Happy Sunday!

Yard Fun

Close-up of my mint. I have three kinds, peppermint, spearmint and lemon mint. They've all grown next to each other so I can't tell which is which. All I know is I love it when it's fresh and new. See the pretty dew drops on the leaves? I pack a pitcher of my sun tea with the mint. Literally pack the pitcher full. That's how they do tea in New York. So I copy. Its very good. Maybe I will do a post about it later this summer when I start doing sun tea.

More herb garden pix. Thyme and Rosemary. I can't wait until these get big.

My hubby decided he wanted to dig up the yard to reseed. I decided it was a perfect opportunity to do my bonsai grass idea around the stepping stones. It took some convincing for my husband but after it was in, I made him a believer.

Here is a wider view. We only purchased two little flats of the ground cover, so we ran out. Technically, I wanted to do the outer-sides also. I'll either wait and take cuttings from what I have as it spreads or I will go out and get more to finish it in the next couple of weekends.

Sunday Supper

Blame in on Pioneer Woman (PDub for short) she did it again. She made me cook.  On the menu: Meatloaf, Steamed Green Beans and Baked Potato. Super simple but great food. Here's my take on meatloaf.  Normally, I use oatmeal instead of breadcrumbs but when I saw how PDub used milk-soaked white bread for her meatloaf I had to try it.  I adapted my recipe by substituting 1/2 of the oatmeal I normally use w/2 slices of bread (she used white, I used wwheat because its what I had in stock).  I never thought of doing this and it looked moist... so I tried it.

Liz's Famous Meatloaf (secret ingredient revealed)

All amounts are approx. and to taste~
Click on any pix to enlarge for details

2lbs of lean ground beef (or more if you have an army to feed)

1 pkg of Lipton onion soup mix (secret ingredient)

1 big handful of fresh parsely chopped (pictured below is from my herb garden)

1/4 cup of parmesan cheese

1-2 eggs (I used one)

1 tsp fresh garlic

1/4 cup oatmeal or slices of bread (soaked in milk) I used 2 slices.

1-2 tbls worchestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste
1 small can tomato sauce (pour over top last 10 minutes)

Firstly a pix of my herb garden (right outside my kitchen window/door).  We are getting a jump on things.  That's how we roll in SoCal.  The parsley is the largest plant in the lower right hand corner of the pix. It's what I used in the meatloaf.  It's the oldest plant that's why its bigger then the rest.  It did really well over the winter (cough cough) with all the rain we've been having.  The smaller ones you see were just planted this week.  In the planter, fresh lavender.  We even have two tomato plants in already (back along the fence.  My mint is coming in nicely too (far left).

Cast of characters.  I have really little counter space that's why its all jammed into this tiny little corner with everything else (appliances etc).  What you see in the pix is about the extent of my working countertop space.  I get claustrophobic cooking in here at times.  I've gotten really efficient at conserving space too.  

See the bread crumbs? I thought they turned out so great. I soaked them in milk and then wrung the milk out and crumbled the bread slices into meatloaf mixture. The texture was perfect.

Ready for the oven. I thought the parsley was so pretty.  Wow did it smell good too (the parsley).  I never knew it smelled so strong.  I thought it was kind of neutral.  Not this stuff, it was FRESH.

During the last 10 minutes or so I pour tomato sauce over the top covering the entire loaf. No after pix.  No plate-up.  Just a few random pix of the process.  It turned out yummo!

Home cook extraordinaire Tip of the Week:  I spray the loaf tin with non-stick spray like Pam.  I also cover this with tin-foil until last ten minutes.  Tip alert!!! Spray the inside of the tin-foil with non-stick spray also. 

Happy Birthday to Me!

Well that was on February 9th.  I told you I had some catching up to do. I think I will schedule some daily blog posts. That way I can set them up and schedule them to publish later. Awesome.

It's a little grainy but I like it. These were the flowers I had on my desk at work.

Gwen Frostic

I can check off another item from my on-again/off-again list.  I had so much fun this weekend, I need at least two more days of it.  Here is an Easter Greetings card! OMGOMGOMG I got me some ART Therapy. Are you kidding me?

