Flower Gardening

Ok I'm Back..

2012-01-16T15:09:00.000-06:00

At least I hope I'm back... Life has been crazy this fall. Parents to take care of , daughter is getting married, so we are down to 5 months away now and the crunch is on. School is crazy and kids are wonderful this year, and I've picked up 2 part time jobs on the weekends and my Garden Shop Job will be starting back in March. So things should get interesting...
    I'm back to my diet with the wedding coming and my hair is really getting long. I needed a change and I thought the hair would do the trick. It's that just one more time thing before you know, I get to old for long hair!!! LOL I went from spiked on top and shaved up the back a little over a year ago to a pony tail now... Life is good...I feel young again...
    We made it through the holidays, not by much but we made it... Things seem to get crazier with each year!

Ok enough for today, I will try to add some pictures of the wedding stuff from time to time and hopefully I can get back into my blog.

Lynn

Kayaking down the River...

2011-08-16T09:28:00.001-05:00

This was day 2 of our float trip week, yesterday I forgot my camera. But now glad because today was the most important. I took my neighbor for her first kayak trip down the river yesterday. I have told you in many blogs before this one, Jeanie is my next door neighbor, but she calls me her "Crazy Neighbor". Never knowing what I am going to get her into!!!LOL

This week it was Kayaking...

Yesterday was her first kayak trip and she loved it...

So last night she went out and bought herself a brand new "Pink" one...

Now both Jeanie & her husband Mike in the water, waiting for me to catch up with them.

This is what we just call "CHILLIN"... It felt like we were on a wonderful vacation the last two days in our own back yards... Just taking our time floating down stream...

We only saw a father and son fishing, and another group of father and two sons on their boat fishing, as he said a little bit of bonding time with the kids this morning... a really quiet morning on the river.

Now just going in circles trying to find some big fish swimming in the shallow clear water.. and we did see some big ones today...

Look how quiet and still the water is and how beautiful the scenery, in the bright morning sun, or should I say by now afternoon sun... I have always told everyone that has never been to West Virginia that we have the most "Beautiful Green State". Now you see what I mean...

.... and look at this view!

How nice for husband and wife to just sit and relax, not even a paddle in the water. we were in no hurry to get anywhere fast... Remember we are on vacation today...

The sun felt so good and I did even get a little sunburn on my legs today. Never expecting that today...

You couldn't help but put your feet out swinging in the nice cool water. Splashing water up on your legs every chance we got. Just to cool off...

Mike grabbed the camera to take a few shots of Jeanie and me... just chilling side by side floating down stream chatting away!!! Looking at all the beautiful homes and camps on the river, deciding what ones we would love to live in.... of course just buying them with our petty cash...LOL

Than later in the day my husband joined us at the camp to take a little spin around the river just for fun. We paddled upstream a little way and floated back down. If I did this everyday my arms would be buff!!! Sure makes you feel good to be out on the river in the sun here just before I have to go back to school...

Wooly Bully Bag for you knitters!!! UPDATE!!!

2011-07-31T21:16:00.005-05:00

AN UPDATE TODAY!

I can't beleive it I won something on someones wonderful blog... I have never won anything on a blog before... I keep trying and finally it happened.

The Blog is "Sew Mama Sew"

(click on link to check it out)

I have been a follower for a while now and I love looking at all the great things she is making. Always great book reviews and she hilights some great crafters... So go check it out ...

Usually in the summer I'm not into knitting as much, but the past few weeks it has been so hot I don't even want to go outside. So to keep myself busy in the house in the evenings I started a new purse. I love felted purses they just look so cool. You knit them with 100% wool yarn on large needles, so the knitting goes pretty fast.This is a picture of the really large loosely knit purse right after I finished knitting it.

Of course it won't stay this way long. We all know what happens when you wash wool in very hot water!

If you look close you can see all the stitches on this purse, and it is 32 inches long from top to bottom.

This is the finished purse now only 22 inches long from top to bottom and you can no longer see any of the stitches. It is just to cool how it works. You put the knitted purse into a big pillow case and throw it into the washing machine on the hottest water you can get it on. You keep checking it every 8 minutes or so never letting it go into the spin cycle until it shrinks to where you want it! Take it out, and shape it, pulling and tugging at it until you like it. I even put a metal box inside it overnight while it dried to give it those nice crisp edges.

I always have to give it some type of decoration and with this purse being solid navy it needed something.

