Recipes

RECIPES

I didn't have potatoes, 

so I substituted rice

I didn't have paprika, 

I used another spice

I didn't have tomato sauce, 

so I used tomato paste

Not a half can, a whole one.  

I don't believe in waste

A friend gave me the recipe, 

she said you couldn't beat it.

There must be something wrong with her, 

I couldn't even eat it!

~THANKS FOR STOPPING BY~
MAY YOU HAVE A PLEASANT DAY 
and GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU,
d

Plez Don't Pinch Me

Wearing Green
~What A Beautiful Color~

PLEASE DON'T PINCH ME.

SAINT PATRICK's DAY today.  "Fried Cabbage" with bacon and boiled potatoes is on our menu for supper.  Dear Hubby said he'd fix it after I came across a recipe of his Mom's that was published in a 1994 church letter.  I only have a few of her recipes.

Tonight we will feast.  

I know it will be a good hardy meal.  

Wearin' green.  

PLEASE DON'T PINCH ME......

How did that get started?

Pinching people on St Patrick's day is thought to revolve around the leprechaun and the legend that wearing green makes one invisible to the mischievous fairies. As the dubious legend dictates, leprechauns would pinch anyone not wearing green – so people pinch those not wearing green to remind them…

Finding out that MAEWYN SUCCAT is actual name of St. Patrick who wasn't Irish, but born in Britain to Roman Parents.  Hummmmmm.  What say you?

G R E Y  S K I E S and chilly temps.  

I slept in this morning....slept well throughout the night.  

It's a refreshing occurrence sleeping throughout the night without waking til morning.  A deep, deep sleep.  Waking refreshed is worth more to a weary soul then money.

Yesterday, I went to town to pay a city bill, cash a check at the bank and stop off at Dollar General.  The weather was pleasant and I was thankful to get outside with fresh air and sunshine.  After shopping, my guts started to rumble and I knew I was in trouble.  I couldn't get HOME fast enough for the bathroom.  Earlier in the day I had taken an Emergen-C.  Welp....this gave me the runs.  Reading up on it, it says sensitive people may get diarrhea and kidney stones.  

Sooooooo, I guess I'm sensitive....I won't be taking it for a while and when and if I take it again I'll have to cut way back on the packet.

Took the rest of the evening easy in my housecoat.  Watched the 1965 version of THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX.  I remember  this film that as a family we went to the drive-in to watch.  
6' 3" Jimmy Stewart was the pilot.  We had watched the 2004 remake of the movie the other day and decided to watch the original as well.
  

THE Flight of the Phoenix vs. 

FLIGHT of the Phoenix.

Both are good movies with the stories being a tad bit different.  Dennis Quaid just isn't Jimmy Stewart.  I like Dennis in his own right, but what can I say...the remake is a decent story all its own.  A thriller.

Today, I hope to tidy up around my easy chair and dust mop the floor.  I finished going through this round of old family pictures, cards, letters to sort and give to other people.  ONE DAY my living room will return to looking like a Parlour not a cluttered up multi-purpose room.  Thankful we have somewhere to work on this.

The stack of greeting cards between my father.in.law and mother.in.law grew as I dug through a storage tub.  I wasn't ready to pitch them.  Wanted Hubby to go through them then I will part with them.  

His dad called his Mom, "Baby Doll".  I didn't know this until a month ago.  A nic-name for her just between the two of them in their special LOVE STORY.  They had one for 66 years.

SPRING is on the calendar 

and I can hardly contain myself.  

Spring cleaning is on the calendar as well.  A fresh, clean house will make me SMILE and feel better.  LORD, help me get this accomplished.  Please.  I need energy and ambition to go hand in hand.  

My Hobby in this time of life is downsizing 

and getting better organized, but first comes the SPRING CLEANING.  

Please don't pinch me.

Today I wear green...tomorrow, not sure.  Something pretty though.  It'll perk me up.  I'll get this cleaning done and listen to the birds outside as if it were the first time to hear them.  No need to get emotionally involved with the toilet.  Just go through the motions and get 'er cleaned.

When it's all said and done, I'll be smiling and wearing lipstick.

Making HOME a priority,

d

Moving Right Along

BUSY TODAY.  Spent time going through old, old, old pictures of family.  Came across some old greeting cards.  Think my Mother.in.law kept every card she ever received.  All in a tub and then some.  

PAT ME ON MY BACK.  I'm bragging because I have gone through lots of tubs and boxes to downsize by sorting pictures into gift bags and yellow envelopes.  Later I will go through and tidy the pictures into smaller packets.

