Warning: Contains political views.
Saw this in my subdivision. Happy Birthday, Karson. Sixteen, a perfect time of life. You can still enjoy the carefree life of a child, while you start building your foundation for adulthood. I know you'll make us proud. Be your own person - stand out from the crowd - be the leader/not the follower - set high standards for yourself and your friends.
Wishing you many more happy and healthy years ahead.
You really should make some strawberry freezer jam while the strawberries are in season. No cooking, and it tastes like fresh strawberries.
STRAWBERRY FREEZER JAM
3-1/4 cups crushed strawberries – buy 2 1-lb
containers
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 box Sure Jell MCP Premium Fruit Pectin
4-1/2 cups sugar
Put the strawberries in a large bowl.
Stir in lemon juice.
Stir pectin into strawberries. Mix thoroughly.
Let strawberries sit 30 minutes, stirring every five
minutes.
Slowly add sugar, mixing thoroughly. Continue stirring
until dissolved.
Pour into glass jars or plastic containers with lids.
Leave on counter for 24 hours.
Refrigerate for up to three weeks, or freeze up to one
year. Thaw in refrigerator.
Note: For a lower sugar version, buy the low sugar
pectin. Each box of pectin also comes with instructions.
I made some this week without crushing the berries to paste, to make it thicker.
Three layers of vanilla cake, two layers of strawberry buttercream filling, frosted with whipped cream buttercream.
I have a powder room off my laundry which has become the Kitty Bathroom. I bought a watercolor for $5 at the airport in Shanghai which has been on the wall behind the toilet stool. It's such a happy picture, I decided to move it to the hall, and I put it in the office while I went for the Windex and cleaning cloth.
Anything new or different is of interest to kitties. Stormy gave it a good all-over sniff test, then plopped down and napped here for hours. Now that it has met with her approval, I can clean and hang it.
This new soup recipe wouldn't be my favorite, but it's super quick, makes a lot, and kids would probably like it.
EASY PEASY HOT DOG STEW
2 Tbs butter
1lb. wieners, cut in 1/2” slices
1/4 tsp dried crushed
basil (optional)
1 10-1/2 oz. can Campbell’s
split pea with ham soup
1 10-1/2 oz. can Campbell’s
cream of potato soup
1/2 can water
1 15-oz can corn,
undrained
1 15-oz can diced
tomatoes, undrained
Melt butter in a large pot.
Brown wieners in butter, with basil if desired.
Dump in the soups.
Stir in the water.
Add the corn and tomatoes.
Heat thoroughly.
If I make it again, I think I'll try Bean with Bacon soup, Cheese soup, and more water.
With the RNC and the assassination attempt, the deaths of three great guys got very little attention. Lou Dobbs, Bob Newhart, and Richard Simmons have left us.
On Wednesday, Friend Joey and I were discussing Richard Simmons and how we were sitting and stuffing our faces at a Chinese Buffet, fat and sassy at 86 and 84, while Richard, a fitness guru vegetarian, died at 76. We decided to have ice cream, too.
Have I told you about Cake Goop? You make it to grease your baking pans instead of Baker's Joy or whatever in an aerosol can. I learned about it from Pam on YouTube. She's that cute little black lady who says, "Come with me. I'll show you what to do." You can see her HERE.
CAKE GOOP
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup shortening
Mix all together.
Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
Will keep nine months.
You brush it on with a pastry brush (or one of those cheap paint brushes), and it gets in the nooks and crannies without making a mess.
I wanted to see how many of these little cakes one recipe of cake batter would make. I have two pans, so I used all the batter to make twelve. Obviously I could have made more - maybe twelve Bundts and six cupcakes.
I trimmed off the bottoms (tops?), and they're okay.
This week's restaurant was a disappointment. They have two things going for them - the name and the patio; after that, it's all downhill.
The inside is the current fad of blah which I call Depression; grays, blacks, and browns. They don't even look well together. The look is cold, and the temperature was cold. We were both happy that we brought wraps.
Elly had fish and chips. She said the potatoes were cut fresh, not frozen, and very good.
$18
We were having a dreary day, so I chose the Chicken Pot Pie.
