D is for Daughters, Daddy's and (TO) Do Lists!

DAUGHTERS (♥MINE)!

"Small Child"

Baby Girl with her baby girl!

DADDY'S (♥MINE!)

DAYLILIES!

DONUTS!

VITAMIN D

A severe Vitamin D Deficiency is among my many 

unfavorable diagnoses over the last several years.

Boosting with as much sun as I can safely soak up 

and supplementing with cod liver oil.  Blech!

The side effects of this deficiency are as unpleasant

as the ones for my B12 deficiency.  Aging.  Ugh!

DEHYDRATING!

Orange Peel!

POST HUNTING SEASON TO-DO 

HONEY-DO LIST

Build my extra raised bed frames

Remove Lexan from windows so   

they can be cleaned and opened

 Clean out attic

Fix the squealing clothes dryer

Trim limbs and remove trees that 

block sunlight to garden.

As it nears midnight I sit waiting for Aleve to 

alleviate the nerve pain in my foot,

 which is sparking like hot pokers and for the half-dose 

of Ambien to kick in against insomnia.

I'm sure reading Hunger Games just before bedtime didn't help!  

My body aches from working outside the last couple 

of days preparing for spring, which appears to have 

arrived ahead of schedule ...just ask all the plants 

in my garden that are setting blooms or blooming already!

Link up with Carissa at Lowercase Letters

and make your miscellany moment count!!

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?

Link up with Carissa @ Lowercase Letters

 and join the ramble!!

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!!

Miscellany Monday

There's a LOT going on in my kitchen these days!



The Clutter over the kitchen sink (on the bar)!



Awaiting a Refill!



Juice Oranges......awaiting juicing!



The menagerie to the right of my stove.
The little fat guy contains worcestershire
a/k/a/ "Rooster Sauce"



Lemons awaiting processing!

miscellany monday



It's a Rambling Kind of Day!



What's Up Y'all?!!!

We're maintaining the status quo around here!
Nothing new to report!

So ... in honor Miscellany Monday, I'll just ramble!

~ just sayin' ~

1.  I've had several inquiries as to "why" I "deleted"
or "blocked" many, many people on Facebook.
Uhm.  I didn't!  I deleted my Facebook account. 
Therefor, I'm not available on Facebook. 
Get ovah it already!

2.  Somebody please tell me where to
find jeans that do not have decorations
on the bootay pockets!!

3.  I'm not a hoarder or, what is it called? A Prepper.  
I garden.  I can.  I freeze.  I feed my family.  
I'm just smart like that.  : )
Geeze.

4.  I re-evaluated my priorities because
I think it's more important to catch up with my family
than to keep up with the Joneses or appearances. 

5.  I'm not looking forward to the consumerism
of the holidays (Yes! I participate),
though I do take a lot of comfort in
the 'reason for the season'!

6.  Rotisserie Chicken! 
My favorite "go to" shortcut.  
Oh Yeah!

7.  I baked sourdough bread today. 
Therefore, I feel a carb coma coming on. 
Imagine that!

8.  The day was full.  Nap time came.  Short lived. 
Coughing and "throw-up" in my shoe.  {sigh}

9.  I have a twin in Arizona! 
You know ... that someone you've never met,
yet you have oodles in common?!  Hey CH!

10.  Girls' Nite Out is Wednesday! 
I love getting together with my high school buds! 

... signing off ... that carb thing is kickin' in!  



Not going back, til
- the garage is cleaned
- my studio is minimized
- the pantry is organized
- the fall garden is put to sleep
- the commissions are finished
-the closets are cleaned out
- the yard sell items are priced
- the holidays are behind me
- hedges are trimmed
- the fridge is cleaned out
-the dogs are bathed
-the toenails are painted.

not necessarily in that order!

The Best Part of Waking Up , , ,

DayQuil and . . .

Today the exhaustion level is high ..... very high.

A combination of a chest/head cold (going on five days now),

joining the family at the fair last night (that cool night air didn't help any)

and canning fatigue (Yes, you "heard" right, Canning Fatigue")

after two long days and nights of canning.

I still have  42#s of Granny Smith Apples to deal with.
I'm thinking pie filling and dehydrating, if the dehydrator
arrives before the last apple is canned!

Keller-Bug just arrived for the day and went straight to her bed.
She's zonked out (9am) from her first Fair experience last night.
That's "Barney" next to her! After Jen posts the fair pics
on her blog, I'll link up so y'all can see them!

