Love deeply. Laugh. Cry. Talk to God. Be realistic about the to-do list. Stay in touch. Hug. Dream. Smile. Break Bread often with Family. Spend Time with your Girlfriends. Shop til you Drop! Extend Grace. Be Quick to Forgive and Slow to Anger. Walk. Breathe. Sing. Dance. Read. Eat Chocolate. Savor a Good Glass of Wine. Wiggle your Toes. Sleep well. Life is Good!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Reader Beware!
Mundane post!


Orthopaedic issues are on the mend!
I've been instructed in building my walking duration over the next couple of months
and have some simple exercises to do to build strength in the muscles 
that support the bony structure of my feet.
And ... be cautious.  DO NOT ROLL YOUR FOOT!  
(Read stepping on the little Cypress knees in the back yard). 

In the meantime, it's a search and conquer mission
to find shoes that are cute AND comfortable 
and don't add to the ever present pain when walking, standing, sitting.
You get the picture!.  (the mere fact that I always have an extra pair of  
sensible shoes nearby to change into regardless ... is beside the point!).

My foot structure has changed a lot over the last few years.  
No cutesy shoes.
No heels over 1.5 inches (and that's pushing it).
No squishy bottoms (i.e. crocs).
Nothing that ties or buckles over the highest part of my foot (i.e. most kicks).
Sandals must be scrutinized .... often rejected.
Anything I can't tolerate wearing from one end of my house to the other (the test), Gone!
I've pulled about seven pairs of shoes (hardly worn) from my closet.
Shoes I can't even wear just walking thru the house before the pain sets in.

So far, it seem Merrills are the only shoe that fit the requirements.
Seen any cute Merrills?  Nope, can't wear the cute strappy ones.
Not enough foot support (for my feet).   Only the slide-style will do.

Alas!  I found Bare Traps at the shoe store last week.  They were comfy in the store.
I knew the true test would be "the test" at home.  Yay!  So far, so good!

I know!  I know!  Who cares?  I do.  
Pain is pain. And pain with 90% of the steps you take ... not fun. 
When something as simple as putting a pair of shoes on becomes a challenge,
it also becomes stress.  Wedding invitations, Mardi Gras Balls 
and other special events present a challenge.  Dress-up?  Add appropriate shoes? 
Therein lies the rub.  The shoe dilemma.  {sigh}   



Carpe Diem!
In my new shoes!  


Afterall, we all know shoes are a sign that 
God loves us and wants us to be happy!!  Right?!!


Monday, January 30, 2012

Miscellany Monday Ramblings



Meet the Work Horse in my kitchen!





My Viking is NOT a show-off stove!  
Meaning it's not spotless.
It works harder than I do 
(hmmmm, well, it's not a competition!)
It gets used every single day ... sometimes all day.
(Wait, Hunting Season is the occasional exception 
or being out-of-town, or when mama takes the day off).
Often there are cooking marathons going on!
And, Canning Days really put it to the test!

I spent yesterday and this morning 
showing the Viking a little ♥!
It got scrubbed, and polished.  
Spit-shined, as my grandmother used to say!
That chore led to polishing its stainless neighbors.

Now, she's ready for my next cooking project!!

Sourdough Bread!

Baking cupcakes with Keller-Bug

Vats of spaghetti sauce!!

Canning Projects!

Homemade Pizzas!!

What's your kitchen work-horse?
Your go-to gadget?



Sunday, January 29, 2012

Be Blessed!



Don't wish it was easier;

wish you were better.

Don't wish for less problems;

wish for more skills.

Don't wish for less challenges;

wish for more wisdom.


- Jim Rohn

Saturday, January 28, 2012

A day in the life of ...

Yo!  Hey!  Mornin'!

Not much sleep last night.
Neighbors kept me awake til after 3am with all their hoo-hah.
It's taken two hours to get rid of a major headache,
but now I'm rip-rarin' to go after a pomegranate/blueberry smoothie!
A pot of chili is on the stove!  Laundry is almost done!

I'm finishing up projects around the house.
Projects that require making a mess.
It's a good time to do these things during the last week of hunting season.
Otherwise I would procrastinate -
because feeling like I need to clean up the mess before I finish -
because the family is coming home for the evening -
keeps me from  pulling it all out to begin with. (Did that run-on make sense?).

