What would helen do?

January 30, 2012

1/27/12 Friday pizza night @ Mary & Chris’s

1/27/12

neighbor Deb sent this picture from Colorado.

She had this bird eating out of her hand!

It is called a Clarks Nutcracker

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Clarks_Nutcracker/id/ac

Hear it’s call here:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Clarks_Nutcracker/sounds/ac

Today I was busy wrapping presents for our

annual re-gift party Saturday night

LA FITNESS — this is my new gym —

they had a great deal for the new year (of course)

& I need to really get going in the fitness arena.

We still have ski season, beach volleyball will

be here sooner than later, biking season will sneak up

on us & let’s not forget some crazy obstacle course

races — I’ll try not to break anything this year.

This is AMBER in the kiddie room.

She signed me up for LA FITNESS.

Does anyone else need to join a gym?

They have volleyball Tues & Thurs nights

AND a couple Saturday mornings.

Jim – this is for YOU!

I saw this license plate today.

Jim saw it recently too & it caused

QUITE THE CONTROVERY on his Facebook post.

I think we finally agreed the driver felt

D-PRIVED because they didn’t know JIM!

tonight we went over to friends Mary & Chris’s house.

Mary makes home-made pizza every Friday night.

Rolling out the dough

putting the pizza in the oven using pizza peel

yummy pizza – thanks Mary!

I am a pizza lover & this was delicious

Mary & Chris our hosts for tonight’s pizza party.

Should have gotten a picture of the wine too –

it was quite fabulous:

Reininger Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

(EXCELLENT)

http://reiningerwinery.com/2007-reininger-cabernet-sauvignon-walla-walla-valley/

Mary’s dog……

LUCKY got lucky & was awarded a pig’s ear

SNAKE!!!!!!!!!!!

————————————-

The way to get started

is to quit talking

and begin doing.

– Walt Disney (1901-1966)

——————————————————–

remember you can ALWAYS see Picture of the Day here:
http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

feel free to Share 🙂

January 27, 2012

1/26/12 Stone Brewing Beer Tasting with Hatboro Beverage at VE Club

1/26/12

Stone Beer Tasting with Hatboro Beverage at VE Club

The VE club was the setting for tonight’s event.

Verienigung Erzgebirge is a private German Club

located in Warminster, PA – very close to our house.

We volunteered to chauffeur friend Jim

as he is unable to drive.

Tonight was STONE BREWING beer tasting.

Hosted by Hatboro Beverage.

http://www.hatbev.com

Lee Marren rep from Stone Brewing.

The first beer we had tonight was

Stone IPA.

http://www.stonebrew.com

Jim’s messed up foot.

He has a torn Achilles —

ALSO a blot clot which he is taking blood thinners for —

which caused him an allergic reaction & ended him

up in the hospital (for EIGHT DAYS!)

WHERE he caught Bronchitis….

Arrogant Bastard – 2nd tasting.

“This is an aggressive ale. You probably won’t like it.

It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication

to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth.”

#3. Stone Smoked Porter

“So you think you don’t like dark beer?

Prepare to believe. This is no ordinary porter.

And if you are already among the enlightened

who appreciate a fine ebony-hued ale,

we think you will find Stone Smoked Porter

to be a poignant addition to your repertoire.”

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

Michael & I won free lift tickets to Jack Frost.

All we need now is SNOW!!!

friend Michael collecting his prize from

Bert – the owner of Hatboro Beverage

tasting #4. Imperial Russian Stout

“Intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants,

coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate, this brew goes where few can – and fewer dare even try.”

Our tasting table tonight.

It was a great turn out.

last tasting – Old Guardian

“We’re glad to tell you without the slightest modicum of modesty: it’s delicious. And if you’re of the type that’s patient enough to squirrel bottles away, know that this behemoth is poised to continue evolving with age.”

Dave Anderson & Bert from Hatboro Beverage

& Lee from Stone Brewing

Michael W., Jim, Michael & Bert

I said to Michael — grab the wine cooler sleeve for the

beer you want to take for others to try tonight.

he grabbed & brought THIS instead….

our ice cream maker!! genius!

***************************************

“People who drink light ‘beer’

don’t like the taste of beer;

they just like to pee a lot.“

***************************************

The guy from Budweiser says “I’d like a Bud Light”

The guy from Coors says “I’d like a Coors Light”.

The guy from Guinness sits down and says

“Give me a Coke.”

They ask: “Why aren’t you drinking a Guinness?”

“Well, if you guys aren’t drinking beer, neither will I.”

***************************************

This is the LINK to ALL the photos from the Beer Tasting:

http://pix.kg/p/828579729408%3A1728173260/scl

remember you can ALWAYS see Picture of the Day here:
http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

feel free to Share 🙂

January 26, 2012

Wednesday Wine SCHOOL January 25th, 2012

Wednesday Wine SCHOOL

January 25th, 2012

Alert Alert — everyone!!!

set your DVR to record Puppy Bowl VIII

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/

Don’t miss it! Tune in Sunday, Feb. 5, beginning at 3 PM

Animal Planet Channel

Puppy Bowl is back for its 8th consecutive year

with an all-star, all-adorable cast that’s ready to mix it up

on the grand gridiron of Animal Planet Stadium.

