Saturday, April 18, 2015

Pookie Bags, Eggplant and Birthday Flowers

Walker Bag
I asked one of my oldest and dearest friends of Pookie Bags if she could make a walker bag for grandpa!
It is perfect! There are easy on and off snap straps. The multiple pockets are easy to use with no zippers or other difficult closures. I suppose at age 100, one does not want to fiddle with zipper and buttons!
How fun is the mustache fabric? I know he will love it. He is popular with the ladies at the assisted living home and this will make him even more popular!

Birthday
So I celebrated my 41st birthday! Jim brought home a bouquet of lilies. It was the first time he gave me a bouquet of lilies only. 
It is stunning and the fragrance it amazing!


The flowers open up to be really huge and dramatic! They are still going strong a week later.

I remember being young thinking 40 something is so old! Now that I'm there I actually feel better than ever having reached all my goals I set out for. I'm even in better shape than ever thanks to yoga and healthy eating! I get better and better each year dealing with anxiety which has always been challenging for me. Meditation is on my list of things to learn.

Roasted Eggplant
I have never been a huge eggplant fan with the exception of Parmesan style with the skin removed. Then I saw eggplant "bacon" being prepared on tv and wanted to try it. Well that was an epic fail! 

I decided to roast the rest of the eggplant.
I was surprised how delicious it was, even with the skin! 

I tossed them with olive oil and equal parts cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Now I have an urge to roast them with other veggies for a delicious sandwich!

Thank you for stopping by. Wishing you an amazing week ahead. ~Val

18 comments:

  1. Happy birthday, you young chick! Love the mustache fabric for the walker bag -- very cool!

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  2. happy 41st, you young and beautiful thing! :) i'll be 52 this summer. my, how time does fly.

    love the walker bag! and those stargazer lilies are very potent!

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  3. That is such a special gift for your grandpa! And the lilies are stunning!
    I'm not too fond of eggplant either, but I do like it thinly sliced in vegetarian lasagne :)

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  4. Happy Birthday my friend ;o) Big Hugs ;o) You are a young chicken and you look amazing ;o) Blessings for a great year ahead ;o) Love the lilies!
    I love that walker bag! That is so cute!
    The roasted egg plant looks so good! Have a great week ;o) I am drinking mint tea and resting inbetween.
    Love ya ;o)

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  5. Happy birthday Val! I'd love to have my 40th (again - LOL) enjoy it - and the flowers are gorgeous! And love the bag for your Grandfather, I bet he is popular with the ladies. And that recipe looks so delicious - what a great idea! I've never thought to roast it, but I bet that is delicious

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  6. Happy Birthday Val! You don't look 41! Those flowers are beautiful. I 'm not a fan of eggplant either although I've only tried it once in moussaka so maybe it's time to try it again!

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  7. Val, I just love the walker bag!! It is simply perfect.

    A belated, but very, very happy birthday to you.

    Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.

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  8. Oh, a family of birthdays! Happy Birthday! I'm glad to hear how wonderful you feel. It seems like ages mean something different now than when we were kids. I have tried roasting eggplant along with heartier veggies. The flavor was great but the textures were really different. If I try again, I might add the eggplant in a little later than the rest. I love the walker bag your friend made too.

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  9. Happy belated birthday, those flowers look gorgeous! I am still on the lookout for a good vegetarian alternative for bacon, it sounded like a good idea to make it from eggplant. Jamie Oliver has a delicious recipe with eggplant. It's quite some work, but it tastes great http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/aubergine-parmigiana-melanzane-alla-parmigiana/#rKKcv5ZKHgKWrrky.97

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  10. Happy Birthday, Val!!! It sounds like you have a lot to celebrate :-)
    That bag for your Ladies Man Grandfather is wonderful ~ love the fabric!

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  11. Happy Birthday, dear Val!!! lovely post!!!
    Have a good week!!!!:)))

    Besos, desde España, Marcela♥

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  12. Lots of Birthdays! keep celebrating and I am so happy for you you feel good and healthy and happy! I like that fabric for your grandpas bag :)

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  13. HAPPY BIRTHDAY VAL! You're going to love your 40's! I do Shhhh! HaHaHa I act like a kid. I just have a fun heart. I think you look fabulous and your husband is the best. Those flowers are gorgeous. LOVE the bag she made for your grandfather! It's so cute AND masculine! He gets to put all of his stuff in there. Anyway for me to eat eggplant is great in my book. Otherwise I don't eat it. Keep celebrating doll!
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  14. Happy birthday dear
    that looks yummy

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  15. Happy, happy birthday! Not many people are so satisfied with their lives they lived so far as you told. That is amazing and really a reason to celebrate, to treasure ones achievements in life is rare. So what next? :)

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  16. oh que bonito, me ha gustado mucho y FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS

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  17. A walker bag - what a great idea! And the fabric is really fun. =0)

    Happy late birthday to you, Val! Lilies are so pretty. I hope you had a wonderful birthday.
    The roasted egg plant looks pretty tasty.

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  18. I am sorry I'm so late, but.....Happy Birthday, Val! It sounds like you had a beautiful celebration :) The lilies are gorgeous! And that bag is simply fabulous! What a great idea. Happy hugs, my friend!

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Thank you for stopping by! I love reading visitor comments! ~Val