January is always a good month to spring clean (for me).
Not much traffic underfoot.
But!! Oh, the honey-do list I've made!!
Honey-Do Season follows immediately on the tails of Hunting Season!
You didn't know that?!!   Oh Yeah!!

The next three days will be busy, busy finishing up the major clean-up,
organizing and hauling off ... then we jump into a month-long paperwork
frenzy.  Tax prep.  File cabinet purge.  Paper trails.  Computer files.  Resource pics.
Passing on old books (topics I'm no longer interested in) to make room for new ones!
Piles of photos and recipes.  You know the drill!  You have this stuff too!

Then!!  The best of all!!  March will arrive heralding in Gardening Season!!
Spring is just around the corner!!!

But for now ...  {slapping myself back to the present},
dust bunnies are swirling around my ankles taunting me
and the garage awaits editing!  I'm giving it an honest hour before I take a break
to watch one of my favorite cooking shows.  {sheepish grin}
Pacing myself!

Friday, January 27, 2012

Willow Tree

Hello.  My name is Terri.
I am a collector.

I collect things that remind me of special times.  Memories.
I'm gonna share one (of many) with you!


The one on the left represents my oldest daughter.
The one on the right, my youngest.


This one I bought after I finally came to the adult realization
that I shouldn't expect perfection from my mom, 
lest my girls expect it from me.  I ♥ you mom!
Arms raised in praise signifies Victory for me!  \o/
(The Willow Tree title is "courage")


My first grandbaby!  


I know this isn't a Willow Tree.  But, it's the only "garden" angel 
I've come across that I truly loved and it fits in quite nicely
I think it was an ornament in another life (hence the eye bolt)!


I Willow Tree! 

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Rain, Rain Go Away







Be careful out there today (local area).  Weather won't be fit for man nor beast throughout the day... Derek says so!  I'm hitting the Kidz Klozet sale (since my ortho appt. was screwed up by the doc's office) first thing and hope to be back (with Keller Bug in tow!) before the bottom drops out ---- with something to blog about!!!  


Until then, 
TTFN!
terri

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

I was gonna blog about the mint infused grapefruit sections I canned this morning (think 'grapefruit mojito'!), but since my camera isn't working and I can't share the beautiful colors of the finished product I'll blog about it later.  {was that a tease, or what?!!}.



While waiting for my Granbaby girl to arrive for a play-date with Gramma, I perused around Pinterest.  Fabric and Quilts caught my eye this morning!  I am a fabric-a-holic!  Wandering around a fabric store is like being a kid at the candy counter!  I haven't sewn in over a year.  My sewing machine doesn't have a permanent home in my studio - an issue I plan to remedy (when I find a home for the stuff occupying that space).

My maternal grandmother "mama" taught me to quilt when I was in middle school.  She taught me on an old Singer treadle machine.  Being the uncoordinated individual I am, it was somewhat a challenge to keep my foot going while trying to concentrate on guiding the fabric beneath the needle!   I still have that quilt.  It's falling apart.  But I will patch it one day.  On several occasions my girls have asked for it when they weren't feeling well.  Snuggling with it brings comfort!  It still smells like "mama" to me!   I also have one of the quilts she made, as well as a couple of quilts my paternal grandmother made (one is her yo-yo quilt!!).  My paternal grandmother also gave me her quilting frame.  I used it once, but it was so old it started falling apart.  I should have mounted it on the wall instead.  Hindsight!  I also have the old Singer sewing machine!

So much for Semi-Wordless, huh?!!  Ok!  Pictures to follow of some of the really cute quilt ideas I  saw this morning.  No pics of my own SINCE THE CAMERA CARD ISN'T WORKING!  {sorry!  venting!)







 











Link up with


Join Daphne at Flip Flops and Pearls

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Decadence!



Valentine's Day is just around the corner and what speaks louder than words?  Chocolate!!!  I'm sharing a new brownie recipe I found at The Garden of Eating Blog!  I know it's a little late in the day, but I had to wait for the taste test before posting!  I'll just say "I'm done with box brownie mixes"!!!  Bake a pan of these for your sweetie!!  I'll probably make these again and use a heart cookie cutter to make shapes I can drizzle with chocolate ganache for my dh (to go along with the handmade Valentine's card I made him during craft night with my granbaby girl!)!!  