I got up this morning and my mind was going 500 miles a minute trying to figure out what to put on it. So here it is. An orange rose made out of an old t-shirt. I cut a piece, wound it up and twisted it to look like a rose with a pearl center. Added a few knitted felted leaves,edged with a blanket stitch and a couple of beads for the center of the leaf. Than put a pin back on it a pined it on. I hope to make a few more different things to put on it to interchange them from time to time. But who would have known an old t-shirt could look so good as a rose!!! I love to recycle...

For all you knitters out there this pattern came of Ravelry my favorite place to find great free patterns. So go check it out! Here's the pattern for this one. Woolly Bully Bag by Lori Puthoff. It is a great easy pattern. Hope you enjoy!

Click here for a tutorial on the rose...

For the leaf I just knitted a square and felted it with the purse than cut out the leaves, did a little blanket stitch around the edge and the little beads up the middle and that was it! Glued it all together and put a pin back on the back of rose...

Have a great week everyone!!!

Lynn

Have a Great Day...

2011-07-21T14:21:00.000-05:00

"This is the beginning of a new day.

You have been given this day to use as you will.

You can waste it or use it for good.

What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.

When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever;

in its place is something that you have left behind...

let it be something good."

Have a Great Day,

Lynn

An evening in the country...

2011-07-18T11:34:00.003-05:00

I spent the evening at my youngest daughters house, out in the country. It is beautiful there and so quiet...

We took a walk around her property to pick some blackberries. We got probably enough for me to make a couple of Blackberry cakes... Maybe in another week there will be more ripe. But it was a beautiful evening to pick. There was no humidity and only about 79 degrees. We waited until about 7:00 to start so it was really nice.

These are some of the neighbors horses running in the field above us. As we walked up "their" road they just walked by us like we weren't there... and continued to play...

I probably took more pictures than picked berries, but things were in full bloom up in the field as we walked. The Joe Pie Weed was really blooming and far above our heads...

Queen Ann's Lace has to be one of my favorites. I remember as a child picking hands full of it and bringing it inside to put in a vase with food coloring so it would change colors. I was just amazed at how it did that.

The white of the Queen Ann's Lace looks like white sparkles down this farm road on both sides.

As we walked around to the other side of the property, finally to the point where they had just put up hay. There were big round bales still sitting in the field above the big pond, we found lots of berries ripe and ready to pick. This is the perfect time to go fishing now that everything is cut, so we are going to make some time this week to do just that. Sit and throw a line in that beautiful pond to see what we can catch...

Now back to the house to spend some time playing with her two dogs...

The monster Mastiff... Cabela

She is so big, but such a gentle giant...

...and the tiny Chihuahua, Harley...

"Here it comes my tiny little kiss on the nose"

They both have to be right on top of me while I am there.

Finally they relaxed and gave up for a while...

Now this is comfort!!!

and so cute...

and our big guy finally fell asleep.

In a few weeks we get to baby sit these two along with our three. I am so glad they get along so well. But it is like a zoo here for 4-5 days each summer while the kids take a few days for vacation.

I'll take pictures while there are here and post!

Have a great day,

Lynn

Summer deserts make them simple and fun...

2011-07-17T09:00:00.001-05:00

If you like chocolate This One's For You!

Just an easy summer treat...

First I made big pan of Brownies the chewy ones...

After they cool just break them into pieces and drop them into your cup...

Next you add some heaping spoons full of chocolate pudding, I used a canned pudding called

Thank You brand... I said this was easy !

On top of that is Cool Whip the extra creamy one of course...

Throw in some mini chocolate chips...

and some Heath English Toffee Bits...

YUMMY !

Than just do it all over again!!! Until you container is full...

Of course you need a little more Chocolate so top it off with a little drizzle of Hot Fudge!!!

NOW JUST ENJOY!

When I make them for a crowd I make them early and just pop them in the frig.

How easy was that ?

Have a Great Week!

Lynn

Things we learn as a child... Some we never forget...