Here is the starting line-up:

http://animal.discovery.com/tv/puppy-bowl/starting-lineup/starting-lineup.html

Tonight was the first night of the rest of my life —

well, actually – it was FIRST NIGHT OF WINE SCHOOL.

but I am hoping this adventure segues into

a real job within the wine industry.

inside the paper cups were concoctions

for us to experience

sweetness, acidity & tannins –

descriptors often used in wine tastings

the tasting glasses we used.

they give them to us for “free”…..

part of our course material

fined out more about wine school here:

http://phillywine.com/

or just ask me!

The six wines we tasted tonight.

School was good & I’m glad to be adding credentials

to my toolbox. I don’t know what the future

will bring but if anyone has a crystal ball

& can tell me please let me know because

I am quite curious….as well as slightly

apprehensive……

HAWK that my friend saw today in Philadelphia.

Philly is like a buffet for Hawks – squirrels, pigeons,

rats & more! mmmmmm

We have wings??

Are you making excuses for

not accom
plishing something?

****************************

You have to take those first scary

tentative steps into the unknown

and trust you’re up to the task

before you’ll know you are…..

****************************

remember you can ALWAYS see Picture of the Day here:
http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

feel free to Share 🙂

January 24, 2012

1/24/12 Frog Hollow, HOT YOGA, Ray’s studio, Sox lady, deviled eggs

1/24/12

Apples from Frog Hollow Farm

http://www.froghollow.com/

Carmody Cheese

“The cat” sent sister Pat pears & cheese for Christmas

& the cheese was moldy so they sent

Apples AND Cheese as a replacement.

Both are delicious!!

http://www.froghollow.com/

I like cutting my apples into bite sized pieces

using a steak knife b/c we don’t have an apple knife.

Am I the only one who likes their food in handy

bite size pieces? I don’t like biting into stuff.

Today’s adventure — HOT YOGA

at Riverflow Yoga in Lambertville, NJ

http://www.riverflow-yoga.com/

In Bikram “hot yoga” you do these 26 poses

they crank up the heat to about 105 degrees.

there are heaters throughout the studio.

It gets quite hot – the guys were just wearing

swim trunks. I could have been finished after

the first hour but persevered the last 30 minutes.

Wasn’t sure if I LOVED it but would not be

against doing it again. Who’s in?

I stopped to see brother Raymond

but the artist was OUT of the studio.

Got a picture of his fancy mailbox stand.

Do you need one???

I’m accepting orders.

This sculpture is for sale if you or someone

you know needs it….

I needed to get some bird food to keep

the Bluebirds (of happiness) coming to 3 Lacey.

Wild Birds Unlimited has fresh food

& they also give you tips on attracting birds.

I drove past the SOX LADY a gazillion times

& today I finally stopped in.

I needed crew socks to wear with my

Hello Kitty High Tops but was unable

to find an acceptable pair until today.

http://www.soxlady.com/

Chester & Weasel checking out my new socks!

I even got Picassa a catnip ball at the sox store.

She was actually playing with it too!

I was in cooking mode today.

Made some Chicken salad

& deviled eggs while Weasel supervises.

Batch #1 Deviled eggs — with Bacon & Cheese

Deviled Eggs #2 — with smoked salmon, capers & Wasabi.

mmmmmm (thanks Raymond for that idea!)

Batch #1 Deviled eggs

Deviled Eggs #2

Chester getting a wether report

before committing to go outside

The Cycle of Abundance

DOG yoga pose

================================

Action can always overcome fear

and failure is only failure if you don’t learn anything.

Nothing is ever so bad that you can’t get up and dance

when the music comes on.

Nothing.

~joslyn lewis

================================

remember you can ALWAYS see Picture of the Day here:
http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

feel free to Share 🙂

January 23, 2012

Monday January 23rd 2012 "61 degrees", leopard pants, birds, Chinese New Year

Monday January 23rd 2012

the temperature in our finished basement

is 61 degrees which Michael thinks is FINE

but I Do NOT. What guests want to sleep

over in that temperature???

I think we need a heater, don’t you??

neighbor Deb is away on a ski trip & sent me

cute picture of these Leopard Ski Pants.

Yes — I do LOVE THEM — but I am thinking

that they look better in size 6 than a 12!

Picassa bitch cat on Bird watching duty……

Who can spot the ERROR in this “Shelf Talker”?

Today I read an blog post about creating a list

of your own “commandments”

http://www.positivelypositive.com/2012/01/23/happiness-commandments/

Here is a link to some commandments that people wrote:

http://www.happinessprojecttoolbox.com/personal_commandments.html

It was kind of an interesting topic…..one’s own “Commandments”.

Mine are posted at the end of this Picture of the Day.

New Years Eve in Philadelphia Chinatown last night

“Congratulations and be prosperous”

(for Chinese New Year today )

???????????????

LIVE!!!!!

—————————————————–

Helen’s 8 Commandments

1. Maintain a Positive Mental Attitude
2. Be Enthusiastic
3. Look for the benefit in adversity
4. Do what you say
5. Apply what you know
6. Learn Something New Everyday
7. Help others
8. Take steps in the right direction

http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/helens-8-commandments

any questions?
—————————————————-

remember you can ALWAYS see Picture of the Day here:
http://helentdiehl.posterous.com/

feel free to Share 🙂

January 23, 2012