I found inspiration for this card from a couple of different places.  Firstly, from my new set of Gwen Frostic (Anthropologies holiday gifts) stamps that my friend Allison (Shadow's Castle Stamps) gave me for Christmas. I embossed the bunny image with a burgundyish embossing powder (I think he looks chocolatey this way). Secondly, I also found inspiration (sketch and colors) from the one the only famous Julie Her Royal Rubberness (see her Picky Purple post over at Paper Trufflez). She requests that we do not hotlink so I will leave that off.  She's pretty easy to find via any search engine.  Nothing like a CASE (copy and share w/everyone) and a new set of rubber to get the creative mojo going. Thank you Pr!ssy Pals for your wonderful ideas.  Re-purpose alert:  the swiss dot paper is a piece of packaging cardboard.  I thought it was such a pretty eggplant color I just had to re-use it.  I embossed it with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then sanded it to get the white core to show through.  I used a mish mash of products SU paper, Michael's Ribbon , Sentiment stamp (Kitchen Sink), A Muse Paper (gingham flower), MS punch.  

Gwen Frostic Woodland Stamp Set

Close-up of Gwen Frostic Woodland Stamp Set.  Aren't they just the cutest?  My friend Allison has great taste.

Happy Heart Day!

I've got nuttin' for ya' so I might as well share a pretty vintage image...  I hope everyone is feeling the love this weekend.  It's one of my FAVORITE holidays.  Heart U.

Question for Blogland?

Does anyone know anything about this little salt crock? I NEED ONE.  I snapped a pix of it.  There were no markings on the bottom or under the lid nothing.  I couldn't find a name, brand (aka redwing etc), year, nada.  If anyone has any info or has seen one for sale, please leave me a comment.  I'm guessing 50-60s era, vintage.  The image is 2 girls w/balloons.  Cute.  I would love to get one of these.

Hearts

This is on a charm bracelet hanging in my bathroom. Thought it was a nice heart to share for Valentines Day since it is coming up soon... enjoy

January 18

People who are really efficient seem to do things easily, with a minimum of effort.  In so doing they release maximum power.

Positive Thinking Everyday

~Norman Vincent Peale

?1-800-SE-DENTISTA (1-800-GOT-DENTIST)

Pensé que le gustaría saber cómo mi primera experiencia dental fuera de los Estados Unidos fue .... (translation... I thought you might like to know how my first dental experience outside the United States went...)  Ha! Just kidding.  I srsly do not speak Espanol.  k.thx.  You might remember I have recurrent dental ISSUES.  I won't go into the gory details but this isn't the first time I've  posted about my toofie problems. 

Si? No? Well my last treatment estimate from my friendly American dentist was $8000++.  I was told I needed 3 core build ups w/crowns and a root canal, core build up and crown (four crowns total). Now mind you... I've sunk a chunk of change into my teeth over the last 5-10 years (think 10s of thousands and I won't be specific).  I've had to creatively finance ALL of it too.  I've paid in a variety of ways....with all of my savings (emptied out 3 times), loans against my savings, yadayadayada, etc etc.  Well, with this last bid I was given, I said ENOUGH and have been researching Mexican dental for several months now.  I finally decided upon an office with good references (spoke with actual patients) and made an appointment for a consult.

The new treatment estimate included 4 fillings, 1 extraction (to incl an implant to replace the tooth removed and cleaning).  All inclusive approx $2500.  HELLO. He told me I didn't even need crowns.  The extraction unfortunately was the tooth that required the root canal.  Too late for it.  In fact, after Dr. Britton saw the X-ray the first words out of his mouth.... HOLY GUACAMOLE.  Now that was funny.  He spoke fluent English.  Anyway, the consult turned into an extraction and getting two of the fillings done (since I was there already and the one tooth that originally needed the root canal now needed extracting as it was infected.  Thank you Mr. American Dentist for your help NOT).

