Savory Little Tabasco Peppers...

A Few Vacation Pic's

Rippin and Runnin'

Running into folk at the bottom of the beautiful Carribean...
Savannah wins the grand prize in a contest on board...
Because we're critically short of L & D nurses, I've had to work 12 hour night shifts for the past three days even though I've been pretty sick with a yucky summer cold. Thankfully, I feel much better today. Shifting gears...I had planned to go through all my vacation pics and try to post the best of them, however, I'm staying closely tuned in to the weather channel and, just to be safe, I think I'll make a quick trip to Sams to stock up on a few supplies just in case the potential hurricane brings wind and rain that may affect the power. I hunkered down and stayed home through category IV Hurricane Rita, without power for about 16 days I might add, and I certainly don't care to ever experience such again. I pray that the Master of the elements speaks peace so that all nations and cities will be protected. In Jesus magnificent name.

Home

Lots of laundry to do, gifts to sort and pic's to tweak, but I'm back from my great vacation to the gorgeous Carribean and, yes, I'm ready to go again! After church today I'll devote some time to reorganization and tending my gardens and by tomorrow, hopefully, I'll be back into a routine and be able to post a few pictures.

Whiskey barrels come make great little gardens when you've filled every nook and cranny in the yard...

This is the first year I have planted eggplant and it's been quite a successful venture. It is now time to pull up what little bit that is left of the summer garden and begin preparing for fall planting, however, I'm leaving for Mexico tomorrow ;) so that task will just have to wait! Somehow, I have a feeling when I return all will be exactly as I left it, but that's okay. Hopefully, a little sun and sand and long overdue R & R will recharge and rejuvenate me, but, it really would be nice if some wonderful 'garden fairy' would fill a little in while I'm gone....

Vacation Time...

The plants are watered and trimmed,
the faded blooms are dead-headed,
the compost is turned.
The porch and patio are swept
and everything is tidy.

The frig is clean, the floors
are mopped, the mirrors and
furniture are sparkling.
The bedding is changed
with sweet smelling linens
straight off the line.

The bills have been paid,
my bags are all packed.
The camera is charged
and my passport is tucked
away in a safe place.

The house sitter has
'parrot instructions'
and Andi has plenty of treats.
Nothing much left on the 'check off' list.

I'm counting the days now. Just three
to go before I set sail for the land
of beautiful beaches and sunsets.
I think a pedicure with a nice French
manicure would be special treat
for tomorrow....

Nothing defines an old fashioned flower garden quite like the hydrangea, and I do believe this pink one tops them all. My, what a lovely color it is. Baby pink. Sweet and refreshing like home made strawberry ice cream on a warm summer evening. Soft like the cheek of a brand new baby straight from the heavens. Only God could have created something so magnificent.

Trumpet Time...

I just finished a rotation of 3 twelve hour night shifts and came home to find my garden overgrown from a week of rainfall, solitary thinking and loneliness. This Angels Trumpet grows near the fence in a nice little corner of my backyard. You´d be hard pressed to find a plant more self-obsessed with strutting its stuff.

A Delightful Summer Salad....

Besides working a lot of hours these days, I've spent lots of time lately spiffing up my gardens and doing countless other little projects to enhance the cozy and delightful feeling of my little cottage. Aside from the fact that I get so busy with my projects that I don't want to stop, it's just been too darn hot to do very much cooking. Actually, there's been a few days when a cherry popsicle or an icy Dr. Pepper sounded more wonderful than anything else I could possibly imagine. Knowing I can't survive on such from day to day, I sought a simple and light recipe that would be quick and not too high cal or high carb. I found just that in this great little summer salad....



Asian Chicken Salad

1 head green cabbage (sliced thinly/shredded)
3 green onions, chopped
1 can mandarin oranges (you can use a small or large can, depending on how much you want)
1/2 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
4 cooked chicken breasts, chopped
1 pkg Oriental Ramen Soup
1 pkg frozen peas, thawed
1/2 C slivered almonds (optional)

Dressing (add just before serving)
1/2 C Sugar
2/3 C Oil
6 Tbsp Rice Vinegar
1 packet Oriental Soup Seasoning

Directions:
Combine all items for salad & toss. Just before serving, wisk together ingredients for dressing. Toss together & serve.

If you want to save some of the salad for another day, don't add all the dressing as the salad will get soggy. If you want to add some crunch to the salad, top with some of the ramen noodles.

