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!

Sunny Saturday here........

Busy day here as I'm sure you all are too! I have cookies to bake....

and eggs to color..........

and when I need to sit down and rest I have ANOTHER crochet project I started! LOL!  A Granny Stripe using those new yarns I got from England and are they ever luscious!  They're soft and vibrant in color....I love them!

In addition there's bread to bake, clothes to hang and dinner to prep for tomorrow and at 4:00 I'm "skyping" with my son and grandson to color Easter eggs!  Happy Easter Eve everyone!

Good Morning on Good Friday...............

It is a beautiful morning here in the Ozarks and it's cooled off a bit which is fine with me.  I need to mow today and the weather is perfect for working outside.  Yesterday was nice also but there were clouds and a few raindrops in the morning.  I still managed to get some laundry hung out and dried though.  I went and got gas for my mower and mailed some Easter cards.  I also made some sugar cookie dough to make Easter cutout cookies.  The dough needs to chill in the frig so they're ready whenever I am.
 Many of my  blogging friends create "vignettes" on their tables and mantels and I've been wanting to try that.  A vignette, from what I understand, is  like a little "scene" and unlike the old days when we would plop one centerpiece in the middle of the table, this is a multitude of items usually with a particular theme.  So....here's my first attempt at an Easter/Spring themed "vignette"....what's up with all the French stuff anyway?

I notice when other bloggers feature a "vignette" they also explain each item so here goes.   The red tray is plastic that I got at Wal-Mart last week for $2.00, I think.  I've been picking up trays when I see ones I like as I've noticed they really come in handy for "coraling" things like magazines, plants, etc.   The plant in the pot is a hyacinth that is no longer blooming and the pot I've had for a long time.  The basket is ceramic and I got it at the Thrift Store a while ago and it was $1.50  (I know because the price tag was still on it! LOL!) The straw in the basket was some kind of filler I got in a package and the eggs are porcelain and a gift from my daughter (long story for another day).  The "faith" pillow I think my daughter gave to me also, the candle has been around awhile and the turquoise dish is part of my Fiesta Ware collection (old) that my children brought to me from the attic of an old summer cabin on my Aunt's farm when we were visiting.  She told them they could have anything they found and what a find it was!  That's The Velveteen Rabbit leftover from the storybook adventure and the little birdhouse is from the Thrift store for no more than a quarter, I'm sure.  I pick up little items like that and stick them in among my plants sometimes.  I got that idea from Nancy Jo .  I usually use ceramic ones though so they don't rot.  This one happens to be wood.  So, there's my first "vignette".  It was fun gathering stuff and putting it together.  Hopefully, I'll get better at it as time goes on.  I still don't understand all these French themed items out there, French words, pillows, decorating....did something happen that I missed?  

Finally got back on the "crochet bandwagon" after untangling that mess of yarn and I finished the pink row and did quite a bit of yellow last night.  This pattern is so fun to do....I'm loving every minute of it!

 

Well, I'm off to get the yard mowed as soon as it dries up a bit.  Have a good Great Friday....no, I mean have a great Good Friday!

Update on Edna and Miss Elaneous................

I wanted to update you on Edna, my robotic vacuum, so I decided to take a movie so you could see her in action but alas.........it wouldn't upload. 
So, I guess you'll have to settle for still pictures and here I thought I might be the next You Tube sensation....oh well.
 Excuse the greenish brown spots on the rug...those are shadows not stains, not sure why they showed up like that they did.  In case you missed my posting when I first got Edna.........here she is in all her glory! 

Above, she is linked up with her base station which is always plugged in.  She will always return to where ever you started her up and you can program her to vacuum certain rooms certain days but I'm always here so I haven't done that yet.

Those strings that you see are where my "girls" have snagged the carpet with their nails.  This carpet is a sculpted carpet.

Below is a very short nap rug so you can see even on that Edna leaves a nice "trail".

I really love my Edna and she has helped me tremendously around here and frees me up to do other things instead of spending hours and hours vacuuming this place and I know I vacuum more often now too. The next place I go will NOT have carpeting!  The other thing I love about Edna is she is so short, about 3 inches tall, that she is able to get under the whole bed under dressers etc.  The only place she can't get is behind the toilet but then again who wants to go there anyway.  I love her dearly and it was one of the best investments I ever made.  But not every robotic vacuum is the same so I can only recommend Neato as that's the only one I've ever had.
The Miss Elaneous news is that company isn't coming.....disappointing, yes, but on the other hand I was able to sit down yesterday and get all that yarn untangled.  I think it took about 4 hours total to untangle that whole mess....whew!!!  I'm back to crocheting and there's another color going on today!  Plus, even though my company isn't coming......just the threat of it got me to get some things done! LOL!  God works in VERY mysterious ways! LOL!  Wishing you a day filled with joy and contentment!  Happy Thursday!

What a tangled web I weave............

