My favorite, not so "top-secret" recipe for deviled eggs...

First thing is to boil your eggs correctly!  We'll say 6, but you  can adjust depending on your crowd.  Place the eggs in a pan submerged with cold water.  Place on high heat just until the water begins to boil, reduce heat to low and cover, (when safe to do so without boiling over).  Cook for 10 minutes then immediately pour out hot water and start cold water rinse and add ice cubes, this stops the cooking and ensures nice bright yellow yolks!

Peel your eggs and slice them length wise, placing the yolks in a bowl, and reserving the whites to be filled later.

I prefer to smash the yolks with a fork.

Then I add a little salt and paprika, I don't measure just a dash or two of salt and a good sprinkling of paprika, stir it up well before adding wet ingredients.

Next a couple teaspoonfuls of dill relish, more or less as you prefer.

About a teaspoon of yellow mustard.

I use miracle whip, (or whatever similar salad dressing is on sale).  I start with a couple of heaping tablespoons, and gradually increase if necessary, I would rather have the consistency a little on the dry side than too runny.  When you are happy with the mix you can use a small spatula to fill the whites, or if you have a frosting bag with a large (1 M) star tip you can pipe the yolk mixture into the whites, (guess that cake decorating class taught me one thing after all...smile.)  Then I sprinkle a little more paprika on top.  Yum!!!

P.S. If you have any of the yolk mix leftover it's great on crackers!

1st week of my hubby's retirement...

Well, we both survived that first week, which is promising.  ;)  We watched too much food tv and consequently went out to eat much more than usual, told him we'd be shopping for pants with elastic waists soon if we don't change our ways!

Now that he is officially retired I've told him that he's no longer just a curmudgeon in training, but now he's a full-fledged, bona fide Curmudgeon!  Think that he plans to enjoy all of the "perks" that accompany such a title...YIKES!

Crazy Dog's been a bit more uptight with "Daddy" home so much, but I think she'll adjust...hopefully.

Our daughter is almost too busy to notice, except that he's already home when she gets back from whatever activity she's into on any given day...today she's going to some robotics competition?  I can't keep up with her schedule some days...just tell me when and where you need to be so I can taxi you.

Two of my stepson's stopped by to acknowledge their dad's birthday, which was very much appreciated!  Young folks are SO busy these days, it's great to see them and have a little visiting time to catch up, the time really does fly as we age...

My mother-in-law finally got released from the hospital, so we are hopeful that she will be back to her sassy self soon!  ;)

Anywho, I've got lots more I'd like to say, and a couple photos and stories I want to share, eventually...but for now I've got to close.

Hope that you all have a fantastic autumn day!  :)
(winter will be here too soon for me)

Hodgepodge...

Okay, I did finally finish the goofy cake, didn't turn out exactly as planned, but that didn't really surprise me...

No, didn't eat it...too much crisco!  :p

Autumn colors are beginning to pop up here and there...

It's another beautiful autumn day, but I'm kind of in a yo-yo mode of emotions...  Yesterday had a great girl-day with my mom, Italian food for lunch, and some shopping.  Then last night we got word that my mother-in-law's surgery didn't go as planned, so we wait to hear if she's going to be alright...

Cat's been watching all the commotion in the "cedar", (juniper) tree as the little blue berries are drawing a lot of starlings...

I'm hopeful that they'll leave enough for the Cedar Waxwings to stop by again this year, they are so pretty, and fun to watch as they often feed one another!

Have seen a lot of critters on our walks lately, but somehow they know which days we've brought our cameras along and avoid us like the plague!

My husband retires very soon, and we're both a little apprehensive as to how we will handle so much together-time, as we are a blended family we've never really had much time to ourselves, who will get sent to the "nuthouse" first?

Enough rambling, hope that you all have a great day!