2011-07-14T21:55:00.001-05:00

   As a child I can remember my mother teaching me how to knit. I loved it and knitted a few scarves and than with really large needles I knitted a dress. I remember it was peach and I loved it, I even wore it to school. I must have been in 6th or 7th grade. I wonder what ever happen to it? Years went by before I began to knit again. I taught my youngest daughter to knit a few scarves when she was in high school. As hobbies go we lost interest for a few years. I never really knew how to do anything other than knit and pearl and make scarves, so when I heard a friend had a shop and was giving lessons I called my daughter and we started taking classes. It didn't take long for us to catch on and learn how to use a pattern to actually make something other than a scarf. Both of my girls are very crafty and creative, I love spending time with each of them crafting away the hours.
     Until a my oldest was beginning college we never even owned a computer, that was 1997. I didn't even know how to turn on one...LOL I'm sure you are wondering where this is going? Well I couldn't do without one today. I have found out you can learn how to do anything on the computer... Especially on You Tube! If I am trying a new knitting pattern and I have no idea what to do I just go to You Tube and type in knit-and the stitch I need to learn, and there it is in detail on a video just what I need to know. Video after video,and I am a visual learner. If I can see it done most of the time I can do it. You can start from the very beginner knitting stitch to really detailed things...
     Than when I need a pattern I go to my favorite place and sometimes stay there for ever it seems...
Ravelry (just click on link) you just sign up it is all free and there are thousands of free patterns to go through., an plenty you can pay for and just download. Just about anything you would ever want and too many to ever knit them all!!! I have so many I have printed off that I want to do and know I will never get to. So now I just add them to my favorites of that site, it is my wish list of sorts... Last year I knitted hat after hat for Hats for Hugs for cancer patients. I learned so much from each one and lots of new stitches.

This one actually went to someone I knew and I was happy she liked it...

This little child's watermelon hat was hard to knit, knowing it would go to a child...

I hoped this one would be a ray of sunshine to who ever it would go too...

So as you can see I am still hooked on knitting and I don't think I'm going to loose interest this time of a while, neither is my daughter. She just knitted her first sweater, and it is so cute!

I am knitting this scarf right now, I searched an search for this stitch to knit this scarf. I had seen it somewhere and I thought the stitch would be beautiful in a scarf, but couldn't find out what the name of it was. Than low and behold of all places I was looking at some knitted wash cloths ( click on link) on Raverly and found it...

Now I am well on my way to finishing it this summer and of course I turned to you tube for some help on this one.

The pattern is hard for you to see here you may be able to see it better on the link knitted wash cloths... These pictures don't do it justice it is turning out beautiful, it is just taking time, something that is scars in the summer...

So anyone of you that thinks you want to learn something just turn to YouTube a try it out...

Knitting just might be your thing!

Here we go I updated the picture and you can see the pattern better now !

Have a great weekend,

Lynn

Blueberry Pickin...

2011-07-12T21:57:00.000-05:00

What a cute face this "Big Bad Guard Dog" had!!! He is 10 weeks old and a new addition to the Blueberry Farm. So playful, he grabbed the strap on my camera when I was trying to take his picture...

Would you look at these, what beauties... I love Blueberries and eat them almost every morning with my cereal. They are so much better when you can go pick them right off the bush and pop them in your mouth as you go...LOL

"YUMMY"

Seven Acres of them to choose from and pick...

I went all by myself tonight, took my time and soaked up all the quiet of the evening, with the exception of a few June bugs buzzing by...

This farm is what I call really "OUT THERE". It takes about 25 minutes to get there but is only about 15 miles away out a Beautiful long windy mountain road in WV.

After I was done picking I just couldn't resist, I had to take a few pictures. So as the sun was starting to sit I drove up the hill to the farmhouse to snap a few shots...

Just in time...

That little donkey just watched me as I walked along the road above him...

Now this is WV, beautiful and green...

"WILD WONDERFUL WEST VIRGINIA"

Than down the little windy road and back home to enjoy my pickings...

"IT DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THIS"

Have a great week,

Lynn

Summer is my time of the year...

2011-07-10T15:31:00.000-05:00

In my opinion there is nothing better than summer! I live in North Central West Virginia and we have way to long winters here for me. I am the kind of person who could live where it is warm all the time... But not my husband and kids, so I am stuck. I freeze in the winter, I want my 80 degree weather. I want to be outside in my bare feet playing in the flower beds and garden. Watching my hummingbirds fly around the feeders.