Overall, it was a good experience?  I leave the question mark because it was different but not bad.  Some things kind of made me go hhhmmm?  So that's why the question mark.  There were some differences in "convenience" of care but not "quality" of care and the "end" results was the same.  So I am happy about this.  How do I compare it?  Think LaJolla/Tijuana, think donkey/racehorse, think high-tech/hammer chisel.  I'm OK REALLY.  No really I am just KIDDING.  The dentist was an awesome guy (except for the occasional unabashed profanity, NOT KIDDING...never had a professional do that before, well, at least not while on-duty??!?@!?). Ok so he didn't care about appearances... did that matter?  His skills were what I was worried about.  Um no fancy happy gas, so I was wide awake as he used hammer and chisel.  Um no TV to distract me (perhaps the American dentist like to make me all comfy so I can ignore the fact that he was charging me 8000?).  Instead I had a conversation in Spanish to listen to (that I didn't understand) which was entertaining in itself to me.  I love listening to foreign languages.  Don't ya ever wonder what they are REALLY saying about you?

Well, this was a first and not a last. I have more appointments to finish the treatment plan and I don't feel like I was raked over the coals and ripped off.  Dr. Britton was genuine, honest and most importantly skillful.  He went the extra mile.  I did not know I had to fill my prescriptions in Mexico due to licensing.  I found this out when trying to fill it at my US pharmacy.  I called Dr. Britton on his cell phone number (which he gave me) and he picked up my prescriptions in Mexico for me and drove over meeting me state-side to deliver them himself so I didn't have to deal with the border crossing again (it can be time-consuming).  Now that's service and Care with a Capitol "C".

Mexico here we come...

Nice sidewalk

These are the metal gates you walk through to cross the border.  You go first...(that's hubby)

No turning back now.....hey wait up for me

This is the exact boundary between two countries.  Don't cross that line!! Stop back away from the door.  Put the package down....don't turn around.  Security.

Inside the gates.... mural painted on the wall.  You know my eye was catching the art.

 

 I felt right at home. Vaca de la señora (Mrs. Cow) there to greet us.

 

Good-bye America.  Good-bye US of A. No turning back now.  Ok sorry I do get a little panicky. 

 

 I got your number mister don't try anything.  Security?

Some Pretty Cool Blog Candy!

Blog Candy over at Whinnie's Whimsy and Crafts Blog!!!!

I don't know about you but I would love this blog candy.... here's the dete's!

It is a light box with lights and a small tripod. All you have to add is the camera! It is amazing the difference a light box makes in your photos! It comes with 4 different colored interchangable backgrounds. Here's the rules: Good Luck to everyone who plays along:
1. Become a follower of my blog
2. Leave me a message
3. Announce my blog candy on your blog
4. I will be drawing a name on Monday, 18 January at 6pm EST.
5. Every day that I post a card and you leave a message, you will get your name entered in again for the drawing. (ie if I post 5 times over the next week and you leave a message all 5 days AND you're a follower of my blog, you will get your name in the drawing 5 times.)

Encouragement

I think I've decided on my word for the year!  Yes, that's it.  Encouragement.  As is usual, I went through a lot of discussion with the committee's in my head to finally decide on just one word.   More later on how I came up with mine this year.  For now, another short post to just pop in and say HI y'all.

JANUARY 1

The verse (below) is from today's calendar page.  ...liked it..thought I'd share.  ...think I am going to work on some cards today using the "Blue Moon" for my inspiration.  Speaking of the moon...I got a really cool shot of the "Blue Moon" last night (Canon Powershot point and shoot, no night vision goggles or anything, I don't even know where the night shooting option is, I think it has one).  The moon was just rising so it was still big.  Its pretty and if you looked closely it even had a little cloud underneath it.  Much prettier IRL.

One day at a time ~
This is enough
Do not look back
and grieve over the past
for it is gone;
And do not be troubled
about the future,
for it has not yet come.
Live in the present,
and make it so beautiful
that it will be worth remembering.
~ Scott Taylor 

Broccoli Basil Soup Recipe from The Golden Door Cooks at Home Cookbook

I had a lot of requests for the recipe I used for the Broccoli Basil Soup I did at Christmas. Below is the recipe and some of the "how-to" pix. I didn't take pix for each and every step

Broccoli Basil Soup 
(Courtesy of the new Golden Door Cooks at Home [<---click] Cookbook)

Olive Oil Spray
1/2 medium onion, diced (1/2 cup)
1 pound broccoli (chopped)
4 cups Vegetable or Chicken Stock (store bought low-sodium ok)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 bay leaf
1 cup of packed fresh spinach leaves
2 tablespoons sliced fresh basil leaves
2 ounces sharp smoked Cheddar or Gouda, grated (about 1 cup loosely packed, optional)


Saute onion in olive oil spray 4-5 min

Stir chopped broccoli into the onion, cook 1 min.  Add stock, salt, pepper, and bay leaf.  Bring to a boil and then simmer for 10-15 min.

