downtown sf

Snape

I may have too much time on my hands these days, but at least that means plenty of time to hang out with my favorite feline.  

Sometimes I ransack the apartment until I find him... 

Other times he comes and finds me... (time for fancy feast??)

All in all, he is just the best cat ever.  

Stow Lake

Went walking around Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park with my aunty and cousins.  So nice to have family in the city! 

Fort Funston

Checked out Fort Funston for the very first time this weekend; dog walkers and hang-gliders galore!  Had fun scrambling around the trails and watching the gliders swoop.  It looks like so much fun!

Mini Tart Recipe

Mini Tarts (from Carpe Season) 
yields 48 tarts

INGREDIENTS

For the Crust:

1 c. powdered sugar

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour

3 sticks unsalted butter, softened 

--

For the Filling:

2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened

1 c.sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

--

Topping:

Fresh raspberries, blueberries, blackberries

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350*. Grease mini muffin tins.

--

For the crust:

Combine the powdered sugar, flour, and butter. 

Place a ball of dough into each mini muffin cavity and press down in the center with your thumbs to form a mini pie shell. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

***Cool completely.

--

For the filling:

Mix cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Spoon the filling into the cooled crusts.

--

Add your fruit pieces to the top of the filling.

yummmm!

Birds

A bit of trivia about me...

* When I was 14 years old I selected an egg that hatched into an extremely intelligent, handsome cockatiel.

* That bird was subjected to hours of "talking tapes" in an attempt to teach him simple phrases.  He successfully learned how to say "hello," but for some reason I was the only one who could understand him.

* My first year at college I volunteered at a pigeon rescue.

* I am planning a trip this fall to visit a school of falconry.

* My love of birds continues...

Squirrels

Although my feelings about these little critters have often been met with some ridicule, I maintain that they are ADORABLE!