{imagine a luscious, gooey, chocolaty brownie
 - because my camera card is still not loading}


Cupboard Brownies
(Makes a 9"x13" pan)

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups flour
4 eggs
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees (f) and grease the baking pan or use  parchment paper.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the flour, cocoa, eggs, salt and vanilla and mix well to combine.

3. Pour the batter out into the prepared baking pan and bake for 40-50 minutes, until a toothpick or fork comes out clean. 

Monday, January 23, 2012

Miscellany Monday Ramblings


I could use some Granbaby ♥ today!
So glad she's feeling better!
She had a rough week last week
with RSV and Pneumonia.

1.  After waking from a terrorizing nightmare in the wee hours of the morning, things are barely crawling around here. The vision and sounds linger in my mind and, for a large part, have immobilized me.  I've wandered from room to room and keep returning to the familiar comforts of my computer and FB friends.  This too will pass, I know.  It looks like a day wasted on the homestead.

2.  While perusing around the internet-sphere, I came across a cool foodie blog @  the 99 Cent Chef!  All kinds of good recipes.  While I've tried to eliminate processed foods from my pantry, he does promote the processed bargains out there.  The recipes (which are mostly from scratch) look amazing!  Everything looks better than the cupcake I turned to for comfort this morning. I'm eager to do some Spring gardening and using up the squash blossoms for this recipe!!  Check out the site!

3.  Have you ever tried growing pineapples from the cut-off tops?  I have a local friend that has done it!  My mom did it too!  Last week I planted two tops in a planter on my back porch.  We'll see!!  Here's a link all about  growing pineapples! at home!!  By the way, I hear you can do this with celery too!  When you cut off the bottom, plant it 1" below the soil line and more celery will grow!  Yes!  I'm gonna try!  Of course I am!

4.  Every week I bake bread from my sourdough starters.  Every week I have bread to share.  I wonder if my  neighbors are getting tired of it?  I found myself with two extra loaves last week and made sourdough croutons.  OMG!  It was like standing at the counter eating chocolate morsels.  Really!  I found a homemade stuffing recipe at the Tip Garden Blog while wandering around the blog hop over at Homestead Revival.  I have all the spices on hand and I think I'll make this!  I've never been a fan of the boxed stuffing (being a "dressing" kind of southern girl instead), but anything made from scratch has to taste better!

5.  You should see my beans sprouting (and you would if my camera would cooperate)!  They look like Sheriff Woody told 'em to "Reach for the Sky" as they are standing about 8" tall right now trying to wind around the iron shelving my seed starter trays are sitting on.  Maybe I should have waited and just put the seed in the ground!

6.  Ok, I feel a little better after getting my mind occupied by something other than that horrendous dream I had last night.  Maybe the day won't be a total waste.


Link up!  Miscellany Monday  at Lowercase Letters !
Morning Carissa!!

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Wuzzup?!

What's on your to-do list today?

A little fun, I hope!
I got up this morning with the hopes of going treasure hunting and maybe getting some creative studio work done, but the kitchen chores and garden took over.  The day isn't over yet!  But, I've had fun already!  Maybe our idea of "fun" differs!  Ok ... satisfying?!!

So far I've peeled, cubed, blanched and loaded the dehydrator with 10#s of potatoes and a large bag of organic sweet corn. I also broke out the new FoodSaver (Christmas gift from my daughter and son-in-law, along with a book about cheese-making! She knows her mama well!) and put away six bags of cooked pork roast (salvaged from the hunting camp last week!).  I'm gonna kick back for half an hour and
watch The Pioneer Woman and sip on some
more of  the pineapple juice I made this morning!

I've got three pounds of ground venison on the stove.  I'm gonna try a dehydrator experiment with it after cooking and draining it well. It will, of course, go into the freezer (taking up 1/10th the original space) since it is dehydrated and not freeze dried. I've been doing my homework! This can then be used for spaghetti, lasagna, tacos, chili, burritos, casseroles, etc. If this works, there will be a repeat!  I'll take the package out of the freezer after about a week and see how it tastes in one of the above-mentioned recipes.  There are 13 more pounds in the freezer waiting for me to do something creative with. Great way to make room for the next load the Great Hunter brings home!  And, the dehydrator isn't as heavy as the pressure canner.




