Finding my biological family is nothing like I have ever experienced. I am very fortunate that I was thought about always. Alot of times people want that time in life to stay forgotten. I am happy that was not my story. I share a birthday with my Step dads sister so I was thought of on my birthday even though I had no idea. We have gotten really close, when I visit them I feel at home. I have become close to my step dads family too. They have also welcomed me with open arms. I really don't like calling my step dad, my step dad, he is my dad. He would have most likey adopted me when I was little had I been there. My biological father passed away many years ago but I did meet my biological Aunt and am Facebook friends with my biological 1st cousin on that side.

Hello everyone, I have not posted in years. I really wish I had kept going, I could kick myself. What a journey my life has been on since I stopped blogging.Really the biggest thing that happened right after I stopped blogging was that I found my Biological family, mainly my Biological Mother. What a ride it has been since. I have a blessed life. I was adopted at birth. I did not find out I was adopted until I was 15. What a shock. For years I didn't care to find my Biological family but as time went on the urge grew stronger to seek them out. In 2013 I took my friend Sandy with me to a Los Angeles Court House to look for marriage licences because I figured my mother would have gotten married. It is really hard to find women vs. men due to name changes. My adopted mother told me her name and that she lived in LA somewhere. I found 6 marrriage/ death certificates with her name. I went home and started searching online for phone numbers. I just started at the top of the list. I FOUND HER!!!!!!!!!

What Were Your childhood Food Favorites??

When I think back to my Childhood Meals, I have several favorites that always come to mind. One of them I made tonight. I don't make it too often, maybe once every 3 or 4 months. It is the Cheesesteak Hoagie. I have always loved them. My mom made them with Steak-umms,(sliced Steaks), caramelized onions, and American Cheese. To me the flavors are superb. The combination just screams comfort food. Here is my process for making them.

First thing to do is cute up your onions and caramelize them. I used large Sweet Onions, I love sweet onions.

After about 15 min on medium heat they look like this.

After about 30 minutes they look like this. If you want them done in less time you would have to stand there and turn them often, I have other things to do so I have them on medium heat and just check on them and turn them frequently.

When they are done, use the same pan to cook your Steak-umms, or if you have leftover steak, slice it thin and use that. I have done both, I am just a fan of the Steak-umms.

This is what they look like when you first put them in the flying pan. They cook VERY fast so you can't walk  away from them.

In about a minute on high heat then turn them over and cook for another 30 seconds, or when they look done to you.

this is what they look like after I flipped to other side. 

Here are the onions and steak piled up on a plate.

French rolls and American cheese. 

I spread mayonnaise on the rolls and then added the cheese on them. I put the rolls in the oven on 400 degrees until cheese melts. Take them out of the oven, put on a plate. 

Add the meat and onions and ........ 

Here is the final product. Oh so good.

Can You Identify This Plant?

I have a plant here that needs a name. Lets see if you can Identify it.

With flowers in summer.

 Here it is without flowers, pics taken today. See the spike at each joint? They are very sharp.

 Looking forward to seeing if anyone can Identify this sweet, feisty, beauty.

Days of Summer

This summer, we had friends visit. We went to Magic Mountain, we ate, we laughed, and we spend much needed time together. My son and my Honorary Niece decided that they wanted to float down the Santa Ana River. We dropped the kids off way up stream. They had their inter tubes in tow. We dropped them off and went back to the house, some time later we decided to to look for them just to see them floating down the river and for me to take pictures. We went to the top of the rivers edge and did not see them. We waited, and waited, and waited. No kids. As the over protective mother's that we are, we started to get worried. We drove up and down the river top to see if we could spot them. No kids. Note: my son is 9 and my Niece is 17 so I was sure they were fine but as a mom it was still a bit of a concern. Then we went back down the river to see if we could spot them and low and behold, there they were floating and having a great time. WHEW! We were happy to see them safe. I took lots of pics, some unfortunately blurry but some decent ones. Here they are enjoying a great summer day on the Santa Ana River.

 

 

 

Best of America By Horseback

In 2011 I was fortunate to be a part of the Television show Best of America By Horseback. It was 2 fun filled days that I will never forget. Here is the video, I am in several scenes. I have on a Pink Baseball Cap and a Pink Tank Top on my Roan horse Kona.