I hope to get the picture packets mailed out next week.  Whaaahooooo.  Soon this will be completed and I will get back onto SPRING CLEANING.  Spring BREAK is next week.  Mentally I have been thinking about what needs done.  Makes sense to me to plan ahead.

Made the guest bed up with fresh sheets.  All the other boxes in the room will be scooted into the hallway until I figure out where to go with all this stuff.  So I have much to do and hopefully it will get done before SUMMER comes.  Every day  I'm looking for green to pop up out of the ground.

Today, I drove past our old house across the county line looking for the green to pop up out of the flower bed.  People were working in the front yard with the water sprinkler going.  I couldn't tell if any of the original flowers were still there to come up.  I will have to stop going by that place.  She's no longer ours.

TIME to get rooted here and call this lovely place HOME.

The master bedroom bedding needs washed.  Going to get 'er done before the week-end.  The coverlet weighs so much which is great for cold weather, but too heavy for SPRING.  Think I would like to get new blue bedding to welcome SPRING.  Shall see how this go.  Am looking.  With nicer weather coming I will go RUG HUNTING, Bedding shopping and antique bedroom suite looking.  I have to wrap this up as part of the fire recovery replacement.

If it isn't one thing, it's a whole lot of other stuff to deal with.  
Never a dull moment,
d
   

Paradigm SHIFT

The dynamics of our families have changed.  My Mom is living in an apartment alone.  She'll turn 86 in April.  I love her dearly, miss my Dad and my In-laws.  

This past Saturday, we went to the cemetery where my In-laws are buried.  It seems odd that 3 of our Parents are gone.

Quick trip to Oklahoma.  We had to take care of some estate papers.  While driving, I saw daffodils.  Squealing!  SPRING made her presence known.  It was in the 70s and so beautiful.  Car windows rolled down.  Breath in that fresh air.  Made for a happy day as I needed a touch of SPRING.  Lifted my spirits as this Winter has been so cold and way too long.    

Returning HOME with more family photos.  I will continue to go through them and separate the pics into groups for family members.  

On our way HOME we stopped to visit my oldest brother in a hospital and then off to surprise my Mom.  She had gone to Supper with my Aunt and my Sister.  We missed them by that much.  Left a note.  Called her later to check up on her.

Time to share pictures with my children so they have some of their own photos of their childhoods and relatives.  It's interesting to go through so many photos that are as old as these are.  Telling a story, I see the personalities of my loved ones.  I was weepy today as we went through the pics.

I'm getting good at this.  

What?  Weeping or going through pictures?  

Don't they go hand in hand?  Yep.  

So, I'll say I'm getting good at going through pictures and weeping,

d

Sometimes The Past Is BEST LEFT In The Past

We ventured off to LIBERAL, KANSAS to sight see our past stomping grounds.  I was stunned at how bad the town looked.  Newer parts of TOWN looked nice, but my old stomping grounds made me wonder off into la laaah land of memories.

It was a quick trip just long enough to get a glance at what was where it was and wonder on down the road to thankfulness that I am not still there.  I feel like GOD has delivered me from the muck and mire and gently positioned me into a better place.  It took years.  Years.

I am regenerated to get back into the mode of SPRING CLEANING my present place and get on with LIFE.  Thankful to be where I am NOW verses where I came from.  Yes, I am in an older body with wrinkles which has difficulty walking as I once did, but I am young at heart.

I'm not putting down the fine people of Liberal, but I am so THANKFUL to be out of there.  LIFE is too short to be LIVING in LIBERAL.  Some places are best left in the past.  A memory.

