie was the greatest thing to come out of that area!!

I Found My Thrill On Blueberry Hill*

My niece, like my daughter, inherited my baking skills - no brag, just fact ;0

These muffins are not only delicious but they're healthy - made with whole wheat flour!

Mail orders are welcome!

I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill
On Blueberry Hill where I found you
The moon stood still on Blueberry Hill
And lingered till my dreams came true

The wind in the willow played
Love's sweet melody
But all of those vows we made
Were never to be

Tho' we're apart you're part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill

The wind in the willow played
Love's sweet melody
But all of those vows we made
Were never to be

Tho' we're apart you're part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill

*
BLUEBERRY HILL
(Al Lewis / Larry Stock / Vincent Rose)
Glenn Miller & His Orch.(vocal Ray Eberle) - 1940
Kay Kyser & His Orch.(vocal Harry Babbitt) - 1940
Russ Morgan & His Orch.(vocal Carol Kay) - 1940
Gene Autry - 1941
Fats Domino - 1956
Elvis Presley - 1957
Little Richard - 1958
Ricky Nelson - 1958
Andy Williams -1959
Duane Eddy - 1959
John Barry Orchestra - 1960
Buster Brown - 1960
Cliff Richard - 1962
The Everly Brothers - 1967
Link Wray - 1982
Yellowman - 1987

WHY DID THE ROOSTER CROSS THE ROAD?

To get to the other side, of course!

The older I get, the more tolerant I become. Things that used to bother me tend to make me smile these days. In my 20s, I would have been really annoyed to have to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting of all things - a rooster!!

In fact, only last year I called the city to find out if there was an ordinance against roosters (and believe it or not, there isn't). When my new neighbors moved in, they brought their rooster with them. Now, I like roosters, in fact I collect them (not the real ones). HOWEVER, when they're crowing at 4 o'clock in the morning they are NOT cute.

But this little guy just turned my frown upside down. . .don't you love the way he just posed for the camera?

Streudel to You. . .

My daughter is turning out to be such a great cook and an even better baker. If I do say so myself, I think she takes after her mother and I am proud to say that I take after my Daddy - who just happened to be the best chef in the whole wide world :)

My daughter is much more adventurous than I was at her age, and when she said she'd make a nice dessert to go with dinner, I would have settled for a simple batch of tea cakes. . .but no. . .she prepared the flakiest, most delicate, scrumptuous apple streudel with organic Granny Smth Apples. How's that for a chip off the old block?

Monie, you're da bomb. . .

Nothing says "good morning" like a great cuppa joe

I'm soooo excited. I woke up this morning, slowly, since it's Saturday. . .went to my coffeemaker to make a pot of the java that my friend, Analucy, brought me from El Salvador. I wasn't expecting much as I've learned not to get overly excited about new coffees since they always seem to tout themselves as "superior," and end up being rather ordinary.

WELL. . .this coffee is so good that I just finished my second cup! In fact, it's so good that I contacted the number on the box to see where I could find more. As it turns out, the company is called "The Coffee Cup" and while it's not yet being distributed in the US, it is available from an importer in Florida and another one in Tennessee.

What a small world we live in. . .I get coffee all the way back from El Salvador and then end up ordering it from the good ole USA.

It's going to be a great day. . .and oh, the bunny was spotted by my neighbor this morning.

Happy trails,

Mochadot

Sunny Bunny

You're No Bunny 'Til Some Bunny Loves You

We've had a surprise visitor from time to time around our house. . .you never know when this guy might "hop" by. . .I have no idea where he lives or what his name is, but it's quite obvious that he likes our backyard. . .guess this means we need to keep a fresh supply of carrots just in case ;0

What a pleasant surprise to look out and see that some-bunny really does love you!

Mocha Dot

You

Spotted On The Nashville Social Scene

Our roving photographer snapped this shot of three of Nashville's most well-known partygoers. . .(I'm told they're friends of Paris Hilton's) at a wedding over the weekend.

Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend - NOT!

These ladies know that "blood diamonds" are so passe. . .Amber and Myra have opted for a large bauble but decide that the clear variety is not for them ;0

Looking good, girls!! I think you're going to start a new trend.

Mocha Dot

The Dynamic Duo

Amber and Puffy.

