Rambling

Meet Lamar, a pretty, flaming red cardinal that shows up outside my breakfast room window at the same time each morning, then again in time for the evening meal. Savannah named this fellow in honor of the Lamar Cardinals, our local college athletic team. Lately we've been sprinkling seed on the driveway, so most days he has a few feathered friends join him. This photo was taken through the kitchen window and enlarged, thus the lack of clarity.

42 Tips for A Better Life
==========================
1. When you wake up in the morning, always start your day with a prayer/vision.
2. And then, complete the following statement, My purpose is to__________ today.
3. Take a 10 to 30-minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
4. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
5. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
6. Drink plenty of water and fresh juices. Eat blueberries, salad, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds, etc.
7. Make at least three people smile each day.
8. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present.
9. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone, so give the best of your kindness.
11. Take yourself seriously.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others either.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. So, be happy.
16. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
17. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
18. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
19. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: In five years, will it matter?
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
20. Forgive everyone for everything.
21. Read more books and watch less TV than you did last year.
22. What other people think of you is none of your business.
23. God has everything you'll every need in life so hook up with Him.
24. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
25. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation; don't bring up the past.
26. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
27. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.
28. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
29. Keep believing that the best is yet to come.
30. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
31. Each day give something good to others.
32. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
33. Sleep for 7 hours every day or whatever your body needs.
34. Don't trust someone who doesn't close their eyes when you kiss them.
35. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
36. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
37. Do the right thing!
38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________
39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40. Trust in God, but lock your car.
41. Realize that as you get older, you are not approaching death, but heaven.
42. Know that GOD heals everything.



(from my MountainWings daily e-mail)

A Rainy-Peachy Kind of Day

The rain is steadily falling, day 4, I believe it is. The garden is soggy and it's just too yucky to do anything other than indoor projects today. My friend stopped by early this morning, on her way to work, and shared with me a box of organic peaches she was lucky enough to receive from another friend. I wasn't in the mood for canning, so I decided to prepare them for the freezer. I once read somewhere that your freezer is like a safe deposit box and you should regularly make deposits as well as withdrawals. That's an interesting philosophy that seems to be true indeed. I'm sure on some nippy fall or winter day, in the near future, I'll make a 'withdrawal' from the bank and prepare a wonderful cobbler or homemade pie!

A sink full of really big peaches!

I didn't have any 'Fruit-Fresh' on hand so I crushed some vitamin C tablets and sprinkled the powder on the peaches so they would not turn dark. Works just like the expensive stuff!


Sliced, 'sprinkled' and almost ready for the freezer. My grandmother gave me this 'Texasware' bowl for my hope chest back in the early 70's and I think it came from Perry's five and dime store. I see these bowls on e-bay all the time now, usually labeled 'vintage.' Where, pray tell, did the time go and what the heck did I do with it?? Do girls still have hope chests? My, what fun that was!

Double bonus. This batch yielded lots of good organic matter for the composter.

I prefer to freeze fruit in single layers on cookie sheets before transferring it to freezer bags. That way, when I need 2 cups of peaches I can measure out exactly that, rather than getting a 'block' of peaches.

Home Ain't What it Used to Be!

There is a magic in that little world, home; it is a mystic circle that surrounds comforts and virtues never known beyond its hallowed limits.

I think I'm about ready to sell the cottage. I think. Actually, it was never really a cottage but, rather, a spacious two story home with 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, a great room, formal living & dining rooms, a kitchen & breakfast area, mudroom, covered patio and 2 car garage, sitting right smack in the middle of 2 beautiful lots. But what I longed for was a cottage, and that's exactly what I have created. A spacious, yet cozy cottage with a wonderful clothesline made by my Dad, 4 raised bed vegetable and herb gardens, 4 fruit trees, bird baths, bird feeders, a wheel barrow spilling over with brightly colored flowers, and an American flag hanging near the front door. The inside---which is filled with warm colors and lots of natural light---is brimming with antique quilts made by my grandmother, vintage trunks, a beautiful collection of rugs, stained glass lamps, wonderfully scented candles and handmade soaps, fresh flowers, lots of pictures of family and friends, my own personal art, overstuffed pillows and French country antiques---many with quite a story, I'm sure. Much of what I treasure is cast offs which I salvaged, pampered, and fell in love with. Pictures will follow in coming days.