This is the menu description:
Scratch Pub Pie
A gooey mass of some kind of sauce or gravy mixed up with mashed potatoes, a lot of chipped up carrots (which made it too sweet), I think I saw a couple of little cubes of celery or broccoli, a couple of cubes of chicken, covered with a crust. And like I needed more bread?
$14
It's not true that we Republicans do not believe in reproductive rights - we call it birth control.
Being irresponsible does not give you the right to murder unborn babies. That's my stance, no matter how much the Liberals want to rename it "women's health." What about unborn babies' health? Do they have any rights?
I watched the entire RNC, hopeful for the future, praying that our country will soon be returned to greatness.
I love this guy!
Interesting theories:
Here's More From one reply:
Hmmmmmmm.............
I should be voting for the Democrats. With the horrible job they're doing, they've raised interest rates, which has significately improved my life. Though the inflation is 20%, it reduces my money only a fraction of the increase I get from the 4-5% increase on my savings since my spending is much less than my savings and I don't have any loans, BUT - I love our country and want it returned to greatness, so I vote Republican, though it will reduce my financial position.
Just for fun Click Here
MEMORIES:
Remember this? HERE. Has anyone apologized? Don't think so. Some are dead and some are has-beens.
2016, July 24 You can view the entire blogpost HERE
Highlights
What fun I'll have making cards with this stationery set that cost 80 cents. The paper is two-sided, and the envelopes can easily be cut down to card size.
I think I still have some of this.
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Rosie Jo's in Ozark - still there Robert had Frito Pie  Joey had a Pork Tenderloin Sandwich  And I had a Patty Melt  |
Tablescapes: More from The Tour of Tables. Sadly, this exhibit each year by the Garden Club has been discontinued.
Here's Summer Fun
2017, July 23 You can view the entire blogpost HERE. The blogpost has lots more from Crystal Bridges, including more of the Chihuly exhibit and selections from the permanent collection. The Chihuly exhibit was NOT a permanent exhibit, and has since moved on.
Thoughts and Quotes: I don't think much about the past. I think about the future. I think about what I want to be doing tomorrow. Dale Chihuly
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And I finally found an infuser which fits some of my pretty tea mugs for 50 cents. Now I can use loose tea when I want only a cup, not a pot.
Dale Chihuly is the master of blown glass - not those little unicorns and birds you see at booths - he's big time. We were fortunate enough to have an installation (yes, it takes an installation) at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, AR. Most of today's post will be the photos I took there. Crystal Bridges is the museum originated by the Walmart daughter, Alice Walton, who started with her personal art collection. Walmart is not connected to the museum; however, they gave a generous grant to sponsor free admission. Only the traveling exhibitions require an entrance fee. The artwork is all from American artists. I'll give you a sample of the permanent collection, but most we'll leave for another time. Even though you don't care for art, the building is worth the trip.
Chihuly in the Forest
When the sun shone on these, it looked like a forest fire.
I'll show you a closeup, then just imagine assembling this, piece by piece.
A great exhibit, and I hope you'll have the opportunity to see it. Chihuly is known around the world. I saw him first at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. At first I wasn't sure whetherI liked this or not - and then I loved it.
One of these "chandeliers" was hanging in Crystal Bridges away from the exhibit.
If you stand directly beneath it and look up, it looks like this.
Note: Still at Chrystal Bridges for you to view.
My favorite painting of all. The lanterns seem to actually shine.
2018, July 22 You can view the entire blogpost HERE. The post contains lots of recipes for using bananas which are too ripe for cereal.
Things that Grow: I have, however, been able to grow Stargazer Lilies, so they must be really easy. Try some.
I had one left this year, and the boxwoods are out of control. I just found someone to prune them as soon as time allows.
Tidbits: This video was posted on a Facebook group I joined called Tea Cups and Cupcakes Group, and I can't stop watching it. Even the music is perfect. Amazing what lots of money can do for you. Take a look HERE. And if afternoon tea is your thing, join the Facebook group. (I keep starting the video over and over so I can hear the music while I work on this post).
This link still works, and the video is delightful. When Facebook cancelled Trump, I cancelled Facebook. To rejoin, they want my cell phone number (no), and a selfie (no again), though I do miss out on news from my subdivision group.