Years ago when I was first married we would visit my husbands family, they were really great gardeners, something my family never did. Mom planted a few annuals each year but never a big flowerbed or a vegetable garden. So when we went to Maryland to visit his dads side of the family I couldn't wait. Tom's aunt Jean could grow anything and she did. We would walk around her yard and she would tell me what everything was and I was amazed she could remember them all. Flowers everywhere, she had a Hoya plant on her back porch that bloomed every summer with the most beautiful blooms I had ever seen.To this day I am still trying to get mine to bloom and it never does. I wish I knew her secret? She would break me off a big hand full of Bridalveil vine and I would bring it home and just plant it in a pot unrooted just as she said and watered it... I was amazed that it worked and grew like crazy...

Tom's grandmother(his moms mother) could grow things like that too. Just stick her little fingers down in the dirt, pop some plant she had picked a piece off of and in no time there would be a big beautiful plant in that pot.. Of course she passed that trait onto her daughters too. They were always growing something.

So each summer as I plant my seeds and pick pieces off plants and pop them into some dirt I think of all the great times I had learning from the best gardeners I have ever known...

Lucy,Lil and Jean...

Thanks girls for all the great lessons taught,that they probably didn't even realize they were doing ( I was listening) and the great memories....

This is one memory from my family, I remember the first time my aunt gave my mom a little Mamosa Tree from her yard to plant in ours. They were beautiful and smelled so sweet. This tree is next door at my friend Jeanies house, it is about 14 years old and a baby out of my parents yard. This year it is beautiful and so full of blooms smelling sweet just as I rememberd when I was just a kid.

They have the most delicate blooms...

Here are two of my favorite geraniums, ones I have had for probably 5 years now. I keep them in the basement each winter and I propagate pieces from them each summer to make sure I don't loose them.The top one is Appleblossom Rosebud and the bottom one is a Tulip Geranium. I never see these in any gargen centers. I wonder why they don't sell these beauties anymore?

This is Forth of July weekend.... We left on Friday afternoon for our annaul camping trip. The weather was suppose to be beautiful for days and for the most part it was... We packed up all the camping things and away we went. Tom and I... three dogs and a tent! Can you imagine!!! LOL

This is what we call "River Sitting"...

We sit for hours talking, laughing, swimming and just enjoying our time together...

See that big "Bobber" you got to love it, it's a cooler...

Now this is some kind of storm cloud for sure and boy did it bring the rain on our last evening there. The wind came with it and everyone was there holding things down all the way through it. Soaked to the bone everything survived and we laughed all the way through it... Than we rebuilt the fire and the rain stayed away so we could have our dinner...

We ate so much food on that trip, but that is what it is all about "Good Times"...

Than on Tuesday it was time to pack up and go home. We had three really tired dogs. With the back seat layed down in the Blazer,blankets layed out the dogs were ready for the trip home...

Mia was really smiling and ready to go home...

Than she was down for the count, sound asleep...

THE END...

Lynn

Jimmy Buffet Concert

2011-06-22T20:52:00.002-05:00

"MARGARITAVILLE"

What a beautiful day we had with our girls and their friends... The weather was perfect (at least for me) hot,92 degrees,sunny, and a beautiful breeze...

This is Tom and I just at the start of the concert... Him in his lei and me with my flip flop earrings on...LOL

As my husband says this isn't just a concert it is an event. You see everything at this concert. You go early and tailgate all day. You walk around to see all the sights and find lots of friends... This was our first Buffet Concert, along with 8 others that went with us. But not for my oldest daughter. She has gone for a few years and loves every moment of it.

This Concert was an Anniversary gift from both of our girls. I must say it was one of the best gifts they ever gave us!!! We really enjoyed our time with them and the concert. What an experience.... I danced for 3 hours and today I can hardly move... LOL

Someone in the parking lot had a hula hoop and I just couldn't wait to try it. I used to love doing this as a kid... and at 56 I can still do it!!!

Don' make fun, I couldn't find my glass that was packed somewhere in the car... and I got caught taking a sip from the bucket!!! Life is good in "Margaritaville"..

In "Margaritaville" you meet all kinds of people willing to get their picture taken with you...

Here Colleen and I are having a little fun at someones site, you really could find all kinds of things in this huge parking lot of fascinating people... and Colleen wanted me to see as many sights as I could on this first trip!!!

She was even equipped with signs and all all kinds of things to decorate our site, our hair, our flip flops. She was surely prepared for everything...

Our neighbors parked beside us gave us girls all umbrellas for our hair...

Coleen said last year it was really hot, but this year even with the high temperatures we had a great breeze so we were all comfortable... and of course a few cold drinks helped too... LOL

Tom loves the song Son of a Sailor and he is "Truly the Son of a Sailor" so he was proud to hold this sign Colleen had made just for him when they played this song...