So THANKFUL,
d

Wednesday Wonder

TIS WEDNESDAY.
I'VE GOT SPRING ON MY MIND......about two weeks till the calendar says so.  I've been eyeballing the garden area thinking about when to start cleaning the bed up in prep for Spring gardens.
WENT THROUGH THE MAIL.  A credit card company would just love to have me use their company at 15.45% interest.  I don't think so.  Can you believe it?  That's highway robbery.  Close to 16% interest.  Not gonna happen.  Shred this one.  Speaking of shredding, our mortgage company is delighted to have a SHRED DAY in the near future.  They will profit from the paper they gather as they sale the shredded paper.  Aren't they smart? 
READ THE NEWSPAPER. 
WORKED ON BILLS.
WROTE OUT SOME CARDS.
MADE A FEW PHONE CALLS.  Grand has the flu again and so does her Daddy.  She was taken to the doctor today.  Daughter getting a sore throat as well and they need prayer.  Healing.
WORKED ON PAPERWORK.  Still shuffling.  Will be for awhile as I work on this ever present task.
PUT CLEAN TOWELS AWAY.
PUT CLEAN UNDIES AWAY.
HUNG SOME BLOUSES.  Thought about sprucing up my wardrobe.  Thinking about sewing.
LAUNDRY BASKET PLACED IN CLOSET WITH DIRTY LAUNDRY.
TOOK A FEW PHOTOS FOR INTEREST.
READ SOME IN LIBRARY BOOKS.
ADDED BOTTLE WATER TO THE COFFEE MAKER AND MADE SOME PERO.
DAY DREAMED.
DECORATED IN MY HEAD.
WHAT ELSE.
GOT DRESSED AND GROOMED.
GOT INTO THE CAR READY FOR RUNNING ERRANDS.  Still too cold outside.  Suppose to get even colder tonight.  Brrrrr.
DROPPED OFF SOME MAIL AT THE POST OFFICE. 
RETURNED THE VICTORIAN BOOKS TO THE LIBRARY.  Glad I saved money by using the Public Library.
PAID OUR PHONE BILL.  Early.  Made me think that 4o years ago our bill was not even $30 a month and this included rental of the phone companies actual phone equipment.  Of course we didn't have the internet then either.  I really like having access to the internet at HOME.  I can justify paying for the service though it continues to rise.
WENT TO EAT CHINESE.  Fortune cookie and all.
WENT TO DOLLAR GENERAL.  Bought a storage box for ceramic reindeer that need to go into hiding until next year.  Ready for Spring.  Spring continues.
WENT TO SERVICE STATION.  Hubby took care of car.
TOOK A DRIVE ABOUT TOWN.
WENT HOME.
UNLOADED CAR.
WORKED ON FOLLOW UP ON FATHER-IN-LAW's FUNERAL.
TAKING TIME OUT TO UNWIND.
DAY IS DONE.  Gone the sun.  Which reminds me...time change is a coming.
Felt better today, but still coughing.  Asthma.

Tomorrow will be a new day.  Lately just before I get up in the mornings, I ask myself what should I get done today?  Keeping it simple since I am still regaining my strength from having the flu and coughing fits.  Started taking vitamins again.  The chewy kind.

Until I get to feeling lots better, my exercise is walking up and down the stairs, carrying laundry and what nots.  Walking about the house doing chores and then the chores themselves.

AND I'm alright with that,
d

S T R E T C H ING The Food Budget

WHEN I HAD TO FIGURE OUT how to stretch the FOOD BUDGET and make a bigger meal out of almost nothing,
it came down to this....with a growing family, a nice meal can be stretched by using a filler such as:

1) bread
2) pasta
3) rice
4) potatoes


Very affordable side kick to stretch a meal and make it even larger.  Pick one filler to go along with meat, fruit, and vegetables.  With these fillers comes lots of options.  I learned a while back that vegetables are very affordable also a great filler.  Have a couple different vegetable dishes to serve up with a meal.

I usually always had meat to build around.  Vegetables added.  A little fruit and ALWAYS a filler.  A beverage.  Desserts as well.  

Egg dishes go a long ways.  So do potato meals.  I'd fix large amounts of rice and the kids would eat left over rice by making a rice cereal out of it.  A little sugar.  A little milk.  It was tasty and very filling.  Bedtime snacks many a night was cereal.  

My dear 'ole Dad didn't think a meal was a meal without BREAD and BUTTER.  Bread at every meal.  TOAST for breakfast.  Sliced bread with butter at Lunch and Supper.  He grew up in a large German family where sometimes all he had for a lunch was a piece of bread.  If Mom didn't have bread on the table, he'd growl.  

After I married, it didn't take long to copy this trend when they came to visit.  ABSOLUTELY NO celery.  Bread a must.  When they visited, if I didn't have bread on the table, my Dad would ask, "Where's the bread?"  I'd let my folks get away with this.

Though it is our HOME, I'd try to honor my folks because I respected them.  When I'm at other people's HOMES, I respect them by eating what they serve and don't ask where's the beef, etc.?
I'd let my folks get away with this.

Also, when staying with others, I don't go out to eat before the others are up from sleep or because I don't like what they have fixed for a meal.  RUDE to say the least.  