First Stop....Jaffa

Responding To the Survey...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Sure was, actress Rhonda Fleming.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Don't really know. I'm easliy moved to tears.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes. It has an artsy, caligraphy look.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Honey roasted turkey

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 2 handsome sons and 1 beautiful grand-daughter

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Heck yeah!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Not often. Sometimes I tend to be brutally honest and some people may read it as sarcasm.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Not a chance.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? My own home-made granola

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Most of the time.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Considering all that I've gone through, yes.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Cherry Vanilla

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their smile & their eyes.

15. RED OR PINK? Red, usually. Depends on what it is.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Hmmm. It would be nice to add an inch or two to my 5'0" heighth

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My mom

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? Doesn't matter.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Right now I'm wearing a UT tee-shirt and some Victoria's Secret pajama bottoms

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? veggie chips

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Passera by Il Divo, an awesome Italian group

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? yellow....maybe red

23. FAVORITE SMELL? Oscar de Larenta

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Jarad, my baby boy in Austin

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Sure do!

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Olympic figure skating

27. HAIR COLOR? blonde beyond blonde!

28. EYE COLOR? blue

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Used to.

30. FAVORITE FOOD? seafod

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy endings

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Norbet (Savannah's choice)

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? still in my white UT tee-shirt and pj bottoms

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Winter. Summer is incredibly hot in Texas, I absolutely love fall... and spring too, because it's plantin' time.

35. HUGS OR KISSES? I like both and lots and lots of it.

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? to whom?

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? to what?

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Intrapartum Management Modules. I'm preparing for national re-certification in obstetrical nursing

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? UPS promo

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Nothing. Worked 5 hours and delivered 3 babies, 1 weighing only 2 lb.s

42. FAVORITE SOUND? crickets & animals late at night in the mountains

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Israel

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Many talents.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Virginia, just across the river from the U.S. capitol

47. WHAT SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU LIKE? I's already a superpower. I'm a kid of the King

Saturday Silly Stuff

Which vintage movie star are you most like?(For girls)

You are Marilyn Monroe. You're a sexy bombshell who knows how to get what she wants, but sometimes people underestimate you or misread you and you're seen for one thing instead of all that you are. You can actually be very shy and hard on yourself, and feel that sexiness is all you have to offer to people. You will have your success but be careful that you don't let anything consume you completely. Feel better about how smart you are.
Take this quiz!








Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

T.G.I.F.

After being a day shift nurse for 23 years I decided to take the plunge and transfer to the night shift. I'm a labor and delivery nurse and when I was offered a lucrative shift differential to work from 7 pm to 7 am three nights per week I accepted. I found the pace of nights to be much more subdued than that of the day shift...most of the time. Overall it's been a great trade off---a whole lot more money for a whole lot less stress--- but the really enticing factor was the idea of having more daytime hours at home. I'm a genuine nester at heart (see my Nester post from Sept. 2006) and nothing makes me happier than having lots and lots of time to feather and 're-feather' the nest. I have a nice little stretch of off days :) so from 7 am Friday until 7 pm Tuesday THAT-- nesting!--is exactly what I plan to do. I can hardly wait to begin....I'll take a nice, long aromatic bath, then jump into my favorite Victoria's Secret pajama bottoms with my UT tee-shirt and Croc's. I'll put on some nice, smooth jazz and light my favorite candles before going through each room of my little cottage, fluffing this and rearranging that, until I am perfectly satisfied that my abode feels like a welcome haven of peace and rest. I'll be sure, of course, that there's a lot of love scattered about and that I've strategically sprinkled a wonderful little trail of 'niceties' along the way to pamper and please all who enter the door. In my sweet little cozy kitchen I'll concoct a delectable, homemade organic pizza with fresh basil and tomatoes from my garden.Or maybe some wonderful tacos from the fresh mahi mahi my son caught. I'll check the classifieds for a 'can't miss this one' estate sale going on. Maybe I'll get lucky and find another old treasure like this: I'll scrub and perfume Andi and recruit a little help to move the big pots containing my citrus trees. I'll make a few plans for my soon coming cruise :) and I'll lie on the sofa with my favorite comfy quilt and read a good book or watch a movie. I may even squeeze in time for my coveted monthly foot massage and pedicure, then go for a leisurely stroll through the arboretum..falling love with every flower I meet.
On Sunday I'll go spend some time with God in His house and then have a nice little lunch with a few of the ones I love most of all. I'll drift off Sunday night feeling safe and secure and happy and fulfilled in this life with which I've been blessed. THIS is what I call a wonderful weekend and I can hardly wait for it to begin.