And .... it's time to feed the sourdough starter and bake some bread for the neighbors, of course!

But, first .... isn't it time for another dose of  Dayquil?
I'm thinking I may throw a load of laundry on and
curl up on the couch while Keller is sleeping off
her corndog hangover and the Ferris Wheel High!
She'll be rip-roaring when she wakes up!

That's about it for the miscellaneous thoughts
bouncing around in my head this Monday morning.
It's a little stuffy up there.  Hope I didn't bore you all to tears today!
I think I hit a home run with the "mundane"!
See Y'all tomorrow for Home Tour Tuesday!

Link up with Lowercase Letters and Miscellany Monday right here!

What's on  your Plate Palette?



My Favorite Project!  My Granbaby Girl,
Keller, strikin' a pose!



Square Foot Gardening!!  Labor, creativity and prayer!



Knitting is another palette I'm experimenting with!



And a bread baking palette!



Still Juicing too!  Maybe not a palette thing,
but creative combinations!



Add to all that, and I'm also busily preparing for an art event. 
The National Shrimp Festival is less than two weeks away. 
My dining room is in chaos with prints and originals everywhere
 ..waiting to packed in the trailer for the haul to Gulf Shores! 
Y'all come by and visit my booth!!  Would love to meet you all!

Today, in the spirit of Miscellany Monday, I'm gonna share a recent collaborative endeavor! 

A couple months ago me and five fellow artists opened an art gallery and gift shop in the heart of the downtown Mobile art district.  It took off!  The little gallery called Art(ology) was featured on the front page of the Arts section in the Press Register Sunday!  I'm attaching the link to the full article.  Read it when you get a chance!  Better yet, drop in for a visit!!!

Below is the link to the full article!

http://blog.al.com/entertainment-press-register/2011/01/artology_a_funky_eclectic_addi.html


Art(ology) Website/Blog:  http://www.artology.com/

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Artology-Inc/125758957482626


My Art Page:  http://www.tkellerart.com



The holidays were grand! My tree is still up! Only because I'm lazy waiting on a shipment of ornament storage boxes to arrive. This year the gift to the entire family has been Caroline's visit from France. She is older than and Jennifer are close in age. Caro was our exchange student approximately twelve years ago. This is the first time we've seen her since! She is leaving this Saturday so we are doing all we can to make her miss us when she leaves! it memorable .... which isn't easy since everyone is working and a lot of things have been closed the last two weekends when we aren't working! Lot's family time!

Keller was so much fun! We had many get-togethers during the holidays and she was in the spotlight every time! Each time Caro has skyped with her family, Keller has been front and center waving at the monitor and chatting bisous and cuckoo....which is kisses and hi!

New Years Eve was not too terribly loud although late! We had a couple of friends over along with our family and cooked oysters from Joe Patty's along with steamed shrimp and gumbo. And last, but certainly not least, cupcakes to greet midnight with!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and expect a joyous, prosperous and safe New Year for all!!! Be blessed!!

I've been under the weather the past week with the crud. Feeling better today but not totally up to par. But, hey! I'll take sub-par over how I felt over the weekend any day. Hate I missed all the blogging last week....didn't wanna spread this crud virally! ha ha ... get it? computer virus? LOL! I know. I'm over it! Must be excess mucous! ;-] (sheepish grin)

What more can I say?

I'm smitten!!

I got a little burst of energy yesterday afternoon and almost overdid it. Isn't that the way we women do things? 90% ready for the neighbors and drop-ins! We used to exchange gifts and then suddenly we began giving of ourselves instead. Priceless labors of home-made love!

How do you Bark?

Almond Bark is one of my favorite things to create with! There are endless possibilities!!! This year it was used in several traditional Christmas variations.

Vanilla Bark w/dried cranberries and pistachios. Pretty red and green treat!

Peppermint Bark: Layers of Chocolate and Vanilla Bark w/crushed peppermint!

Almond Joys: My variation of Martha Washington Balls...I had almonds instead of pecans and dip in chocolate bark. (My husband is a big fan of Almond Joy!)

Puff Bark: Golden Flake Corn Puffs lightly coated with Vanilla Bark (options: sprinkle with pecans or drizzle with chocolate)

Vanilla Bark w/almonds and dried apricots. mmmmmmmm!

Tomorrow I'll share a "Bark" treat for your canine friends!!

The possibilities are endless! What do you create with it? Do you use it any other time of year?