But with time comes swift transition, and the wonderful little patch of forrest that was once beyond my back fence has been destroyed, only to be replaced with a high dollar gated community, with property being peddled by a smooth talking investor who is offering lots of bells and whistles to the prospective proud mortgagees. I'm sure the homes will be almost stacked one on top of another and one will probably be hard pressed to find even one garden or clothesline among the masses. Sadly, there will be few trees.

I miss the forrest and absolutely hate what I now must see when I'm gardening or hanging out laundry. But rather than gripe about something I can't change, I think I shall simply move on. Oh, I'll miss this place, no doubt about it, but life has taught me that homes are not built but, rather, homes are created. Created with lots of love and joy and filled with treasures that bring back sweet memories and offer comfort. I'm up for the challenge, I just have to decide when to take the plunge.

All that remains of this once beautiful, majestic old oak is this toppled down tree top, tangled in the power lines.

A wounded branch, rests near my herb garden.

Andi's favorite spot to sniff the flowers!

My absolute favorite color crepe myrtle. Pure crimson.

Peek-A-Boo!

Rita-baby loves banana peppers straight from the garden.

A sweet, tropicana hibiscus.

Thirty Days of Happiness: Day 28

To me, the greatest happiness of all is that which is derived from the joy found in the simple things of life.

Vintage pillow cases from an estate sale in a marvelous, old home

Linens with a story, washed and hanging on my beloved clothesline
...sweet little surprises tucked in the flower bed.
Viewing the sunset from my Daddy's deck.

Rita-baby waking up each morning and boldly proclaiming, "I'm hungry! I'm reeeeally hungry! You hungry Andi?"
An exquisite bloom from the passion vine.

Thirty Days of Happiness: Day 10

"Good morning Andi! What doin? I'm hungry! Praise the Lord! C'mere Andi! Close that door, Andi! Where Andi go? I want kiss."

Happiness is being awakened bright and early every morning by Rita-baby, my African Grey parrot who talks without ceasing! Rita-baby was hatched during the chaotic early days following Hurricane Rita, thus her namesake.

Biking on the 4th!

The good ol' southern style sweet tea is made, the beans are baked, the potato salad is made and the Honey Bun cake is fresh from the oven. Got fresh tomatoes and crispy banana peppers from the garden as well as loads of roasted garlic for the homemade bread. Just waiting a few friends who will be bringing the meat for the grill. In the meanwhile, I think I'll take a quick ride through the neighborhood and check out the gardens. The weedeaters and mowers were humming bright and early this morning. Gotta have it spiffed up for the 4th.

Home of L.C., my friend and former POW. God bless our servicemen!


Freshly mowed, nice and neat.


Sweet little garden of my friend and neighbor, Hetty.


A nice little elderly couple live here, octogenerians, I think. You'd be hard pressed to find a blade of grass out of place.

Same home, different view.


We're a flag waving bunch around here...and not just on the 4th.


Back to my little cozy, eclectic cottage. Yes, the gardens do indeed need attention.


An old pressed back chair I salvaged from the curbside. Needs a little work...think I'll call my good neighbor L.C. for that task.

Sunday Morning Glories...

How lovely was the stroll through my garden this morning. And some folk say there is no God? Amazing...

Earth Box Gardening

In my book, nothing beats 'Earth Box' gardening. Nothing. Zero-zip-nada. Because I was going to marvelous Montana around planting time I decided to put my spring/summer garden on hold until I returned. In this area, the summer gardens are usually harvested in mid-June so I could only cross my fingers and hope for the best when I planted in mid-May. I plant my 'Earth Boxes' annually, but this year I opted to use them exclusively rather than plant directly into the soil in my raised beds. Why? Well, take a look at the results! None of these plants were more than 3" tall when planted and now, just 1 month later, they are loaded with blooms and continue to grow by leaps and bounds. Last year I harvested 120 cucumbers off just one plant growing in this wonderful system and, best of all, no hoeing or weeding or prepping the ground is required. From start to finish, these 5 boxes were planted, fertilized and watered in less than thirty minutes. The boxes have an internal watering system and, the best feature of all is they are totally weed free!


