Took a little walk around the yard this morning.

First stop is the Pink Hibiscus full of beautiful blooms. Can't stop taking pictures of it. It's just so pretty and pink.



A friend of mine makes chimes from pipe, wood, rocks, aluminum, and whatever else he can find. It has a low tone and sounds really nice on the front porch.

Our Little Italian Cypress Tree in front of the right column of the front porch.


Our Big Italian Cypress Tree in front of the left column of our front porch.
They are supposed to be the same size, but it's a long story. We bought them the same size???? We are hoping the little one will catch up on it's own.....not!!!!


Air plants in the Oak Tree in the front yard.

Our Mahogany Tree in the front yard.

My Mockingbird friend who hangs in the front yard. Her nest is in the Oak tree at the left of the picture. She makes all kinds of noises day and night, and is taking good care of her babies. Sometimes she swoops down and acts like she's going to attack me. But I understand she's watching our for her young'uns.

My tomato plant.

Coconut Tree and the beautiful sky in the backyard.

Yellow Flame Tree in the backyard is blooming. So pretty.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. It's a very lovely Sunday and I hope you are having a good day.

I Wish You Love and Lovely Things To Look At,

Mimi

On my way home from Mom's house

Downtown Miami

The Miami River

Miami International Airport


This is what I saw as I'm driving home from my Mom's house today.
It's a lovely drive on Saturday or Sunday when there's not much traffic.

Happy Weekend,
Joyce

50's Glassware

I inherited these 1950's glasses from my Aunt Louise. The first picture was with flash, the second without. I don't use these glasses, but I keep them in my cabinet where I can see them everyday.

I Wish You Love and A Wonderful Weekend,

Joyce

I Love The Rain

When I started toward the school today I saw this big cloud.

Then I got closer and it looked like this.

Then the rain came.

And stayed for a while.

This is what it's looked like around here lately, raining most everyday, dark clouds, thunder, lightning, hail too. I just love it. If it rains like this all weekend, it'll be just fine with me.

I Wish You Love,
Joyce

Kelsey

I got her smiling, which is a great accomplishment!!


She does not like her picture taken.

Kelsey

You are 13 years old, soon to be 14, our teenager, and so beautiful
Caught in the middle of child's mind and a young woman's body
How will you handle what life has in store for you?
What can I tell you to make you life easier?
Will you listen or will you have to learn about life the hard way?

You are the oldest of three and you faithfully watch out for your brother and sister
You obey mommy and daddy, and you are trustworthy and helpful
You are very loving and a wonderful girl
This is the beginning of your teenage years full of fun, friends, and learning

We can only talk to you and love you, and be a good example for you to follow

I wish you love and happiness and joy and hope.


Love You Dearly, Mimi

The Pakistani/Venezuelan Engagement Party

I am what you might call a free-lance bartender. I work for a friend of mine who owns a bartending service called fastbartending.com. Saturday night I worked an engagement party. The bride was Venezuelan and the groom was Pakistani. It was a traditional Pakistani ceremony. I had never seen anything like it before. It was amazing and beautiful. This is the plate of food that they brought over to me. From the potato and spinach at the top, on the left down to the rice was very spicy and had a flavor I have never experienced before. That was the Pakistani food. It was very "hot and spicy". The right side, the Venezuelan food, was the potato salad which is awesome, and the sliced beef with gravy.

The Bride & Groom

I must say that the evening was a new and wonderful experience. Everyone there was so friendly and nice. After the ceremony and the food, the party began, and they danced the night away!!! The DJ played the music of both cultures and they had a blast!!!!! They even invited me to dance with them. I would of loved to, except I couldn't leave the bar.

They threw rose pedals on the floor as they danced.

Everyone was wearing the most gorgeous clothing, jewelry and shoes. Me being the "shoe freak" that I am, I was checking out the beautiful shoes the woman were wearing, and the men too. These are the groom's shoes, I found them very interesting.

Isn't it funny what LOVE can do. It can bring people together from different parts of the world, who were raised in different cultures, and is blind to those differences. I could feel the LOVE from these people, and it was a wonderful thing.

I Wish You Love,

Joyce

Memorial Day

SSO-Toll Booths

I know a lot of people are traveling this weekend. So maybe this is the wrong Saturday to talk about highway tolls, but I was just hoping they would suspend all the tolls for the weekend, since it is a holiday, and all...............not!!!!! Here's my question.

