The Saturday Evening Post............

I needed to get a head start on my chores today that's why this post is so late.  I wasn't sure what the weather was going to be but it ended up being a beautiful day and I got my laundry hung out and dried.......

 

I got  my flower bed that I created a few years back all weeded and I planted a few annuals in there.  A couple geraniums and a few marigolds...flowers that the deer will leave alone but I do think the deer may be behind all this identity theft that's going on...just sayin'.    In the back are my Japanese Iris which are a deep purple when they bloom but they're not ready yet.

Those are old roofing tiles I put under the rocks so I wouldn't have to weed whack around them...smart huh?  My mailbox is across the street so now I just go over and water once in awhile.  I put the wire netting around the post because I had a clematis that I planted there but it didn't make it.  On the right are a couple exotic day lilies but the Japanese Iris seems to be taking over so I might have to either dig up some of that Iris or transplant the day lilies.

 I was surprised to see my strawberries come back and especially my parsley since it was out all Winter in a container but come back they did and with GUSTO!  The strawberry has already set runners into this bed which is fine with me as one can never have enough berries!

 See the berry and the flowers...oh yum...I can already taste them and they're SO MUCH better than the ones from the store and much cheaper, I  might add!

See that reddish mulch?  I put that in last year....it's rubber!  Yep, pricier per bag but it doesn't disintegrate and it doesn't fade and it's a God send for me!  I couldn't keep up with the other cedar mulch and by mid-summer it was all bleached out and looked terrible and I had to keep buying and buying it.  This stuff is WONDERFUL!  I highly recommend it and it's recycling tires!

After all that weeding I needed to bring some of those pretties inside to enjoy.....

The wind or something had knocked over my Iris (or are they Gladioli, I can never keep them straight) in the back yard so I clipped them and brought them inside to enjoy.  I also cut some of my roses which are going gangbusters.  They have Black Spot but it doesn't seem to bother the blooms which is all I care about anyway.

 And finally............as a reward for ALL my hard work.........a cool one Eddy!  Don't mind if I do.....

Give me a nice cold Blue Moon with a slice of orange if you don't mind and remember.....Don't Drink and Blog........yeah right! LOL!  Have a great Saturday night!

crocheting away.............in between chores

Yesterday I worked outside doing some weeding, watering, fertilizing and weed killing.  When I need a break (I used to have a cigarette) I come in and sit in my chair and crochet a bit and then go back at it....whatever "it" is at the time. 

 

I like color but not pastels so much and not neon bright.  I'm learning while making this throw for my chair.  Handwork of this type slows you down and has been known to lower blood pressure.  It's almost like meditating at times.  Plus, I'm using up yarn I've had around for other projects at one time or another although I do keep buying too.  It also keeps my hands limber since I have arthritis.  On top of that, when I'm finished I'll have a nice blanket to throw over myself next Fall and Winter when I'm sitting in front of the fire with another project in my hands.  I really can't think of one negative regarding handwork.....it's all good!

Do you have a project "in the works" right now and if so what is it?  I think it's so inspiring to see what others are creating.  Happy Friday the 13th!  

Went to town yesterday............I mean literally...got in the car and went to town

I don't go out very often, trying to save gas so I only go if I have at least 3 errands but yesterday I had 4.  First off I had to stop at the bank and then it was on to the library where I returned 2 books and got 2 more.

 

Yes, I got the 4th Stephanie Plum book in Janet Evanovich's series.  I guess this means I'm in for the long haul.....17 in total!  The other book is by M.C.Beaton and is one of her Agatha Raisin mysteries which I love but I want to Google and find the order of the series as I don't think that is the first book.  I've told you how anal I am and I must read them in order! LOL!

Next was the Dollar General where I picked up a few items and lo and behold found another one of those red metal containers.  I bought one a few weeks ago and I love it but I thought they were sold out....NOT!  They had moved them so, of course, I bought another one.  The first one has been filled with yarn as this one might be too.