Sweet Basil
Burpless Cucumbers
Beefsteak Tomatoes

Why I Don't Have a Doggie Door....

It was quite a sad day when, this time last year, the back hoes and bulldozers arrived and began preparing the wonderful, thick forest behind my property for more 'suburban sprawl.' They boasted of a gated community, with all kinds of perks and bells and whistles for the 46 future home owners who will gleefully flock to the concrete sub-division that was once a wonderful and serene little patch of woods.

With the falling of the old, magnificent trees and the clearing of the brush, came the loss of residence for scores of creatures. Some are quite friendly, others are not. I now have a resident cardinal, Lamar, who graces my lawn each morning and bickers with the bird he sees in my breakfast room window. And the blue jays are a beautiful sight to behold too, in spite of their dominance of the bird feeder.

But the creatures who are less than endearing, and just absolutely do not have a rightful place at this little cottage, are the frightening, bigger than life raccoons who raided the trash cans each evening.

Tiring of these unwelcome guests who regularly lurked around the corner of the house, I called animal control and a nice man delivered a trap and taught me how to bait it with 'dollar store sardines.' Much to my surprise, every single morning---for 11 days--- I had to call the nice man to came back and retrieve BIG, vicious, fighting, growling raccoons, as well as a possum or two, and deliver them to their new abode outside the city limits. I'm sure I didn't make a dent in the population, but it seems that word must have gotten out in their circles because since that time, the coons have certainly steered clear of this territory.

So, THAT is why Andi has very little freedom and must notify me each time she wants or needs to go outside. And THAT is why I do not and will not have a doggie door. I fear a doggie door would serve a multiple purpose---as a raccoon/possum/whatever else door. I can't even begin to imagine my reaction to coming home and finding Rocky chilling on the sofa, watching Food Network. I would rather be inconvenienced, thank you.

Life Is Too Short To Save The Good Dishes...

Yesterday I had a burst of energy and decided it was time to organize the pantry (again) and trash the Rubbermaid bowls without lids and lids without bowls. The energy lingered after those tasks were completed so I moved on to tackle the 'junk drawer' and before I knew it, I had cleaned out all the kitchen drawers as well as all the lower cabinets. Not willing to stop with the job half done, I grabbed my little ladder and started on the upper cabinets. I straightened plates and bowls and glasses and mugs and mixing bowls and baking dishes before moving to the cabinet with the 'good dishes', my collection of Franciscan 'Apple Blossom' pottery. My what lovely pieces those shelves held! The covered casserole, the gravy boat and the divided vegetable dish were my absolute favorites until the day I spotted those wonderful crescent shaped salad plates on the e-bay auction block. I knew instantly they had my name all over them! I remember sitting at the computer during the final minutes of the auction, anxiously hoping to win the grand prize, which I did. And, oh my, how beautiful and unique these rare, vintage pieces are.
Every Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthday or special occasion I would bring out 'the dishes', set a beautiful table, serve a wonderful meal, then return them to their place of rest where they would be safe and secure until the next event. But as I admired my collection yesterday, the thought occured to me that there is truly no day more special than this very one. Yesterday is but a memory and tomorrow I can only hope for, but this very moment, the here and now, is indeed quite special. God has certainly been mighty good to me. I have a wonderful family, a precious grand daughter and a very special man to love who, without doubt, was a gift straight from God. I have a beautiful home, wonderful gardens, good health and a great job. So this day---this very moment---there is indeed much to celebrate in my life. With that thought in mind, I begin to pack the 'everyday dishes' into the Goodwill box and move my prized collection into their place. The 'apple dishes' are the every day dishes now and they will serve as a constant reminder that celebrations need not occur only on the dates circled here and there on the calendar but, rather, with each sunrise we behold and with every breath we take.