Lady Bird Johnson 1912-2007

We lost a great Texan yesterday, former First Lady 'Lady Bird' Johnson. There's no doubt we didn't all agree with the politics of her husband, LBJ, but one thing we can all agree on is the fact that she did an absolute phenomenal job beautifying the state of Texas with wildflowers. It's hard to see a Bluebonnet or Indian Paintbrush and not think of Lady Bird, and I have a feeling her legacy of these gorgeous, colorful wonders of nature will continue forever. Lady Bird was quite a wonderful cook too, and many of her recipes are treasured standby's in the collections of quite a number of Texan's.
Lady Bird was quite a character---graceful and dignified, yet, a pretty down-home soul at the same time. There's a Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in the 'hill country' and in the springtime there's even an 800 number that lets the nature lovers know when the flowers will be blooming at their peak. The hills of Texas are truly ablaze with color each year, thanks to Lady Bird and her program which provided for the distribution of thousands of pounds of wildflower seeds to be planted along the highways of the great Lone Star State.
So, farewell Lady Bird. Though you are gone you are truly not forgotten. Many thanks to you for adding such beauty to our state. Because of your efforts our highways are absolutely glorious. You were indeed a true daughter of Texas and you will be missed greatly.

Tasty Tuesday

Chicken is wonderful grilled, roasted, baked or in any number of concoctions--gumbo, dumplings, tetrazzini or salad but, here in the south, nothing quite compares to fried chicken. It takes a little time, but always earns rave reviews and it's worth every minute of preparation. This is my favorite fried chicken recipe and it's wonderful served with vegetables straight from the garden, cornbread from 'scratch' and of course, sweet tea.

Southern Fried Chicken

One fresh whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
8 cups of water
1/2 cup of salt
1 1/2-2 cups shortening or oil (depending on size of your skillet) Oil should rise up the sides about 1 inch.
1 cup of flour
Salt and pepper and garlic powder to taste
Herbs as desired

Method:
To 8 cups of hot water add 1/2 cup of salt and stir until dissolved. Place in refrigerator until until cool.
Add chicken, cover, and return to the refrigerator overnight or at least 8 hours.
Mix flour, salt, pepper, garlic and herbs and place in a paper bag or plastic container with lid.
Place chicken (2 pieces at a time) in flour and shake until evenly coated
Place each piece of chicken on a plate, separated. Heat oil on high heat in a large cast-iron skillet until temperature is 350 degrees. If you don’t have a thermometer, it should take about five minutes to reach that temperature. You can test the heat by throwing in a spoon of flour--if it floats and starts frying, the temperature is perfect; if the flour sinks to the bottom, it needs to heat a few more minutes.
Place chicken pieces in skillet skin-side down (they can be close, but not overlaping) and turn heat down to medium. Fry on one side until golden brown (10-15 minutes), then turn with tongs and fry other side until golden brown.
Remove fried chicken from skillet with tongs, and drain for 10 minutes on a rack over a sheet pan or on paper towels. Serve immediately.

Note: This method produces a very thin but crispy crust. If you want a super-thick crust, you can do a flour dredge, then dip it into buttermilk and then dredge in flour again. Also, go easy on the salt since the chicken will already be salty from being soaked.

More Pic's....

I've added more pictures to the Holy Land post of July 5.....

My Wonderful Summer Garden...

Day 43

It's kind of hard to imagine that parts of our nation are enduring temps in the 120's. Today marks the 43rd consecutive day of rain in Texas. Yes, that's correct. It has rained every single day since the 25th of May. Some days it's slow and steady all day long, other days the downpour is heavy with winds that remind one of the dreadful Hurricane Rita we experienced in 2005. But regardless of the type or amount of rain we get, one thing is for certain....we've come to expect some kind of rain every day. Luckily, my gardens are all built up and the drainage is good so the flowers and vegetables are flourishing from the natural water.

In fact, I've noticed a big difference since they've ceased surviving on water from the sprinklers. The lawn feels a bit boggy at times and, unfortunately, the grass is also reaping the benefits and growing in leaps and bounds. I recall summers past when I fussed so much about how high the water bill was as I worked dilligently to maintain nice gardens right smack in middle of the drought, so, I'll bite my tongue rather than express my dismay. There's always tomorrow.

2006 Holy Land Tour

This was the trip of a lifetime! A wonderful journey shared with those whom I love most of all.