    Then it was on to the Neighborhood Market where they had gotten another big shipment of plants in!  Uh oh!  I could not resist!  I got this beautiful Easter lily which is scenting my kitchen and will get planted in the yard when it's done blooming.

Then I picked up 2 exotic house plants....I know....house plants at this time of year?  But they were so healthy and beautiful I couldn't resist!

 This is a zebra plant (I won't bore you with the latin name) that is blooming.

The  next one is an Alocasia Polly which may be called a parrot plant since it had a picture of one on the label.  I've never seen one before but it is gorgeous I think and they were both so healthy looking!

 

I haven't potted them up yet in my own containers but that is forthcoming.  That's all for now folks!  Have a great Thursday!

 

Recipes I love from "recipes We Love"..........

This gets a little complicated but here goes.  I got these recipes from The Shady Porch on her March 24th posting but actually that day she had guests who were posting and they were from Recipes We Love so if you can follow that then you know these recipes originally came from Recipes We Love.  I was making my Easter menu and they had this slow cooker recipe for pork tenderloin and I am all about the Crock Pot when I'm having guests especially when it's a good recipe and it was FANTASTIC!  And so easy!  Here it is, giving FULL CREDIT to both the above websites who without them this wonderful dinner would never have been served.

Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
_______________________

about 2lbs of pork tenderloin (actually mine ended up being 2.77 lbs and it still came out great)
1/4 C soy sauce
1 T yellow mustard
2-3 T pancake syrup (I used real maple syrup as that's what I had)
2T olive oil
2 T diced dried onions
1 1/2 tsp garlic salt




And this is the best part....put everything in the crock pot and cook on low for 6 hours.

Is that easy or what and it was so delicious and tender it melted in your mouth and tasty yet you couldn't pick out anything specific like the syrup or the garlic...it was just REALLY delicious.  I put the roast in first and dumped everything on top of it.  I never even looked in or stirred it or anything.  I did pour a little of the juice/gravy on each slice of meat as I plated it....YUMMO!  You cannot go wrong with this recipe!  I might even start entertaining more with recipes like this. Aw, but then I'd have to clean the house too...forget that one! LOL!
Now for the side dishes, I made just plain old frozen peas to go with their Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Cheddar....now you can understand the plain old peas!  I didn't think there was much need for any fancy dressed up veggy with those loaded potatoes and I was right!  They were superb and rich and the best mashed potatoes ever and I do love potatoes....I'm Irish...what can I say?

Mashed Potatoes with Bacon and Cheddar
_________________________________

2 1/2 lbs Idaho potatoes
5 slices bacon ( I used 1/2 lb)
4 oz cream cheese
1/4 C butter, melted
1/2 C sour cream
1/8 C dried chives minced
1 1/4 C cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp salt
3/8 tsp pepper
Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Peel potatoes (I don't but that's up to you, if you don't, make sure you scrub them well), chop up and boil until tender just like you do for mashed potatoes.  Cook bacon crispy and pat off the grease on paper towels.  Crumble bacon and set aside.  Drain potatoes and lightly mash them.  Add cream cheese, butter, and sour cream.  Mix well.  Add chives, 1 C shredded cheese, half the bacon crumbled up, salt and pepper.  Mix well.  Put into buttered  baking dish.  Top with remaining shredded cheese.  Bake for 25 minutes, remove and add the rest of the crumbled bacon on top and stick back in the oven for 5 minutes. 

These are truly guest worthy dishes and be prepared to get many compliments!  They are fail-safe if I can make them!  Enjoy!
P.S.  Sorry there weren't any pictures.....I forgot to take any...DUH!  But here's what I had for dessert.............

Once again .....the weeds are winning,,,,how did that happen so soon?

Things are blooming everywhere and I love it but when I was out taking pictures it made me realize the weeds are already taking over!  But I have more energy this year so we'll just see about that! Remember the rhubarb I showed you a few weeks back?  Well look at that baby now!

 

I 'm pretty sure my next dessert is going to be a rhubarb coffee cake I  used to make where you just add raw chopped up rhubarb either fresh or frozen.  I'll include the recipe when I post it.  Yum!  I can't wait!