Amanda's boyfriend was having a great time in his Shark hat... "Fins to the left-Fins to the right...

Lots of blankets here on the lawn just before things got started, what a crowd they had...

Amanda and I

Look at all the people, we stood all evening and danced the night away... and believe me my body feels it today!!! LOL

Here they are at the end of the evening it was just wonderful, I can't wait to go back next year!!!

A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL...

Hope you have a great week,

Lynn

Up - Close Weeding

2011-06-18T21:31:00.001-05:00

      I think I could write a passage everyday from this book. So many that have to do with our every day lives in the summer in our gardens...

    Have you ever noticed how beautiful a garden looks from a distance? Orderly rows, evenly spaced, with sturdy plants that appear healthy. Yet, when you get close and peer underneath the green plants, you can see small weeds or even pests hidden in the soil or leaves.
     The garden that from a distance looks beautiful and well-cared for is, in reality, in need of a gardener to remove all the camouflaged hindrances to its growth. The caretaker must get close to his plants, down on his knees, where he can see the true problems. Only then will the garden be healthy.

Often, our lies an give the appearance of beauty, a life lived for God. We fellowship, we worship,we pray, and we study God's Word. To all who look at us, we seem to be perfect Christians; yet we, too, can have weeks and pests. invisible without intense examination. We must get down on our knees, or on our face, before the Lord,where we are humbled so God can show us the impediments to our faith. The Psalmist says, "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me for secret faults" (Psalm 19:12 NKJV).

When we bow before the Lord and ask His help to search or live for those obstructions, He will always help. "The Lord... rises up all who are bowed down" (Psalm 145:14 NKJV). God will cleanse us of those weeks and pests that steal our beauty. He will help us be pleasant to view from a distance-and up close, too.
From: Inspiring Thoughts for Gardeners

This day started out cloudy and quite rainy. But as the day went on it was a wonderful day to be outside. We have gotten over 2 inces of rain in the last 3 days. Not that we didn't need it, but enough already!!! We had soooo much rain in May we didn't think it was ever going to stop so we could get our garden in. Than a few weeks of hot hot hot weather almost like August weather. So we were very grateful for the rain we are getting now... It was nice not to have to water anything taday. Now if the skys would open up to some beautiful sun our garden will really start coming up by leaps and bounds. Which is what we really need right not. So things will start to catch up. They always say the corn should be "Knee High By the 4th of July"... Well it is about 1/2 inch tall right now, so we really need that sun to help us along a little...

We got the yard mowed today and things picked up in the yard so we could have a cookout today for Fathers Day. Both our girls had the evening off today, so we celebrated a day early. We were almost finished with dinner when the sky opened up again with pouring rain. We ran for the house to have our desert inside. So for the most part it was a great day!!!

These were from last years garden... I sure hope we can do this well this year... I sure am ready for a great tomato right off the vine...

Have a Great Day,
Lynn

What We Love About Gardening

2011-06-15T21:47:00.003-05:00

The other night I picked up just a little book that looked interesting. It is called "Inspiring Thoughts for Gardeners." Sometimes when you least expect it, bam it is right there. I was in a little discount store looking for a gift and it just popped out at me. As if to say "Buy Me, you need this." Well I guess I did and I just want to share a little of it with you. So I will be putting little bits and pieces of it on here for you to enjoy too!!!

"WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT GARDENING"

Before God created man... before He created animals,fish, or the stars in the heavens...God created vegetation.
God not only provided seed-bearing plants for our sustenance; He gave us beauty to enjoy in the flowers and the varieties of flora found throughout the world.
Why do we enjoy gardens of all types? Imagine God's delight as He spoke the words and new growth sprang from the earth. That delight in mirrored in our faces as we marvel at what we've nurtured, weather an herb in our kitchen window or a large plot of vegetables we plan to sell.
Each experience is like sharing something with God. Gardening gives us the chance to see the miracle of life spring forth from a seed or cutting. Watching a plant grow and produce in a vision of God's care for us as His children. Gardening is a way to provide for our family and friends, just as God provides for us. Every time we share fresh produce or a plant we've raised, we are extending God's love to those around us. I can't imagine a better way to share Christ than to give to others from the fruit of our hands.

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be your for food."
Genesis 1:29 NIV

This is a new Geranium I picked up the other day, I love the shape of the flower petals. Just something a little different...

