Oscar Contenders

Whiplash

The Imitation Game

Birdman

The Theory of Everything

Boyhood

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Selma

American Sniper

These are the eight Academy Award Nominees for Best Picture.

Just two hours ago the lights went on in our local theatre as the credits rolled for Birdman.

Done.

Watched every Best Picture Contender.

Which means I completed the list just in the nick of time. Ending on a very high note. The movie was a wild ride from start to finish. 

The awards will be given out in just a few hours.

Ready and waiting for the fashion parade, the speeches, Neil Patrick Harris and texting during the commercials.

Let the show begin!!!!!!

Harmony, CA

Along Highway 1, north of Morro Bay and south of Cambria, is an exit for Harmony.

A teeny tiny little spot on the Central Coast.

A place to sample wine, check out pottery, watch a glass blower in action, pose for a photo op….and stretch your legs.

It is peaceful and quaint and worthy of a detour.

Here is Harmony:

Love Among The Vineyards

What is it about the Valentine's holiday?

 Everything is shaped like a heart.

Niner Wine Estates in Paso Robles

Valentine's Day Healthy Chocolates

Not gonna lie.

On February 14th, I would like a box of See's Nuts and Chews.

But if you have been eating buckets of soups and barrels of salads (not in one sitting, of course) since the first of the year to counteract the affects of holiday indulgence, then these little jewels might, just might, surprise you.

Dense, flavorful and sweet enough.

As in sweet enough if you don't compare them to See's!

Place the following in a food processor:

1/2 cup of whole almonds (dry toasted in a pan on medium heat for approx. 5 minutes; then cooled)

(pulse a few times)

Add:

1-1/2 cups of dried apricots
1 Tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
pinch of salt

(pulse for 30 seconds)

Add:

1 cup toasted coconut

(pulse till desired consistency, about 15 seconds)

Roll a tablespoon, at a time, of the sticky mixture into a ball and place on Silpat (or waxed paper).

Melt 8 ounces of dark chocolate (72% dark chocolate from Trader Joe's works well) over a double-boiler on low heat.

Drop the balls into the chocolate and roll around until covered.

Place chocolate balls back on Silpat (or waxed paper) and chill in refrigerator  for 20 minutes to set.

Place in paper candy cups.

Serve. Package and share with friends. Or just take a bite.

January Sunsets

Bright and sunny.

Cloudy and overcast.

So hot that ice cream is needed.

Light winds, gusty winds, wow, this beach umbrella idea is not gonna work winds.

Drizzle, light rain, the lawn is happy rain.

Seems we have had a lot of variety in our weather this month. In San Diego. Where weather is usually a constant.

The best part has been the spectacular sunsets.

I hope February is just as gorgeous.