These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

We woke up to a blessedly cool morning.  It had been hot & humid all weekend, but a thunderstorm came through last night.  And, today started cool & breezy.  I love that!  It was also a good morning because my husband was finally feeling well enough to return to his normal routine.  He had been very, very sick since Friday afternoon.  I actually had to drag him to the doctor on Saturday and then he slept the remainder of the day. Both of those things are unheard of for him!

Maybe it was because I started the day in a good mood that I was even more aware of those things that make me happy.  Anyway, here are a few things that bring me joy...

Baked Oatmeal

I never thought I'd like baked oatmeal & so I never really tried it until last year when a friend of mine brought some to me.  I couldn't believe what I'd been missing out on all these years.  Yum!  I was hungry for some this morning so I whipped up a batch for breakfast.  I usually add fruit to mine...love it with peaches!  Today I made it with some mixed berried I had in my freezer.  Here's my favorite recipe:

Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

3 cups oats (quick or old-fashioned)

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Cream together first 3 ingredients.  Add all the rest to creamed mixture.  Bake in 10x10 pan at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes.  (Note:  I usually add fruit - fresh, frozen, canned are all fine.  I even include the juice if it's canned.  Allow extra baking time if adding fruit.)

 Fresh Eggs

We have a dozen laying hens.  Each day they give us between 10-12 eggs.  That's plenty for our own use, some to share, and some to sell.  There is nothing like a fresh egg from home-raised chickens.  The last time I saw a store bought egg & cracked it open it looked sickly to me.

 Flowers from our yard

Those big white blooms are from what I call a snowball bush.  I'm not sure what the proper name is for them. But, they are absolutely one of my all-time favorites!  Oh, and our peonies are blooming right now.  The boys wanted to cut one of them to put in the vase as well. 

 Fresh Herbs

I just bought a bunch of herbs from a nearby roadside stand (anytime I try to grow them from seed I fail miserably).  Summertime is all about sliced tomatoes from my own garden, fresh basil, and mozzarella cheese.   But, my favorite, favorite herb of all is cilantro.  In talking with other people I'm finding that you either love it or you hate it.  I love it!  I'm so excited to make and can my own salsa this year...with lots of cilantro of course.

 These guys

How can I make a list of favorite things and not include them?  

And This Guy

Where would I be without this man?  He has changed my life!

There you have a few of my favorite things.  What are some of your favorite things?  I'd love to hear them!  Have a blessed Monday!