Spring Greens

There is nothing anymore dear to a southern country gal's heart then that first pickin of salad greens from the garden!! Such a small patch of a garden that it is, better then none though!

We have mustard and hanover this year, no kale or turnip.

Cut it early with dew still on it.
Washed it up and put in a pot. So young and tender didn't take long at all to cook.
Seasoned with a lil ham hock meat.
Chop up some lil green onions on top and ready to go!

Oh my my!!
Make your tongue knock your brains out it will!!
Serving it along side the Lemon Garlic Grouper!!
That makes it 'gourmet' ya know.... haaaaaaaa!

Strawberry Season

Well here in my part of the world we are in fresh strawberry pick'in season.
YUM! So sweet!!
Great crop this year it seems.
No we are not out pick'in with DH's shoulder still in sling but some kindly folks had pity on us and picked for us. ;-)
We have eaten a qt already... now working on second one!!!

Piggies we are!
Put some in freezer as well.
Plan to go buy more for freezer, will buy them already picked.
Small price to pay for fresh local berries!
Hope some come to your areas soon!!

Now where is the whipped cream!!!!

Oh there it is ....on the berries!!!

Spring Visitor

Well we have one of these come 'visit' every Spring, late April or early May.
Always only see just one, maybe others. Other years have had larger ones .
Big old snapping turtles. They just amble across the yard on back into field.

Lord just makes me shiver to think of that head lockin its jaws around my toe or ankle!! Ha!
They come up from one side of swap to go to either the pond or other part of swamp.
Yes we live on the swamp, Rattlesnake Swamp to be exact.
Now bet that brought some quivering pics to mind! Ha!!

We never bother a turtle of any kind. They do no harm and will not 'attack you' if you leave alone.
One this size has been around a lot of years.

.
I can never understand why folks will run over them on road ( we will pullover and 'help' smaller ones across)or want to kill them in yards!!!!
Very few folks eat turtle anymore and besides think that is another kind then this.
We all need to teach our young ones to be kinder to our planet's critters.

Yummy Lemon Garlic Chix Dish

I prepared this chix dish Sunday. Was yummy!!!
Hope this makes sense to you all as I am NOT a professional cook or food writer!!!
I seldom 'cook' with a recipe per say, always do my own thing.
DH keeps telling me ..YOU BETTER WRITE THIS ONE DOWN, every time I do a good one. Ha!!

Okay I used 2 small flash frozen chix breasts, all de-boned and skinned.
Could use the chix tenders as well or turkey tenderlion or cutlets.
In a pie plate mixed me up some lemon juice, about 1/4 cp or so, one big clove of garlic (pressed) , kosher salt, (to taste) , couple grinds of black pepper, and a small 'dash' of Mrs. Dash chix grilling seasoning. ;-)
Chopped up some fresh parsley , drizzled maybe 2 tblsp olive oil in , whisked well. Just eye ball it all and taste as you go.

Put all into a glass baking dish over chix in pre-heated oven on 400 degrees for about 20 min...(don't take long as the meat is not thick)...put up on 500 broil for like 5 min to lightly brown.
Took out oven, removed chix to small serving dish per person....added to the hot liquid 1 tblsp cornstarch mixed with tblsp brown sugar.
Pour over your chix in dish ...serve.

I served with angel hair pasta and asparagus, could go with so many sides.

I am thinking you could also add some Italian cheese also right after you take from under broil....will try that next time.

Maybe this could also be used for a mariande for grilling of chix/turkey, kabobs or pork chops or pork tenderloin .
Add some dill and use on a broiled fish, baked or grilled.
I bought some grouper to try it on this week!! ;-)

Today in a WHIRL...

Whew! All the house chores and laundry are done.
I am finishing up an early lunch, then off to market!
Back home to do DH his fav comfort meal.
I will be ready to hit the hay very early tonight with DH.
Very wore out! Hope sleep will come easy.
Good thing as we have to BOTH be up early , get ready and be at hospital at 7:45 AM!!!

Dr. Payne is to begin procedure at 9:45 AM.
No idea when we will be back home.
It is about 45 min trip there but I am sure coming home will be slow.
I am packin a nice KEEP LOLA BUSY AND NOT WORRYING BAG...;-).
Have my book, snacks, water and some needlework.
Thanks to all for the thoughtful encouraging emails and prayers for us!!

Monday.. Monday and BD gal Pic

Remember this one by The Mamas and The Papas?????
1966 #1 Hit

Monday Monday, so good to me,

Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be

Oh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn't guarantee

That Monday evening you would still be here with me.

Every other day, every other day,

Every other day of the week is fine, yeah

But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes

You can find me cryin' all of the time

Monday Monday, ...

Here we are on this rainy Monday.
No time for much today have to go to big city for Aunt's doctor appt.
Hope this rain will let up, oh well will go at a safe speed and let the others fly by...;-)
Have lots to do this week to get ready for DH surgery Wed on his shoulder.
Don't want to have to be doing loads of home chores while he is trying to rest and recover.
So want all the cleaning and other things out of the way.
Will be a slow bloggin week for me.

Well here is a pic of the lil grand niece in her BD apron.
She is a doll. So cute.
Her Daddy is our nephew and in these pics I can see him in her face!!;-)
So here ya go for those been asking me for a pic and how she liked the goodies!
She enjoys cooking and baking and really knows a lot for her age.
Humm maybe I can get her and her Granny to make me up some of those delicious brownies they do.
Will tell them Unc 'needs' them for his recovery...(wink-wink) yeah right! HAAAAAAAAA!!