Yep, got myself into a little mess with my yarn yesterday.  I was crocheting away and pulling it from the middle of the skein and all of a sudden it stuck and I pulled and pulled and out came this mess of tangled and knotted up yarn! Oh my!

 

So, I spent 2 hours trying to wind it into a ball and straighten out the tangles.  I did this at the end of the day after I was too tired to do anything else lest you think I was playing instead of getting ready for my company! LOL!  In fact, I did it during Dancing With The Stars and what is up with me and England lately?  I'm loving the gal from England on the show, I'm into several English blogs, I love their Prime Minister and I'm making English desserts and ordering English yarn!  Maybe it's because I have English lineage somewhere or because of the Queen's celebration this year or the Olympics being held in London?  There is definitely something going on with England and me this year!  BTW.... the tangled yarn is not English...just an F.Y.I.

I have a question for all you yarn people out there.  Am I supposed to be wrapping all yarn I get into balls?  I prefer it that way because it looks prettier without the labels when I put it my baskets but I thought the skeins of yarn that weren't twisted could be used by drawing the yarn from the end.  Am I mistaken?  Unfortunately the one that is tangled is one of those huge "super saver" skeins....just my luck!  I know my skeins that I get that are twisted I untwist and ball up or the yarn store does it on their little gizmo...I forget the name of it now.  If anyone knows the answer to this please let me know.  Also, once you remove the labels is there a way to tell what kind of yarn it is?  I've kept them separate but I might have gotten  my washable wool mixed up with my regular wool for felting....ummmm.....NOT GOOD!

Anyway, I did get out my baskets that I got a few months back knowing they would be used for my yarns.  Below are the acrylics from England to be used for the Granny Stripe throw.

  

These are the acrylics I bought at Wally World for the ripply throw.

Below are my wool yarns that I keep in an old picnic basket

And these are the acrylics that I have rolled into balls so far.......that sits on top of the picnic basket.

I like to see them sitting around and their bright colors...it keeps me inspired but...I  may have to search for more decorative containers to keep them in or crochet faster! LOL!

Oh, I forgot to show you the pecan chicken yesterday so here it is...it's a "keeper" for sure!

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Still hoppin' and getting things done....

I got LOTS done yesterday although it seems I am usually productive "every other" day.  I hope today will be productive too.  It's good to have company once in awhile....keeps you "honest" in the housekeeping arena.

I hung out laundry yesterday and made Aunt Nubby's  pecan encrusted chicken...another "winner" and easy.  I had broccoli and oven bake/fried potatoes with it.   I like to "prep" for everything in the morning and then go about my day and when I'm tired at the end of the day all I have to do is throw everything together!

Including these potatoes!  I use what ever potatoes I have on hand.  I always wash all my vegetables when I get home from shopping so that is one less thing I have to do when preparing a meal.  I just grab the potatoes out of the veggy bin in the frig and I know they've already been scrubbed especially since I leave the skins on most of the time.....even in my mashed potatoes!  I'm a "corner cutter"....ie; if there's a faster, easier method which gets me the same results I am all over it!  Plus, skins are where the vitamins are in potatoes.  I chop them into chunks, throw them in a pan, throw some olive oil  (maybe a tablespoon) over them and sprinkle on some salt and pepper and whatever other seasoning you want.  Sometimes I use Italian or Greek and last night I used Herbes de' Provence or you could just use plain old salt and pepper by itself.  I think I saw this on Rachel Ray years back and it has been a real time saver of a side dish.  I threw it in to cook with the chicken which was at 350 for 50 minutes.  They were done just fine.  Also, I prepped these ahead of time too since they have olive oil slathered on them they don't turn brown.
I also did my ironing, and got quite a bit of cleaning and clearing done in the family room.  And then I got this in the mail yesterday!  Halleluyah!  All the way from England and look at the stamp in the upper right hand corner!

If you can't read it...it says "Royal Mail".....that's right!  I had no idea I was royalty although I did have my suspicions and I have been known to wear a lot of "crowns".  Look what was inside.......(OH!  I get so excited just talking about it!)...drumroll, please...........

Aren't they BEAUTIFUL?????  They are my Stylecraft acrylic yarns from England in the exact same colors and brand that Lucy, from Attic24 used in her Granny Stripe throw.  I am all over this yarn.  It is soft and the colors are vibrant as opposed to some that I find at the local Wal-Mart.  And all toll it was only $36.00...free shipping and it really didn't take any longer than if they were located in the U.S.  I love buying American but I wanted the same yarn and colors that she used and these are a very nice quality acrylic yarn so I am thrilled with these!  My other ripple blanket is all Wal-Mart yarn and each are destined for the back of my 2 chairs in the family room.  When they're all done we'll see which one I like better.  There are still 2 colors I couldn't get but I can substitute 2 for similar colors I think I already have.  I'm so excited!     
I better "hit the trail" and get some more cleaning and clearing done...the clock is ticking!  Have a wonderful and exciting Tuesday!