When pinching pennies, I'd substitute ground beef with ground turkey.  We seldom ate out, but would have the help of a frozen pizza or pizza bits.  The kids loved these.  Sandwiches and soup.  Seldom TV Dinners.  

I always tried to have balanced meals with all the food groups.  I confess as EMPTY NESTERS, we eat out more than ever.  When at HOME, we have lots of salads.  I started collecting Salad recipes to help this old woman make BUNCHES of lunches being salads.  Adding interest with nuts and fruit to combo salads.

S T R E T C H i n g   the budget still is an ART FORM that takes practice.  What say you?

Sometimes it isn't what you serve your loved ones, but how you serve it.  WITH LOTS OF LOVE and charm.

Google if you don't know who the Delany Sisters were.  The Delany Sisters would fix milkshakes for their evening meal.  Both Ladies lived well into their 100s.  Hummmmm.  Milkshakes!  

Making HOME a priority,
d

MONDAY and Spring Cleaning

WHERE DO I BEGIN?

My energy level is very low.  Vitamins needed.  I had a mini fit the other day.  It got to me that I am not keeping up with all that needs done.  I have fallen short of being a 'ON TOP OF IT ALL' homemaker.  I'm not being too hard on myself.  I really have fallen behind.  I hurt.

This cough I have flares up ever so often.  Energy is low.  Each morning I have hopes of a better day.  This has been a long drawn out illness.  Though I can get quite a lot done sitting, the other full body chores are really not there.  Even at a snail's pace, I am slow.  MY ATTITUDE needs an adjustment and a half.

For the majority of FEBRUARY, I was down for the count.  Inching into March and having challenges.  Really sick.  I'm trying hard to get back into being a healthier woman.  I'll start with vitamins and PRAYER.

Every little thing I do get done must be considered good enough.

This is a new day and a new week.  Praying for strength and better health.

My dear Husband isn't as well as he could be.  Bronchitis again.

I'd like to start the day by curling my hair and seeing if I can make it presentable again.  It's no secret that my hair has been coming out way too much.  My TSH numbers are still too high meaning I am in a hypothyroid zone where hair falls out more than it should.  My nails are still too brittle.  AND my energy level off.  Not a pretty picture.  Poo.

Back to curling hair.  I will attempt to get a day started where I actually fiddle with my hair.  Then I will gather up the laundry and make a stop at the Laundromat before noon.  Back HOME for a light lunch.  Look over the bills and see what needs taken care of this week.  Make the Guest bed with fresh sheets.  Tidy the room.  A nap may be in here before my Hubby gets HOME from work.  Some quiet time and then supper started.  I think it will be for the best to have a quiet evening.

HERE's to a healthier day!

d

    

Easy ENUFF and Birthdays BLESSINGS

Still, it's a pleasure to know that Grands have birthdays.  THREE Grands with February birthdays.  I remember how excited I was having childhood birthdays, eating cake, and getting a special gift from family.  I hope these three are just as excited with a birthday.  Two of the three are getting their gifts late.  I have been running behind.  So sick...hard to function.

THREE GRANDSONS have birthdays in February.  We weren't able to be in person for all due to the flu.  It's been a rough haul with this flu and irritated asthmatic cough.  RUFF...ruff.

The 14th

The 26th

  

The 28th

We celebrated our new Grandson's birthday by eating Cowboy Pizza and watching him blow out his birthday candles on a sheet of brownies.  He opened some gifts and had a friend spend the night with him.  We visited and watch others play pool.

Very nice evening with family.  When Hubby and I returned HOME we watched an old movie with Robert Redford.  After I started watching it, I thought I've seen this before, but could not remember the movie's ending.  It was at the theaters 2001.  THE LAST CASTLE.

Did I like it?  It was interesting with a different plot.  Yes, I liked it and found it to be a thriller.  Interesting.

THINK this week-end is going like it was suppose to.  Slow paced and even slower outcome.  The temps are SPRING like with the skies turning grey.  Peaceful day and I'm about to watch via internet our weekly DIEt videos.  Hearing, it's not WHAT you eat...but HOW and WHEN you eat.  

I'm so bold as to disagree.  It does matter WHAT you eat.  WHAT cannot be candy, candy, candy.  Starchy vegetables all the time.  FAT, FAT, Fattttttttttt.

So I will nevah be a FOOD GURU in charge of a big company eating my  M A S S  off.  

Truthfully, I will eat smaller portions of foods, chew longer and take a slower pace at eating.  Eating more vegetables, drinking more water and walking more.  Easy enough.  

Easy enuff,
d