Who knows what the afternoon will hold after the Aleve and caffeine kicks in!  I  want to visit a friend in the hospital at some point today.  (Hey AG!!  Waiting to hear when the tests are over so I can crash your party!).

There is also a HUGE patch of collards I need to pick and cook.  I wonder if
collards can be dehydrated.  I've done spinach (which there is some of that out there too).  Hmmmm.  Back to the books to find out!


TTFN!
terri

Friday, January 20, 2012



I'm seeing lots of visitors from all over the country 
and other countries stopping by to read!
Thanks for coming by!!  Sign in!!!  Say hello!!!  
Share your blog address!!

 terri


Plan A





The weekend is almost here.  It remains to be seen how much I will accomplish.
Trying to finish up a few de-cluttering projects so I will be ready to face February
in full regalia of helmet, shoulder and knee pads.  Project: Tackle Paperwork.
Art Biz paperwork, 2011 tax records, file cabinet, resource materials, warranties. 
Oodles of torn-out recipes and lots of articles printed from the internet.  
Gardening material.  Magazines. Cookbooks. Piles and piles of reading material.
Books, whose subject matter I'm no longer interested in and
a multitude of notebooks with snippets of memory here and there.

That's my Plan A for the month of February.  
The miserable paper trails. The bane of my existence!
If all else fails, I'll move to Plan B, or Plan C, or Plan D, or .... 
I see procrastination developing before my eyes!

Mardi Gras Season is upon us .... what a distraction!  *procrastinator's grin*


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Blog Hopping!!

BLOG HOPPING!






Amazing talent!  
Taking a child's drawing and 
making a keepsake toy from it! Wow!
Go check out the other!!!  Fun!

I'm soooo gonna have to do this for Kell-Bell!


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Semi-Wordless Wednesday


Mornin' Y'all!

I spent the first part of the morning canning!
This Sweet Pickle Relish is the best I've ever tasted!

Hijacked Cookbook from my Daughter!

Simmering!

Water Bath!


Five Pints!
Listening to the pings as I blog!
1-2-3-4-5!  Yay!
~


Look at my little sprouts!!!
Beans and Tomatoes!






My favorite Little Sprout!





Linking up with Daphne over at
Join us!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

So, on a lighter note ...

Yesterday didn't start off well (as you know if you read my post).  Physical pain begets emotional pain.  That was just old stuff.  Stuff swimming around in my head while I was cleaning the kitchen.  I don't want to learn to play that game.  I'm fairly transparent.  You know where you stand with me!  No games.

I went to bed last night with a migraine and this morning started off with a knot in my lower back!  I guess I just slept wrong.  Hubs says it was all that fun I had with Keller yesterday!  Gramma had a play day yesterday since the daycare was closed for MLK Day.  Yay me!  She's such a joy!

Today (in small increments - as pain allows), I will make an attempt to deal with the cucumbers and jalapenos crowding my counter and fridge.  Sweet Pickle Relish and Cowboy Candy!   Maybe one today and one tomorrow.  I must pace myself so as not to create a disaster - canning or lower back.  It's gonna be a long day!! Everything that was on yesterday's to-do list is on today's!   And, truth be known, most of today's will probably be on tomorrow's!!!   LOL!

Speaking of disaster!  I'm happy to report that apparently my attempt to make apple jelly which in reality became apple syrup was apparently a score!



Oh yeah!  Guess what song was running thru my head this morning?!!

Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the waters.
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea.
Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently,
by putting your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee.

My first thought was can I change that to put your foot (pain) in the hand .... !
I'm so glad my God has a sense of humor!

Have a blessed day!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Miscellany Monday Ramblings



Do You Ever Wonder . . . 

1.  What "Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor" means?  IMHO:  That "friend" or family member who tells another friend (or family member) half truths about you, your children, your business.  That's bearing false witness.  Gossiping (which is usually not the whole truth).  That's bearing false witness.   Joining in a conversation AND NOT DEFENDING the person being talked about when you KNOW the facts are a stretch.  Yep.  False witness.