I was so surprised the roses were blooming!

 Below is my hydrangea which has all kinds of blossom buds on it.  I've been nursing this plant since it was a tiny, tiny baby.

Above are my sweet coral bells.  I better get out there and do some serious weeding and feeding!

I hope you are enjoying your Tuesday.

Book Reviews!

I finished 2 books and thought I would share them with you.  I got both books at our local library.  I think I'm done now with my craving of Amish lifestyle info.  This was the best book by far  written by and about a man who grew up Amish and then left and came back and left and came back numerous times until he finally left for good.  It took him about 10 years to really break free.  It's the same old theme of religious brainwashing where if you don't believe like us you'll go to hell.  It was heart wrenching to read of how he struggled with it.  It made me understand that there is no utopia and that there is the same bickering, competitiveness, politics and jealousies as in other religions.  They do have a wonderful support network and take care of each other in all situations but you are subjugated to the rules of the community every day, 24/7 and you must suppress any and all feelings of being unique or independent.  I think I've fulfilled my curiosity about the Amish culture and religion now.  

 

This next book is the third book in the Stephanie Plum  mystery series by Janet Evanovich.  They are fast moving and easy reads and interesting to a point but they just aren't my kind of book.  They take place in New Jersey in the city which I don't care for cities or their crime.  I prefer English cottages or Northern locales or at least small towns.  I'm more in tune with Joanna Fluke or Agatha Christie and you can leave out the violence and sex....I just want a good mystery.  I have to give her credit for the mystery part but for the environment and the characters they're just not my style.

Will I read another one?  Like the 4th one in the series?  I just might simply because I am so anal (no wonder I like Monk so much! LOL!) and now that I've started the series I am drawn to keep going....DRAT!!!!  We'll see when I go to the library tomorrow.  

I hope you all had a great Easter!  I did but I think I'm not used to the rich food I cooked yesterday as I was a little under the weather last night and this morning but I'm starting to perk up now!  Have a great Monday!

Happy Easter, Happy Passover..........Happy Springtime!

This is time for our Sunday "spin" through the blogging countryside and today it's all about red, cherries and retro!  So, after you've celebrated on this beautiful Sunday and are full of good food and the dishes are done you can sit back and take a little "spin".

Sue, at It's a Very Cherry World is a feast for the eyes!  Her blog is total eye candy from the very first page.  She's all about retro, vintage and cherries.  On Rednesday's, she features all kinds of wonderful "red" items of all kinds from people that post on her blog.  It's so fun and if you love the color red then this is the blog for you!  Below is one of her vintage finds and a picture I remember from my childhood with much fondness.

 

Next Stop is Vicki's blog called Cherry Chick and she has cherries galore and the cutest jewelry for sale too!  She just got laid off from her job so if you need any jewelry or gifts please give her your business as I plan on ordering something myself.  We need to be supportive of our fellow women business owners.  You are going to just love her blog and her attitude as she is a joy to the world!

I think I have to have one of these!

 She also makes cards...she is "crafty"!
Okay...she didn't make this mixer but I may spend the rest of my day figuring out how I can do this to my white Kitchenaide mixer!  Oh Yeah!  I'm all over this baby! 

And she makes delectable desserts too!  She is SO talented you simply must go over and visit her and maybe do a little shopping while you're there!  Come on...you deserve a little something!  I know I do! LOL!

Last but not least is Brenda at the Cozy Little House

Brenda is a fantastic decorator, loves the color red and creates some of the cutest pillows and towels and such.  Her blog is all about color and you know how I love lots of that!  Brenda recently went  through a tough (is there an easy kind?) divorce and moved from Texas to Tulsa and is trying to recreate herself, her life and a new Etsy business.  Take a look at her Cozy Little House and her store filled with all kinds of colorful delights!

Is this not cozy? 

Please stop by and visit these gals and tell them I sent you.  They add so much joy to my days and I'm sure they will to yours too!  Happy Easter everyone!