This is the day that the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Knocking Me Out

This is one of my beautiful 'knockout' roses---the absolute perfect rose for women who do too much. This is quite a unique rose bush in that it requires very little maintance, other than providing plenty of water. A couple of months ago I planted a row of these, in alternating shades of pink, along my fence line. I can hardly wait for the big show! In time they will create a hedge about 4 feet tall, and the greatest thing is this---they bloom all year! That's right. Now I can have beautiful blooming roses in my yard even when Jack Frost arrives. What a treat!

4 quarts, 6 pints...

...1 half pint and 2 bottles of syrup. When I inventoried and organized the freezer a day or so ago I discovered some figs from last years harvest that I had completely forgotten about. So, because figs will be in again in about 6 weeks, I spent yesterday afternoon making strawberry-fig preserves, dotted with paper thin lemon slices, of course. They look like beautiful, vibrant rubies when the sun shines through this window.

Thursday Trivia...

the 'dressy' (but not formal!) dining room
"After the Bath"....in the dining room

Unfortunately, the front of my little cottage---where the so called 'formal' rooms are located---faces the east, making that part of the house uncomfortably warm this time of year. Realizing that today we would again see temperatures in the mid 90's, I knew I should do something which would in some way remedy the situation. After much wavering, I removed my favorite ivory colored Belgium lace curtains from the dining room windows and replaced them with a window treatment which would provide a significant amount more insulation. Actually, I liked the end result more than I thought I would...though not enough to pass on the pretty lace ones! On the wall not seen in the picture is a painting entitled "After the Bath." I had originally planned to hang it in the bathroom upstairs but it actually looks quite nice in the dining room as the color of the walls brings out a lot of the colors in the background of the painting. I really enjoy painting but have difficulty finding enough time to devote to art right now. I hope that in the not too distant future I will have plenty of time on my hands to paint and garden and quilt and do a number of other things which are constructive and creative as well as enjoyable....

In My Cottage Garden.....

....the gardenia's near the entry are heavy with blooms, permeating the air with the sweetness of their glorious perfume.

Cookies, Cookies And Yes, More Cookies

Pounds of butter--nothing but the REAL stuff, mountains of sugar, dozens of eggs, chocolate--lots and lots of chocolate--pecans, walnuts, cherries, sprinkles, vanilla--real pure vanilla and, for good measure, a little flour to hold it all together. Gee, I don't know what I would do without my wonderful fire engine red Kitchen Artisan Mixer these days! But everyone loves wonderful, homemade Christmas cookies. I live in an old neighborhood which has a history that runs pretty deep in this city and most of my neighbors are elderly. But my, what a wealth of knowledge they are. Most of the ladies are retired educators and many of the men are retired school principals. Sprinkled among the group are a few doctors from the era when medical offices were in houses right smack in the middle of a residential area. Back in the day when it didn't matter if you had no insurance or if funds were low. They treated you anyway and trusted God to provide when money ran short. Most of them are in or near their 80's now and they're mighty wonderful folk, all of them. And I just can't help but laugh when they call or come by to check on me when the weather is bad or something unusual is on the horizon. So at Christmas I honor them with a little token of something special from my kitchen and, after hours and hours of measuring, baking and festive wrapping, it's time to deliver. This years selection includes:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Stars
Pistachio Mexican Wedding Cookies New Orleans Praline Treats
Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

