I'm inspired.....

I just got to thinking about all the clippings of poems, inspirational thoughts and memos.... all the little things I've gathered over the years....  have been bunched up into little plastic covers and plastic coupon keepers.... what I really need is a place where I can find it in one place.    So when I want something then it will be in one place.  

So.... after I find my desk... ha ha.... this is a project I plan to do.   Make a book.   Make it cute and full of art.  How neat!   I can't wait.  Well...I can.  ;)  

And who inspired me?   Well you know who you are.  ;)  

Got to get busy with organizing all the mess on my desk.   Get it all placed where it needs to go.

It will be a nice project to work on when the weather obviously isn't enjoyable.   We're looking at really cold temperatures.  And more snow.   I don't remember putting in an order for snow!

Have a good morning or evening....where ever you may be.  :o)

Hug, Mary

The Month After Christmas

Twas the Month After Christmas
 and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.  The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste at the holiday parties, had not gone to waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!!  When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared; The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared.
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese and the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."    As I dressed myself in husband's old shirt and prepared once again to do battle with dirt-- As I said to myself, as I only can
You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!!

So--away with last of sour cream dip, Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip  every last bit of food that I like must be banished till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie--not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.  I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie, I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore-- But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

 

If you like Lavender

Several years ago I had a home-based business of making soy candles.   I still have lots of candle making supplies left over.    Including fragrance oils, tea light holders, molds, soy wax... the list goes on and on.   I'm not sure what to do with everything.   Some oils have higher flash points than others making it difficult to send in the mail or whatever.      Anyway I mentioned that to point you in the direction of my Lavender page.    I used to get lots of requests to make lavender candles.    

 

What a nice surprise!

What a nice surprise to find in my mail box!!   This is such an awesome gift.   Thanks to Pat M.  for thinking of me.   I so appreciate your thoughtfulness.  You did a great job! 

I have already started filling up the pockets.   Thank You.  ♥

Now all my misfit recipes will have a nice place to live.

 

♥♥ Mary

Ripe tomatoes

This is from last summer.  Not bad.   Not sure what causes splits in the tops of the tomatoes.   Do you?   Would it be the hot dry conditions.   I welcome your comments.  ;)

Planting time

Wouldn't this be nice to see in your garden...a full row of beautiful corn stalks.   This reminds me of what I would like to see in my garden good healthy looking plants.   

One year we did grow a very small row of corn, because the plot wasn't all that big.   I'm telling ya, we did get a few good ears of corn to cook for dinner.   Sweet, sweet corn.   Sooo good.    The rest of the ears had those nasty little earwigs.    

Since then we decided to stick with vegetables that we knew would do well.  Or hoped would do well. ;)  

Tomatoes

Green beans

Onions

Let me say this.... want to keep nasty buggy critters out of your veggie garden, without using harsh chemicals?   Plant catnip plants.    In our garden we have not one, but two big plants.   They work great to keep Japanese Beetles out.    And believe it or not, I never do see any cats hanging around.   Interesting, huh?   

Petunias actually attract good bugs to your garden.  So plant those as well.  You will be happy with the results.   And the added flowers will beauty to your veggies.  ;)

My favorite Rice Steamer

I received this as a gift this Christmas.   Let me say I Love this steamer.    The top part is for steaming veggies.  It does an awesome job!     I used to have another rice cooker that we got in Japan.   And it did a good job of cooking the rice...however the only problem that I didn't care for was having to wipe down my cabinets each time I used the thing.    It would spit, spurt, splot out a slimy mess.  Yuk.   
This cooker will make up to 3 cups of cooked rice...great for a smaller household.   Cooks fast.   

 Baby carrots in the top.  Used about half the bag.  At the end of cooking time, the carrots were nicely steamed and tasty to boot.

Here's the rice just about to bubble.  Just season your rice as you like.

The rice will cook to slightly sticky.  
Each piece cleans nicely.  Wash by hand.