To do with leftover lemons from your strawberry jam if you buy them by the bag as I do.
LEMON MUFFINS
2-1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp salt
Grated rind of one lemon
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup plain yogurt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Heat oven to 350°.
Grease a 12-cup muffin tin or use paper liners.
Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon rind in a large mixing bowl.
In a smaller bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.
Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients, stirring with a large spoon until moistened.
Spoon into muffin cups and bake 18-20 minutes.
Glaze with a mixture of lemon juice and powdered sugar, if desired.
Thoughts and Quotes: Who needs excitement when normal is so wonderful?
Me
Things are back to (almost) normal. I still have a hole in my kitchen ceiling, a hole where a nail went through in my bathroom ceiling, a crack in the family room ceiling from the vibrations on the roof, the water stains on the family room ceiling from the leaks which started this whole thing, and lots of patches of grass which burned when packs of shingles were lying on it. But this too shall pass. At least the new roof is on and the cleanup is finished. For two days my yard looked like a war zone. The quality control inspector came and put the finishing touches, like blowing out the gutters, putting the patio furniture back, etc. and hopefully the repairs will be finished next week. And again I keep thinking, "Better now than when I get old". Dream on, Girl. Old is here.
So to celebrate back to normal, I did what's normal - I went out and bought some dishes. Well, I couldn't help it. I was right in the area of a Goodwill, and I was so happy to be out and about. And wait until you see all the treasures.
Thrifting: I hit the jackpot on napkins. I can tell they're new. The peach ones were 25 cents each (green sticker), and the others were 50 cents each.
Hand embroidered and 50 cents each
I couldn't resist these sweet hollyhock dishes - 50 cents each - no dinner plates or cups and saucers or I'd have made a set. Found only four of each.
This dish is not very big - Royal Albert - $2
Can you believe? A ceramic potato with a ceramic ladle - $1. Perfect for the Farmer's Market table, then for sour cream when I serve baked potatoes with a casual table.
I still have all of this except the potato dish which left when I got rid of the Farmer's Market things. Remember the table?
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Two little dishes - about 4-1/4" diameter - to use for butter pats, condiments, or chocolates/mints on a tea table - 50 cents each. The back says, "Avon 1982" "Happy Holidays" but there's nothing which looks like Christmas. "Tis a puzzlement."
These are actually snack plates with an indentation for a teacup. There were no cups, but I probably have plain white cups which fit, or I can use clear glass oyster cups for condiments - 50 cents each.
And my best bargain - $1 for the set. They're rather small. Perfect for a tea table.
And I finally found an infuser which fits some of my pretty tea mugs for 50 cents. Now I can use loose tea when I want only a cup, not a pot.
2020, July 22 You can view the entire blogpost HERE. Covid year. I had only one post for the month.
I've working on do-overs for the Tablescapes book. That glass-topped dining table was a problem.
Old Butterfly Table
New Butterfly Table
Old Birds Table
New Bird Table
Old Duck Breakfast
New Duck Breakfast
Old Sunday Brunch
New Sunday Brunch
2021, July 24 You can view the entire blogpost HERE.
Thoughts and Quotes: If I were flying, I would travel to a perfect place. A place with frosted cakes and beautiful flowers and excellent trees to climb and absolutely no doldrums. - Kyo Maclear
I think I've been in the doldrums. I can't seem to get motivated, I feel tired and listless, I want to escape into a book, and that's not my usual mood. I once wrote a paper for a college class (can't remember which - Behavioral Studies, Psychology, Health?) and I said that the answer to most problems is "Get Busy." I've lived by that advice, and goals on paper motivate me. I'm ready to take my own advice and hope you'll join me.
Covid and old age have put a damper on fun. I want to do things, and I realize that other people had a very big part in my activities in the past. I've actually lost friends and family these past couple of years (not to Covid), and others are either incapacitated or fearful of venturing out. There are many things I enjoy doing alone, but I've realized that doing everything alone is making me lazy and uninspired.
That's all I have this week.
DREAM IT
BELIEVE IT
PLAN IT
DO IT!
And do it until you're proud!
THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE
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