This picture was taken last year near fall. My 55 gal. water barrels are behind all this beautiful foliage. You could hardly see them. I hope they do as well this year...

My daughter Colleen just got new patio furniture after helping her father put it together it was time for a rest. It looks beautiful with all that stone on her house...

Hope you all have a great week,

Lynn

Take Time to Smell the Roses...

2011-06-12T21:30:00.005-05:00

Remember this: Whoever

sows sparingly will also reap

sparingly, and whoever sows generously

will also reap generously.

2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV

KEEP HEALTHY

Gardening is one activity that promotes good health.

Being outdoors in the fresh air or even busy with

the care of indoor plants can improve physical and mental well-being.

Wearing appropriate clothing- a long-sleeve cotton shit and

wide-brimmed hat-- when outdoors will protect from harmful

sun rays or some plant irritants. For areas of your skin that

aren't covered, be sure to use a good sunscreen.

Even spiritual fitness can be improved as the gardener meditates on a

scripture verse or spends time in prayer while working.

From: Inspiring Thoughts for Gardeners

Today I came in the house and this is what I saw, now this is comfort. Only I can't imagine being comfortable using a table as a pillow. But this is where she likes to lay and I guess she is comfortable....

Because it wasn't long she was sound asleep...

We have had Mia since April 2000. She was born Feb. 18,2000.

Just a little fuzz ball when she arrived that day. Ready to take on the world, running and playing all over the house. Now she is content to just lay with her head

propped up on this little table, with not a care in the world.

I think in my next life I want to come back as a dog. At least one of my dogs!!!

They are such a part of our lives. I really don't think I will ever be without a dog,

as long as I can still care for one. Unconditional Love is what you always

receive, and I love every minute of it!!!

MY SWEET "MIA"

This purple just jumps out at you. Purple is one of my favorite colors in the gardens.

This Campanula was just in full bloom when I took this picture...

I wish they could stay looking like this just a little longer...

Mountain Laurel

Mountain laurel is also called ivybush, calico bush, sheep laurel, lambkill, clamoun, and spoonwood (native Americans used to make spoons from the wood). The mountain laurel is one of the most beautiful of native American shrubs. The fragrant star-shaped white and pink flowers have attracted travelers since early colonial days (first recorded in America in 1624).

This Mountain Laurel has been in my back yard for years, even before we moved here

33 years ago. I don't remember ever looking at it this close. It was in full bloom just a

few weeks ago and I decided to take a few pictures. To my amazement after looking

at the close up pictures, they are just beautiful. So something so close and here for so

long how could I have missed this beauty?

We really need to take the time and Smell the Roses as they say!!

Life just needs to slow down a little sometimes.

Everyone have a great week!!!

Lynn

Life Is Good!!!

2011-05-26T11:11:00.007-05:00

Life is Good and Summer is almost here!!!
Almost the end of May and school will be out soon!!! The rain is slowing down a little "Thank Goodness" enough was just enough!!! LOL We may be able to get the garden in this weekend with no rain insight...
I started the spring off all the wrong way... On Mothers Day I got out the electric hedge clippers and cut my finger. Only 8 stitches were needed. Figuring the finger was still numb I came back home and finished the job. Of course my husband thought I was crazy but I wasn't going to let him near my bush!!! Than on Mon. night I twisted my foot on a rock in the garden, so back to the Dr on Tue. morning. It wasn't broken but badly sprained. Just a little brace for some support. I am just hobbling all over school and home! I am just an accident looking for a place to happen and I am the one that never gets hurt!!! It was my first time for stitches... The flower beds are going crazy with color and not a drop of mulch in any of them yet. Although they are all ready for it. I have so many perennials that it doesn't take much mulch anymore... This beautiful pink perennial came back beautifully this spring although I have no idea what it is. Guess it's time to post for ID on Daves Garden. It was just getting covered up by to many things so I moved it to the back yard.

This is my new favorite plant... I guess it better be I have 21 coming up in the front bed. In 2009 I planted some seeds mid summer and when they got big enough I just put them in this bed before fall got here. Except when all of these beautiful plants came up last spring I had forgotten what they were... they never bloomed last summer so it was hard to ID. This year they popped right up and on came the blooms... They are Burgandy Gooseneck Loosestrife.

I love them and they have a long blooming season and make great cut flowers...