2.  Why do hormones wake you up at the (as my daughter says) butt-crack of dawn?  I'm talking leg in, leg out.  Cover around your neck.  Cover slung off.  Snuggling.  Pushing away.  And toss in my foot firing off like Fourth of July fireworks since 4am (nerve pain), as well as this week's to-do list running through my mind like a Facebook ticker.  Ugh.  Adding a nap to that to-do list .... like that's gonna happen.

3.  Why women feel judged more by other women than by men?   Whether it's our appearance (or that of our spouse or kids - cause those always reflect back onto the mama or the wife), our home, our cars, our yards, our schedules or our ability to name drop, we are more concerned that people will talk, making assumptions about why we are less than perfect. Refresh yourself with #1.  Be honest.  You know those thoughts creep in every now and then.  And, you know, you've caught yourself, more than once, with the thought - What was she thinking?!!

4.  Why aren't we allowed to have an opinion?  Whether it's about politics or art or just that we don't like brussel sprouts.  It's just an opinion.  Geesh.  Some of us aren't as eloquent as others when it comes to verbalizing your opinions, which in turn often causes others in the room to make assumptions about your values.  (Uhm, #1 again).  And voicing an opinion isn't an open invitation for a debate.  Just sayin.

5.  Why do we feel the need to compete?  I'm not talking marathons or soccer.  More along the lines of  jealous, copy-cat, braggadocious,  I-can-do-that-better-than-you, I'm too important busy to have a life, look-at-me vain glory attitudes.  Why can't we just be happy for the other person when they share an accomplishment or good news?  Have you ever considered there might not be anyone else they feel comfortable sharing with?  (#3).  Instead .... well, just refer back to #1 again.

6.  And ..... Why do some people prematurely decide they don't like you and don't want you in their circle of friends based on comments others make instead of getting to know you themselves?  So .... gradeschool.  Yes ... I'm sure that would fall into the realm of  Numero Uno as well!

Okay.  I'll stop.  Is it too early to go back to bed?


Sunday, January 15, 2012

Silent Sunday

Because, who needs words . . .

Who Dat!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Transitioning . . .

The boot came off!  But, I'm not sure my life is "normal" again. Before I broke my foot, my days were filled with giggles and toys - occupied by my Granbaby Girl! She started daycare while I was convalescing.  She's doing fine with it.  Me?  Not so much. Though I've always had a to-do list that would boggle your mind, I find myself wandering around the house not sure what to do with my time. I look at my list and accomplish a lot, but I miss the little punkin-head tugging on my shirt-tail, watching movies, building Lego towers and watering plants.

I know it's a transition.  I've had many.  Before Keller came along, I was caregiver for my husband's aunt.  Before that, my mom became ill.  Before that my great aunt became sick, then my art business took off  Before that I was occupied trying to furnish two condos to rent.  I remember a bit of a lull between the condo rush and homeschooling.  Otherwise all these things sorta overlapped ... keeping me bouncing from here to there. Mix in gardening and canning and blogging and art shows and health issues and you'll understand how things seemingly came to a halt when I broke my foot.

The health issues have slowed me down a bit.  I'm a little rebellious in that area. I'm fighting with everything I've got ... including, but not limited to (that's the legal-ese coming out!) improving my diet, natural remedies, moderate exercise (for now) and pacing myself, which is difficult when you are accustomed to going full-speed-ahead.  Except for a couple of events, I'm taking this year off from the art show circuit (I'll still be painting - once I get back into the groove!). Gotta strengthen my body and take things at a slower pace.  I keep reminding myself  "God's got this" and his timing is always right.  I suppose it's His way of saying 'slow down and appreciate the little things'.

I guess Gramma just needed a play date!  We had one last night!  Craft Night at Keller-Bugs!  We made "Balentines" and hand prints and masks.  She glued buttons and peeled stickers and colored and Jen made imprints of her hands on small canvases.  It's the first time we haven't had two or three cameras flashing around the little diva!  She's coming for a visit this afternoon, so maybe we can have a re-do!!!


Have a grand weekend y'all!!

Friday, January 13, 2012

 Guess Who's Been Dehydrating?!!!

Carrots, Okra,
Spinach and Mixed Veggies!


Marshmallow!!
Think "Lucky Charms"


Meyer Lemon Peel !


Orange Peel
Specifically:  Satsumas!


Assorted Chili Peppers!

Blog Archive