Allow to cool, remove and discard bay leaf.  
Transfer the soup to a blender or food processor and process until creamy but still chunky, about 30 secs.  Add the spinach and basil to the blender process for another 10 secs. 
Return soup to a clean saucepan and reheat over low heat until simmering.

If desired, add the grated Cheddar and stir until melted.

Serve hot

ENJOY!

New Year Greetings~~

Prayers of Meditation

Write it on your heart

that every day is the best day in the year.

He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day

who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.

Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;

begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit

to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,

with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

ralph waldo emerson

It's the Most Magical Time of the Year! Merry Christmas All~~

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
be born in us today.

o little town of bethlehem - phillips brooks - 1867

Happy Holidays from the "CHRISTMAS"EN'S

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Merry KissMoose ;)

I just love this vintage image I found on "Vintage Printable".  If you don't already know about this site, run on over.  Some great free images to use for projects.

Here's part of swivelchair's (from vintage images) bio.  Ha, he's in the biopharma industry. 

Directly copied from his bio

Hi, this is Swivelchair. I work in the biopharma area. Not a scientist, not a journalist, mostly in the business aspects. I have a science and business background, and have been involved in a variety of biotechnology-related ventures.


One of my hobbies is curating out-of-copyright scientific illustration, now that there are so many digital image databases on the web.


I’ve taken care to ensure that the images collected here are either pre-1922, or else works created on behalf of the US government. It is my belief that there are no copyright infringing works here, but if anyone thinks I’m mistaken, please send me an e mail and I’ll remove the image.

*************

From Our House to Yours...

My eyes are tarred...so the pix lighting is off. I was so excited to have gotten ANYTHING done for the holidays that I just wanted to post it right away. Is this not the cutest? Much cuter IRL of course. More later. All things A*Muse.

Happy Thanksgiving Day - An Iriquois Address

Greetings to the Natural World.

The People

Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as people.

Now our minds are one.

The Earth Mother

We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our mother, we send greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Waters

We give thanks to all the waters of the world for quenching our thirst and providing us with strength. Water is life. We know its power in many forms-waterfalls and rain, mists and streams, rivers and oceans. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the spirit of Water.

Now our minds are one.

The Fish

We turn our minds to the all the Fish life in the water. They were instructed to cleanse and purify the water. They also give themselves to us as food. We are grateful that we can still find pure water. So, we turn now to the Fish and send our greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Plants

Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.

Now our minds are one.

The Food Plants

With one mind, we turn to honor and thank all the Food Plants we harvest from the garden. Since the beginning of time, the grains, vegetables, beans and berries have helped the people survive. Many other living things draw strength from them too. We gather all the Plant Foods together as one and send them a greeting of thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Medicine Herbs

Now we turn to all the Medicine herbs of the world. From the beginning they were instructed to take away sickness. They are always waiting and ready to heal us. We are happy there are still among us those special few who remember how to use these plants for healing. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to the Medicines and to the keepers of the Medicines.

Now our minds are one.

The Animals

We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We are honored by them when they give up their lives so we may use their bodies as food for our people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.

Now our minds are one.

The Trees

We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many people of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.

Now our minds are one.

The Birds

We put our minds together as one and thank all the Birds who move and fly about over our heads. The Creator gave them beautiful songs. Each day they remind us to enjoy and appreciate life. The Eagle was chosen to be their leader. To all the Birds-from the smallest to the largest-we send our joyful greetings and thanks.

Now our minds are one.

The Four Winds

We are all thankful to the powers we know as the Four Winds. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help us to bring the change of seasons. From the four directions they come, bringing us messages and giving us strength. With one mind, we send our greetings and thanks to the Four Winds.

Now our minds are one.

The Thunderers

Now we turn to the west where our grandfathers, the Thunder Beings, live. With lightning and thundering voices, they bring with them the water that renews life. We are thankful that they keep those evil things made by Okwiseres underground. We bring our minds together as one to send greetings and thanks to our Grandfathers, the Thunderers.

