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The Orange Bee is home-bound today. Thick ice covers the roads, wind is whipping through at 30-40 mph, temperature a frigid 21*and dropping. While watching the birds at the feeders today I’ve noticed them being blown from one spot to the next as their tiny feet slip and slide across the icy ground. It is […]

Today I was privileged to spend about three hours with Mr. Floyd, my bee mentor. Mr. Floyd has been raising bees and making honey for over twenty years. He knows an astounding amount of info about bees. First he told me I needed to know the basics of the hive itself. We examined frames, foundations, […]

The birthday celebration was fabulous. In fact it was so fabulous that we didn’t shoot many photos. We were immersed in party mode. I am sorry to say I won’t be posting pictures of the evening. I will tell you that the meal prepared by our friends the Flanigan’s was superb. Bone-in rib eye grilled […]

Ahhhh…..cake and champagne. Is there any finer food or beverage with which to celebrate a birthday? I think not. I wrote previously about my oldest daughter and her birthday cake request. LuLu’s birthday will be celebrated tonight. The cake is made, the champagne is chilled and the gifts are gaily wrapped. Stay tuned for photos […]

Today was one of those glorious days. Chilly, well actually downright cold this morning. A frosty 28* that evolved to a sunny 65* matchless day. It reminds me why we all welcome “spring” when she blows in. Meantime it is still January and we have a birthday to celebrate at The Orange Bee. FYI: The […]

Comfort cookies…again! These cookies border on healthy – not what usually comes out of my oven. I was in the mood for oatmeal cookies but was craving chocolate and cranberries. Don’t ask me why, because I haven’t an answer. After mulling this over for a few hours I decided to throw them all together […]

If you’ve been following my blog you might have seen the post and recipe for “Gold Bars”. You may or may not have taken note that I gave recognition to a friend, Shelly Musselman for the recipe. If you made “Gold Bars” I’m quite certain you discovered them to be sweet, gooey and delicious. When […]

In the home of “The Orange Bee” when it is announced that grilled cheese is on the menu it is consistently met with “ooohhh, aahhh, & mmm…”. My fabulous family thinks of it as comfort food, do you? The following recipe is not the standard slice of American cheese on white bread version. I don’t […]

Today the sun was shining. “So“, you say. Well I am here to tell you that I have not seen the glorious sun shine for many days. In north Texas we have been experiencing cloudy, rainy, drizzly, cold, grey days for so long I’ve lost count. It was refreshing to have sun and shadows all […]

Someone mentioned “Crawfish Pie” the other day and it got me thinking about cajun food, creole dishes, and how much I have a taste for the variety that it brings to the table. I grew up in southeast Texas, right on the Louisiana border, with merely a river separating the two states and the two […]

This is not your average, boring appetizer. This my friends is savory, piquant, creamy, and crunchy all in one delicious bite. The goat cheese provides creaminess, the peppercorns and smoked almonds the crunch and bite. The parsley and chives bring along freshness. Don’t hesitate to serve it with the apples as they are needed to […]

I woke up this morning to a grey, gloomy, chilly January day. This will not ruin my day. I had a few cups of – you guessed it – coffee. Deadman’s Reach Raven Brew to be exact. The back of the bag of Deadman’s Reach claims that it will “inspire great ideas and noble emotions” […]

Just a quick note to last nights post about coffee..delectable, smooth, rich, delicious coffee. If you enjoyed that post and would entertain viewing a few photographs that will help you understand why drinking coffee in the places I described was such a treat, please check out the “photos” page at the top of my blog. […]

My new refrigerator arrived today all shiny and sleek and icy cold. Just what I wanted, OH, and needed desperately. Talk about make a girl want to stock up with fresh green, orange, yellow and red veggies, cheeses, fresh fish and meat, nice farm fresh eggs and butter, and ripe juicy fruit, but that will […]

It is exhausting – searching for a new refrigerator. The sheer confusion that sets in after opening door after door, pulling out drawer after drawer, comparing features, water purifier or no, ice maker in the door or in the freezer itself, water and ice dispenser in the door yes or no, lights blue or white, […]

It is freezing and windy outside, 32* to be exact. The wind is blowing the snow in circles, around me, around the birds, around everything. My eyes are watering so that I cannot focus. I decided since snow is a rare occurrence in my part of Texas that I should photograph “Lew’s Lone Star Chili” […]

The snow is coming down quite fast now. Just as they predicted. Enormous, fluffy flakes of pristine white snow. Not at all normal for Texas but welcome all the same. I especially enjoy it as the birds come out in droves to feast at the feeders sprinkled about our yard. I’ve been constantly watching out […]

Today has been a glorious day in north central Texas. Crisp, sunny, blue skies will be turning in to rainy, freezing, snowy skies late tonight through tomorrow. Snowfall of 3-6 inches is predicted, not normal weather for these parts. Aware of the approaching storm I spent time outdoors today, taking in the crisp, fresh air, […]

Today I returned to teaching my “oh so cute” 4 & 5 year olds. I took a jar of Cracked Sugar Cookies along for a snack, but mostly to celebrate my sweet friend, Sheri’s birthday. After the rug rats had been nibbling away at the cookies I asked, “So, are these cookies good?” The cutest […]

I am warning you now, this cookie is a plain sugar cookie. It is also yummy! What’s better than a plain sugar cookie with a glass of milk, hot cup of coffee or a steamy cup of freshly brewed tea? These may easily be classified as comfort cookies. Speaking of comfort, isn’t it comforting, on […]