Here is a site with 56 FREE Apron Patterns!
Check it out.
http://tipnut.com/56-free-apron-patterns-you-can-make/

Apron Dress/Apron

Here is a sweet little project I did a while back.
I do love toile and so made this from some left over I had.
The color is the dark red I like.
Called an Oven Dress/ Apron.

You use the towel bottom to wipe your hands on.
I also made these pot holders to go with it.
I need more so will do some one day.
I also made a couple sets as gifts .
They were well received.

Here is where to get some basic instructions and pattern free for the oven dress.
http://www.craftsayings.com/projects/small_gifts/oven_door_dress/index.shtml

You can use whatever trims and fabric you wish to make them "YOU"..;-)

I used a nice hand towel, not kitchen one, that I caught on sale at dept store.

Seems to hold up better.

When I master the art of making a tuturial...will show you how to do the pot holders my way...easy !
Stay tuned!!

Rise and Shine

We can do more then we THINK we can..... as long as we THINK we can!
ANONYMOUS

I tell ya old Anonymous is a wise person.
I play mind games with myself all the time to get motivated or just to get done in a day what needs doing!!


Sadly yes I am not like I used to be..up early ,rise and shine an they say.
I would pop out of bed to greet the day as a bright shinny new one... new start!
Oh yeah those were the days.
Now it is crawl outta bed drag myself to coffee to jump start my body!!
Then maybe by noonish I may be ready to go.
I know so sad.
Hey I like to think I may have burnt myself out all those years of rising and shining!!
Oh well I think I can go get in shower and think I can go do what needs doing today...think I can.... think I can.........



Click on http://www.quilttownusa.com/mom/ssblock.htm for a great free quilt block for a beautiful Rising Sun Block.


Rise and shine
Meaning:
Get out of bed and prepare for work.
Orgin:
The earliest use of 'rise and shine' in print are references to the sun, as in this example from Maryland paper The Torch Light And Public Advertiser, February 1824:
Courage, child of Washington,Though thy fate disastrous stems,We have seen the setting sunRise and shine with brighter beams.


We don't get the phrase from such straightforward literal uses, but from its use as a wake up call for soldiers. In that context 'rise' just means 'rouse yourself' and 'shine' derives from the shining of boots that soldiers were expected to do each morning. When used in the British Army 'rise and shine' was, and still is, preceded by 'wakey-wakey'. The naval equivalent is "shake a leg". The term may not have originated in the British Army though - the first citation of its use that I can find is from America. That's in the 1916 U.S. Marine Corps Recruiters' Bulletin:
"He rapped at the door and in stentorian tones cried,'‘Rise and shine... Wiggle a toe.'"

Frosty Morn...

Well today is another cool one...frosty one too.
Sure hope nothing has been 'nipped in the bud' as they say. Will know in a couple days.
If has will set it all back a ways.
Loads of stuff was coming up and buddin out... from the fig bush to peonies and cannas along with gladiolus.
Makes me wish I had been keepin a garden /weather journal so I could look up years past weather to compare. Ha!!
Oh well what ever will be ...will be.

I have been wondering about ANNIES. If they are as popular as they were a few years ago.
I have made quite a few different ones over the years.
Still think they are such fun.
My favs were the Pilla Annies, see above in header, I did and the Wreath Annies.
I had an Annie Christmas tree one year with all kinds on it.
I have looked and looked for a pic of the Annie quilt I made for a gal and can not find it.
Will see if I have still got my design.
Shoot with this cold may need to re-visit SNOW FELLAS! ;-)


Supper...humm maybe I need to visit the 'winter/fall recipes' for a cold day one!
Maybe this one:

Spicy Tortilla Stew

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
1 ½ pounds chicken breast, diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 small green pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chopped cabbage
3 cups water
1 can (14.5 ounces) low sodium chicken broth
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies
3 cups diced red new potatoes
1 can (15.25 ounces) corn, drained
1 can (16 ounces) chili beans
1 can (7 ounces) diced green chilies
4 corn tortillas cut into strips
Directions:
1. Spray a large Dutch oven with nonstick cooking spray. Cook
chicken over medium heat approximately 5 minutes.
2. Add onion, green pepper, garlic and cabbage, cook an additional
5-7 minutes or until onions are translucent.
3. Add water, chicken broth, tomatoes and potatoes. Bring to a
boil and cook for approximately 10-15 minutes.
4. Stir in remaining ingredients, allow to simmer 15-20 minutes.

Cold Snap Here...Again

Well now seems our Spring weather has decided to leave and Winter is back!!!
At least no snow came back with it as some in other places have.
We have such cold temps for this time of year compared to a week ago, was some 80's days.
Down in 30's at night and early morn, high only 50ish!!!! North wind blowing today too.

Heaters just keep click'in on and $$ just keeps pouring out to the elec/gas company!!
Of course this is AFTER I took the pineapple plant out and the hibiscus, along with the spider hangers.
Just on porch mind you but still I am sure was a super shock to their systems to get so cold in a few days!!
Not much sun yesterday so maybe more today.
Suppose to warm up as week goes on. Will it really..hummm.
Just last Sat we were at the garden centers and nursery lookin at plants!
Was thinking what annuals I wanted in the side beds and pots.
Just can't quite bring myself to garden in 'long johns'.......well yes for me I would have to wear them, so very cold! ;-)