The Salvia May Night is really doing great, I will probably have to separate it again next year or this fall...

and looking great with the Snow on the Mountain...

This is Korean Bellfower Campanula They hang so beautifully, you never get to see the inside of them.

The only problem is they are very invasive. I just keep pulling out what I don't want... But they are beautiful in he spring...

Nigelia or Love In The Mist... this picture turned out so crisp and clear... I have these in front of the front porch each spring and when they are finished blooming I let them go to seed and save all the beautiful seed pods for an arrangement... I pull all the plants up and in the fall sprinkle seeds again and they are back in force next spring... Talk about no maintenance, it is great.

Our Reading Council Meeting went great last month, all of the folded books looked amazing on the tables for decorations. We had 12 books we gave away as door prizes. All the winner were so tickled to get them. They were just so unique and the cost, well lets just say was almost nothing. Each book from the Helping Hand Store was $.50-$1.oo and a little hot glue. We raffled off the wreaths and made more money than we spent on the decorations... That's the way to decorate!!!

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!!!

Lynn

What do "Books, Reading and Decorating have in common?"

2011-04-22T20:54:00.006-05:00

It's been a busy and interesting month...

Trying to get ready for our Annual Reading Council Meeting...

Colleen and I are in charge of decorations, we wanted something different for the table decorations. But budget friendly! So we rescued some old books while donating to the local Hospice Store... and started folding and folding and folding!!! Than rolling lots of roses and hot gluing them to branches. So for about $1.50 a table decoration is made... But before I started folding I took the books to my mother to see if she wanted to read any of them first. She took 6 and read them all. Mom loves to read, so I was glad I let her take a look first.

I will take pictures and show you what the tables look like for the Annual Meeting.

Now for a few wall decorations, it is amazing what a few pages of a book can look like all rolled up... glued...with a big rose in the middle...

Next onto The Reading Counsel's annual Readers Walk only this year it wasn't much of a walk for the kids. It rained all day and we had to move indoors. But the kids still came out in force. They really enjoy all the books we read to them and all the great gifts we give away at the end of the day...

Martha a retired Kindergarten teacher loves reading the one about the pumpkin seed and the kids really get involved with it...

Here I am reading one while he enjoys his bag of popcorn...

Another one of Martha's about the Daffodil, with a Daffodil hand puppet...
My daughter Colleen always has fun signing the books to the kids as they are read...

So this month we bought books,we read books and we decorated with books. It was a very educational month for us and a fun one too...

Have a Great Week,

Lynn

Hats With Hugs

2011-03-08T20:56:00.003-06:00

I am sure all over the country there are lots of people that knit or crochet hats for cancer survivors. This month they are having "Hat With Hugs" It is the third annual yarn-a-thon here in town. This is the first year I have been involved and I am knitting like crazy. You go from 10-2 pick up your kit and knit or crochet all day... They say it is a wonderful event and everyone has a great time.
So I thought I would get a jump on it and start early. I have all kinds of yarn left over from other projects and what better way to use it. You can either go pick up kits with yarn and patterns or you can just go that day and get them to work on. So I went last Friday and picked up a couple... I love to knit but I also love to talk and doing both is hard for me to follow a pattern. So I figured I better get them done ahead of time... LOL I will take one that day to work on too, but it will have to be an easy one so I can knit and have fun at the same time... This one is my favorite one, made of all cotton with that big sun on the top... Nice and soft...

This one is one of the kits, I loved the cable pattern in this one... It is made of a soft baby yarn...

I just had to do a West Virginia one in Blue and Gold...

This was the other kit, it is for a child and with all that fun fur... I love it

This was some scrap yarn I had left over from a scarf, it looks like a cable but it isn't . I am learning a lot of new stitches along the way...

I hope to work on a few more while I have my father at the hospital this week for his treatments. He is doing really well... and so is my mother after her stroke in Nov.

Have a Great Week,

Lynn

Trying out some new desserts...

2011-03-06T21:18:00.002-06:00

It was a baking Sunday... I have been wanting to try this recipe for a while. I have always been afraid to try my own puff pastry and finally found a recipe that didn't take all day to make. It only took half the day...LOL
This is Honeyed Pears in Puff Pastry... Really rich but good. This recipe just might be a keeper for my next dinner party. But for now they are going to work with Tom tomorrow so we will see what they think!

Have a Great Week,

Lynn

Spring is on it's way...