Can someone please tell me why the people who go through toll booths here in Florida and do not have a Sunpass have to pay 25 cents more. They also have to wait in long lines, because there's usually only one booth open for the No-Sunpass people. A Sunpass costs $25, and you have to have a debit or credit card attached to it in order to be charged for each toll you go through. Some people don't want to do that. I am one of them. I would rather just pay it as I go. Some people don't have credit cards or debit cards, or even bank accounts. So the less fortunate have to pay more and wait in line. Is it me, or is something really, really wrong here??????




I used to love it years ago, when I would drive up to the toll booth, grab a big hand full of pennies, nickles, and dimes out of my ashtray, and just start throwing them into the basket and let the machine do the counting for me. I liked hearing the cling clang as the coins went through the counter, then the arm would lift up and off I would go, so happy to get rid of all those pennies. And guess what? They probably owe me money for all those times I just threw in coins, not counting them, and overpaid.



Anyway, I have become an anti-toll person. I try not to go any route where I have to pay a toll. I do my best to avoid them. I take the free roads! Actually I get where I am going a lot quicker. Besides the highways in this town, where you have to pay a toll, are always backed up with traffic. Not only do you have to pay a toll, you are usually in a traffic jam before and after the toll booth. So what's the point. And, watch out for those exit and entrance tolls that get you unexpectedly and are 50 cents and up. You'll be thinking okay I made it without paying a toll, and when you exit, there's another toll to pay.

But my question still stands. Why do the less fortunate have to pay more? It's just something that bugs me. Aren't we all equal in the toll booth cameras eyes?

We do have a choice. We either travel the roads with toll boths or we don't.

So, I guess my idea of not having to pay tolls this Memorial Day weekend, is not going to happen. They could of just closed them down. Surprise us with something good, once in a while. Let the workers take the day off. Show us some love!

Oh well, I can dream can't I?

Have a good Saturday and Relax If You Can,

justjoycee

Country Fried Steak

Ingredients:

1 pound of cubed steak
1 cup vegetable oil
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
2 eggs beaten
2 1/2 cups of milk
3 cups of self rising flour

Salt & pepper the steak on both sides. Combine the eggs and milk. Heat the oil on medium high heat in a heavy caste iron skillet. (You don't want the oil too hot or the breading will burn, you are going to have to turn the steaks a couple of times.) Put the flour in a shallow pan and season with salt and pepper. Dredge the steaks in the flour, then dip into the egg wash, then again into the flour. If you have time, place the steaks in the refrigerator for an hour or two. If you don't have the time you can fry them in the hot oil right away. Fry, turning a couple of times until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towel.

To make the gravy, using the same skillet, pour out all of the oil except for about 3 tablespoons, add 2 tablespoons of flour and cook for a few minutes whisking all the while. Add 2 cups of milk, still whisking, while you bring to a boil, turn down the heat to low. Season with salt and pepper
Keep whisking until thickens.

Now, listen here! I just buy the envelope that says Country Gravy and follow directions. As you may know, if you read my blog, that I am a lousy gravy maker. I don't know why, I watched my Mom make gravy day in and day out when I was growing up. But that's me, and trust me, I am working on it. So you choose which way you want to go.

Serve with mashed potatoes and your favorite vegetable.

I Wish You Love,

Joyce

These trees are gorgeous!

The Royal Poinciana Trees are all blooming all over the neighborhood and they are just breathtaking.

Just beautiful to look at.

Have a happy day:)

Lots of Love,
Joyce

All We Needed Was Rain

Sunny before the rain.

Cloudy and dark, then came the rain.

Lightning and and very loud thunder, just the way I like it.

Thanks, we needed it.

I Wish You Love and Rainy Days To Cuddle Up With The Ones You Love,

Joycee

The Sauce Was Nasty!!!!!

Okay, I know this looks good. But believe me it wasn't. We ate it, but we didn't like it too much. The meat was good, the potatoes were good, the cornbread was good, but the sauce was NOT good. I don't know what compelled me to add tomato to the sauce. I was experimenting, kinda sorta, and I screwed up. I have never been very good at making gravies and sauces. It was bitter, and I even tried adding sugar. Nothing helped. I felt so bad. Our saying is, "There's always Burger King"! And Burger King would have been so much better, but neither of us wanted to go, so we ate it anyway.

Just tellin it like it is......

Love ya, Joyce

The Tomato Fields

I just love looking at the tomato fields when I go pick up the grands from school. I couldn't resist taking pictures. I just love tomatoes so much. I promise I won't take anymore until next season.

XOXO,
Joyce