Now our minds are one.

The Sun

We now send greetings and thanks to our eldest Brother, the Sun. Each day without fail he travels the sky from east to west, bringing the light of a new day. He is the source of all the fires of life. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Brother, the Sun.

Now our minds are one.

Grandmother Moon

We put our minds together to give thanks to our oldest Grandmother, the Moon, who lights the night-time sky. She is the leader of woman all over the world, and she governs the movement of the ocean tides. By her changing face we measure time, and it is the Moon who watches over the arrival of children here on Earth. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to our Grandmother, the Moon.

Now our minds are one.

The Stars

We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to the Stars.

Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers

We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring teachers.

Now our minds are one.

The Creator

Now we turn our thoughts to the creator, or Great Spirit, and send greetings and thanks for all the gifts of Creation. Everything we need to live a good life is here on this Mother Earth. For all the love that is still around us, we gather our minds together as one and send our choicest words of greetings and thanks to the Creator.

Now our minds are one.

Closing Words

We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.

Now our minds are one.

ohenton kariwahtekwen - iroquois thanksgiving address

Things I would do if I had Time for Blogging?

Try the 3-column blog style
Go WordPress or typepad for a change
Update blog more often
Change out the look with the season
*sigh*

Apple Skillet Cake

Remember my recent cooking marathon? I promised some pictures and besides I haven't blogged in awhile, I should post something? Here's a couple of shots of the "Apple Skillet Cake". Yep its a recipe from the one and only Pioneer Woman blog.

Full Dish

Plated up

Kid - Amos Lee

Every time I hear these lyrics I like them...

Been kicked around so long
You're starting to get used to how it feels
The taste of blood that's in your mouth
There's still somehow it always heals
Don't know how you keep on getting up
From all those ghostly blows
And all that pain that lingers
Deep down in the darkness where it grows

I know how hard it is
To keep your head up kid
To keep your head up
Kid

And there you sit on high
All tucked away and locked up in the clouds
Waiting for someone to finally
Come along and take you out
Into this bitter world
That also often treated you so cruel
When they turn away
You know that they will say that you're a fool

I know how hard it is
To keep your head up kid
I know how hard it is
To keep your head up kid

And so patiently
You waited for a love to come along
Take you out into this bitter world
So often done you wrong
There you sit alone
And there you shed a solitary tear
Listening to a song
You think that no one else would ever hear

I know how hard it is
To keep your head up kid
I know hard it is
To keep your head up
Keep your head up
Keep your head up
Keep your head up
Keep your head up

Repeat

bears repeating...

A Cherokee Legend

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Go Stampers!!

Thought this was an interesting article on MSN today and an interesting first example [Please Note: I've been meaning to do a post on the subject, I am temporarily no longer a SU demonstrator for personal economic reasons] of how to survive in this economy... "The Secret to My Success... in This Economy"<----- click for FULL article. I just found it interesting that this was the very first example given in the article. Go stampers.

Here are bits pasted:

In today's economy, personal and professional failures are abundant. Personally, we're tired of hearing bad news. Instead, we wanted to know how people have stayed relevant and successful.

Here's what we found out:

Ann M. Clemmer, Stampin' Up!
Ten years ago, I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator to bring in a little extra money. Five years ago, I got the opportunity to leave my job in the television industry. I felt that if I was ever to try this stamping job full time, this was it. The first year I did this full time, I doubled my best sales year. I've made it twice into the top 100 demonstrators of the U.S. and hope to again this year, as I bettered my best year by about 19 percent.
Secret to success: There's always someone making money in every economy. Listening to the news can help you decide where to go, but it also can bring you down. I've often felt that the only "no" that counts is the last one I accept. If someone doesn't want what I'm selling, I just keep looking for the next person who does. My mantra is that I'm only one new customer away from where I want to be.

You have a Hope and a Future...

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Look Who's Visiting Me Again!!!

Punkin'...my only Grandchild er furbaby (all of my grandchildren have 4 legs)... He loves to curl up on "things". Here he is... right above my computer monitor on top of a ream of paper. I love animals. Oh! lastely but not least...my daughter is in town too hehe...hence the furbaby visit.