Everywhere I Go. . .Flamingos!

Saw this cute little guy in the window of a lingerie shop in North Berkeley.

Coffee Break

Sometimes this is as good as it gets. . .don't you just love it when your morning gets off to a seemingly bad start and then out of the blue, something happens that makes you smile ;)

My sister told me about these wonderful cookies that she couldn't find anywhere and she described them and just as I was in Long's Drugs looking for a box of bandaids, I wondered down the food aisle and these little guys just jumped right out at me. Well, I was so excited I stopped at the flower stand on the corner and bought myself a bunch of tulips.

After I put them all out I realized what a perfect picture - so I snapped it!!

I love my morning coffee break.

Getting My Feng Shui On!

When I visited this adorable store on Fourth Street in Berkeley - Teance - I thought for a moment that I might give up my huge coffee addiction and switch to tea. . .no such luck, but this is definitely a nice place to relax.

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Easter

Peet's Colombian Caracol

While I usually prefer Starbucks this time of year, I'm totally digging Peet's special offering of Columbia Caracol (it's a Peaberry coffee).

Here's a secret - I'm making it in my Chemex rather than in my normal Cuisinart.

"Luck" by Langston Hughes

Sometimes a crumb falls
From the tables of joy,
Sometimes a bone
Is flung.

To some people
Love is given,
To others
Only heaven.

Get Your Read On

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Here's to the Irish in all of us!

Leggo My Flamingo

A Long Way Gone: by Ishmael Beah

This is an amazing story of a 26 year old man from Sierra Leone who was a boy soldier in his native land. This book is currently a best seller and being featured at Starbucks with $2.00 from each book purchased from Starbucks going to UNICEF.

Starbucks Casi Cielo warms me all over

It's almost midnight and I'm about to enjoy a cup of my favorite Starbucks coffee, Guatemalan Casi Cielo. I only have a one pound bag left. It's seasonal and most of the stores are already out of it. So, tomorrow my mission is to secure five pounds for my pantry.

I've started using my Chemex rather than my electric coffee maker so that I get all the flavor and absolutely none of the bitterness.

Sometimes this is as good as it gets ;0

Mocha Dot

Big Shout Out to Jennifer Hudson

JENNIFER HUDSON: NOMINATED FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

And Ms. Hudson also appears on the cover of the March issue of Vogue Magazine. You go, girl!!

Mary, Mary Not At All Contrary

How does your garden grow?

The Bay - "We Fresh"

Bloom Where You're Planted

"You may not drive a great big Cadillac. . .just be thankful for what you got." (Curtis Mayfield)

I love my urban garden

My brother-in-law, Nate, planted this lovely potted lettuce garden for me. I can't wait to make my first salad from it. I might not even spoil it with dressing ;)

Olives Are Not Just For Martinis

I had an olive manicure today. Very oily but the arm massage was heaven. It's recommended for dry, brittle cuticles like mine. Unfortunately, after tonight's dishes my nails are dry again :(

Some of My Best Friends by Emily Bernard

My dear friend, Janie, gave me a book today titled "Some of My Best Friends" - Writings on Interracial Friendships by Emily Bernard. I look forward to reading and enjoying this work and wanted to share. I received this book right after I got another free donut today from Starbucks (it was broken but tasted just as good). The book had special meaning for me today as I mourn the loss of a former co-worker named Nicole T. Nicole was a fabulous attorney, sharp dresser and a classy lady who passed away two nights ago - gone too soon. I hate cancer. She was only 30-something. I was reading some old email exchanges between the two of us and it made me smile. Try to make friends with someone today who looks completely opposite from you. They mind end up being one of your "best friends."

Peace,
D.

Starbucks Now Has Top Pot Doughnuts

What a way to start the day! The manager at the Starbucks at 50 California Street in San Francisco (Ryan) let me "taste test" their new old fashioned donuts. They come in Chocolate and Regular iced and they're from Top Pot Doughnuts in Seattle. The story behind these donuts is pretty cool. Check out their website.

http://www.toppotdoughnuts.com/

It's going to be a great Monday!

Martin Luther King Day - January 15

"It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important."
Martin Luther King Jr.
US black civil rights leader & clergyman (1929 - 1968)

Be Not Overcome By Evil,

But Overcome Evil With Good.

St. Paul