Life with Andi

I need help. Big help. My ten month old puppy has taken over my domain. She does not understand that when I say "MOVE" it means to go somewhere else, not just change positions and still be in the way. How do I teach her that the dishes with the paw prints are hers and contain her food and the other dishes are mine and contain my food? I need help conveying to her that placing a paw print in the middle of my plate does not stake a claim for it becoming her food dish, nor is it aesthetically pleasing in the slightest. She doesn't understand that the stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me does not help, because it's already been proven that I can fall down the stairs, or up, for that matter, a heck of a lot faster than she can run.
I refuse to buy a bed any bigger than what I currently have for the comfort of Andi. I also refuse to get up at night and sleep elsewhere to ensure her comfort. When looking at pictures of other young dogs it seems that they usually curl up in a ball to sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to me, stretched out to the fullest extent possible, but that's her position of choice. (I also know that sticking her tail straight out and having her tongue hanging out the other end to maximize space used is nothing but sarcasm.) Will she ever learn that there is no secret exit from the bathroom, and if by some miracle I beat her there and manage to close the door it is not necessary to claw and whine and stick her nose and paws under the bottom to try to get the door open? I will exit through the same door I entered. In addition, I have been using the bathroom for years...canine attendance is not mandatory.
The proper order is to kiss me, then go sniff the other dogs and cats---not the other way around. I cannot stress this enough. And it would be such a simple change. I really do need advise and wisdom, my friends. Lots of it. But in spite of all these short-comings and more, Andi is a beautiful little honey colored ball of fur and I love her dearly. I'm a new "pet-parent" but I'm keenly aware of the complaints voiced by non-pet owners. For many years I was one of them. But for those who visit and like to complain about my baby, I have the following to say...1. She lives here, you don't. 2. If you're afraid there may be hair on the furniture, don't sit down. 3. I like Andi better than I like most people. 4. To you she's just an animal. To me she is a little short and hairy friend who walks on all fours and is speech challenged. But if you look at the big picture, she can be a heck of a better deal than kids. She's not a finicky eater, doesn't ask for money all the time, she's easier to potty train than the kids were, she usually comes when called---usually, she never asks for my keys, doesn't hang out with drug using friends, never calls me collect from jail, I don't need a million dollars to further her education, and when she becomes a mother, well, I can sell part of the results. So maybe she really isn't so bad after all......

Life at the Cottage....

Rita-baby


Romeo

Sometimes, when I'm really tired or downhearted, I feel overwhelmed by my duties and it seems they outnumber the hours of the day. So, a few days ago I began to think about what I could do to decrease my responsibilities and increase my leisure time. While working on this grandiose plan the thought occured to me that perhaps I could sell my 2 African Grey parrots. Romeo, the 12 year old, was given to me about 5 years ago-- a rather nice gift from quite a nice gentleman. I became attached to 'Rome' and a few years later I thought he deserved a pal--thus enters Rita-baby.

Rita-baby arrived days before Hurricane Rita slammed my city, hence her namesake. She's faired well as I struggled to maintain life for 3 weeks without such luxuries as electricity and well stocked grocery stores. She proved to be quite the survivor.

These two are quite a pair. They're rather picky eaters, but they love to eat organically---Granny Smith apples, granola, cheese, peanuts in the shell and salad. No bagged food for these two. They'll toss it out the bars piece by piece. They love to chew up their toys and they've mastered the art of escaping the cage---though they're not brave enough to go any farther than a stroll up the sides and across the top.Honestly, these little feathered guys don't take up a huge amount of time but, they do take a little time---especially if you want them to be articulate. And articulate they are. In the quiet hours of this predawn morning I opened the back door to be greeted by non-stop chatter. Simple bird talk. "Good morning Andi." "Watcha doin girl?" "Praise the Lord!" "Hey Uncle Jarad!" "Hush Andi!" "Let me see!" "Where's Savannah?" Each comment accented with relentless giggling bird and renditions of a ringing phone.

They make me smile in spite of any confusion and despair that's going through my mind right now. How could I let these little guys go? Would they wonder where they are and why I'm not around? Would they still be fed the things they love? Would they cease to speak? These creatures really are little miracles. And they're a nice part of the family unit of this cozy cottage. And they never fail to make me laugh. Somethimes they whistle as though they're calling a dog and Andi, who hasn't figured it out yet, goes jetting to the cage to be greeted by hysterical laughter. She looks puzzled and walks away, only to be tricked again within mere seconds. Ahh, for lifes simple pleasures.

Maybe, just maybe I'll re-think that plan and try to cut a corner or two in another area.