A Milk-Can With My Coffee

When the day starts with a stop at a coffee shop, it bodes well. Quite well. I got a Pumpkin Pie Cappuccino; I tell you, it's an obsession. The only thing that could have made this stop any better was if it involved a rendezvous with my man. 

Wait a second.

It did. 

He met me at 0730.

I liked this semi-spontaneous date. 

I think he did too. 

We sat outside, sipping coffee and eating an egg sandwich on a croissant. 

Being a gentleman, he sat on my chair first and dried it off.

It was a good thing I had the coffee as I am quite sure it made my mind sharper because

as I got nearer home, I remembered there was an auction in Springs today. 

On that auction, there was listed an item I was interested in:

a milk-can, painted by the one and only Alta Bender. 

(That's my grandma.)

I texted my sister-in-law to see if she was there.

She was.

I wondered if the item had sold yet. 

It hadn't. 

I wondered if she would bid on it for me.

She would. 

Then I found out what was on the milk-can:

A painting of our farm!

I had no idea; I just wanted to bid because it was something done by Grandma. 

Back in March 1987 this was painted:

And here I thought my day couldn't get any better than coffee with Leo. 

I love picking out the familiar and noting the differences that 26 years makes. 

What a gift. 

And to think, if I hadn't thought of the auction when I did, I would have completely missed it. 

I first texted her at 0934 and it sold at 0946. 

I was going to give it to Leo for an anniversary gift, but I couldn't wait; I was too excited. 

And really, the only thing that could make this any better?

A John Deere tractor!

A JD 4010 perhaps…

Love, love, love it!!!

Love,

Dianne

An Acquired Taste

This morning before driving home from work, I needed to fuel up. So, I stopped at The Beanery.
That's right, I knew that Large Coconut Creme Cappuccino would get me home.

Ohhh,,,,,and it was good...and I don't even like coconut.

Years ago, another lifetime really, I hated the taste of coffee. I always thought it smelled good, but even a sip would make my tastebuds rebel. I even thought Leo should stop drinking so much of the nasty brew.

Then I tried a cappuccino at a food show. It was probably more like hot chocolate than a true coffee-based cappuccino, but it was a start. I decided that maybe, just maybe, I'd give it a try. After all, I was in nursing school, and I needed to drink coffee for the caffeine, right?

Now mind you, it took a while to graduate from powdered cappuccino packets to rich, dark, strong coffee. And I still haven't mastered the art of drinking "black coffee". I don't really want my coffee to grow hairs on my chest. I like my coffee flavored with some decadent goodness,
                                like caramel,
                                like chocolate,
                                like sweet cream,
                                like maple and brown sugar,
                                and even coconut creme.

Oh, and a dollop of whipped cream on top is never a bad thing.
But you have to start with coffee. Real coffee. All the rest that you add, is just icing on the cake.

For me, a good cuppa joe is more than just a way to wake up ("...the best part of waking up is Folger's in your cup..."), it is a comfort food. I look forward to making the coffee for the day, afternoon, evening, middle of the night, whenever I may need a moment to sip and savor. I enjoy picking out the mug I will drink from; it has to fit the mood and season. I like to relax, read, and relish my coffee break.

And besides, coffee technically is a vegetable. It does come from a bean, after all.
So, if a have a mocha (coffee + chocolate), it's like having two servings of vegetables.
Cause, you know, chocolate comes from a bean too.

Sleep is Sweet...but so is my cappuccino

I came home from work this morning and just sat in my car. Sometimes I am just so tired and when the sun is shining, making my car warm, I just want to sit there like a cat and soak it in.

And then my family sees me in my car...
                               sleeping....
                               with my mouth open....
                               drooling...
Not glamorous by any stretch of the imagination. At least I wasn't purring.

Our bodies are designed to need rest, but somehow I think that my body should not need as much as everybody else. I would like to think I can survive, even while going 24 hours or more without sleep.

Besides isn't that why coffee was invented?

What do you mean it wasn't?!?!

I can tell I need to sleep. Everything is either ridiculously funny or extremely annoying. I find myself staring at nothing for long periods and can't remember at all what I was thinking about. I am writing this blog and have to keep changing my spelling cause my fingers are either 2 letters ahead or 1 behind.

I found a coffee recipe that sounds heavenly and thought I'd share it with you. Maybe I'll think about making some later when I wake up. Just in time to go back to bed for the night.

Gotta love working night shift!

Enjoy!

Chocolate Cappuccino

For sweet stirrers, prop in peppermint sticks. This homemade treat is far less expensive than in a coffee shop.

Total Time: 10 mins
Servings: Makes 8 servings.
SEE MORE BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS RECIPES
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup  whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons  powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup  finely chopped semisweet chocolate or finely chopped milk chocolate
• 1/2 cup  crushed striped round peppermint candies

  
  

  8 cups  hot espresso or very strong coffee  

  
  

  Chocolate curls

  
  

  Directions

  
  

  1

  Beat the whipping cream and powdered sugar with an electric mixer on low speed until soft peaks form; set aside.

  
  

  2

  Spoon 1 tablespoon each chopped chocolate and peppermint candies into a coffee cup. Add hot espresso. Top with the whipped cream and chocolate curls. Serve at once. Makes 8 servings.

  
  

  Nutrition Facts

  Calories 221, Total Fat 10 g, Saturated Fat 6 g, Cholesterol 27 mg, Sodium 88 mg, Carbohydrate 24 g, Fiber 2 g, Protein 5 g. Daily Values: Vitamin A 11%, Vitamin C 3%, Calcium 20%, Iron 1%.
  Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
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