2011-02-27T20:51:00.004-06:00

Just some fun pictures... New Years at our friends house...

Snow Angels I haven't done this in years and years... sometimes it's fun acting like a kid!!!

Sled Riding fun...
This was fun I laughed so hard sledding down the hill...

Spring is on it's way and it can't come too soon for me... It has been a long hard winter. I haven't written in such a long time. So I think it is time to get back to it!!!

Today the temp. was in the 50's and the first time I have gotten out in the yard to take a look at tiny little sprouts growing in all the flowerbeds. My neighbor and good friend came and dragged me out and I was glad she did. It made me think, life is to short enjoy it!!! I have just wrapped myself up in my knitting for the last few months and toned everything out. It's like I can't think about anything if I am trying to follow a pattern for hours at a time.

Yesterday I took my parents to church for breakfast, it was the first time they have been back to church since they both got sick in Nov. everyone was so glad to see them. They are both on the mend and doing well. They even went to church this morning.

My husband is also on the mend after having surgery 3 weeks ago on his torn tendon in his arm. As good as he is doing I am sure he will be back in the garden this spring.

My girls are doing great, we all made it through our birthdays and actually didn't gain too much weight...LOL All three of us have birthday within 10 days of each other... Amanda and I always share a cake and this year she was 29 so Colleen got candles that said "2" "9" "ish"

I guess I was the "ish" they were just too cute.

Hope to see you all soon...

Have A Good One,

Lynn

Christmas Memories 2010

2011-01-03T19:59:00.014-06:00

Christmas was very hard this year, with the passing of my Mother-in-Law in October. She was a huge part of our family and she is missed by all of us... We loved her very much!

This is my mom and dad on Christmas day at our house for dinner.. They both have been ill and were doing well that day... Please say a prayer for them both....

This is the Creche that Toms Grandfather made for him back in the early 60's out of old orange crates. He made several that year so all the kids had one... We all treasure them...

The small tree in the dinning room with old spoons and cardinals....

The tree in the living room with all the wonderful old ornaments... I just love getting them out one by one with all the great memories of each...

Colleen's first Christmas...

Amanda's first Christmas...

I love this quilted one Amanda made years ago...

This I painted back in the 90's

A piece of Okra out of the garden, dried and painted....

And we can't forget the babies....

Our dinner table set and ready for guests on Christmas day...

Cute little snowmen....

Everyone seemed to enjoy them...

Happy New Year to all....

Lynn...

Blessings

2010-11-28T11:32:00.002-06:00

It is that time of the year when you have so many things to be thankful for. I have a wonderful husband and 2 great girls. A home to live in and food to eat.... This year for the first time in over 20 years I did not cook Thanksgiving Dinner. A couple of months ago my youngest insisted on cooking for all of us! I was so excited! She did a wonderful job and everything was great. My husband always goes hunting the week of Thanksgiving and hasn't been home for the holiday in years. But with the passing of his mother and all the things that had to be done he stayed home this year. This was a real blessing! I always say God has a plan for us and all things happen for a reason. I was so glad not to have to cook and to have him home. On Wednesday evening my father called to say he thought my Mother had had a stroke to please hurry over. I called 911 and went across the street to their house. We are also blessed to have a wonderful Volunteer Fire Department right down the street and they were there in minutes. My father also has breathing problems and he wasn't doing well so they called a second Squad. It looked like grand central station and all the neighbors were really worried when they saw all the lights, and both of them leaving. Of course it was the holidays and the Squad Cars came from 2 different counties, not even ours... It was a blessing they put them in 2 rooms side by side in the emergency room. Dad had a lung infection and and infection in his leg. Mom and a stroke and they kept her, but she is getting much better, they have moved her to a rehab yesterday.
So even though my holidays weren't what I thought they would be I still have lots to be thankful for! Everyone is doing fine right now, Thank God!!
I am blessed that my father has wonderful neighbors that keep checking in on him, and if it hadn't been for my "Angel" of a next door neighbor that came over Wednesday night and finished baking my rolls that were raising on my counter and finishing up my pie and sweet potatoes that were half done I would have never made it to dinner on Thanksgiving.
God really does bless us...

Lynn

Dinner Party Weekend...

2010-11-20T10:40:00.021-06:00

A couple of months ago I had a bright idea, or as my husband would put it " One of her CRAZY IDEAS".

Well I love to cook and all my friends know that, but I really love to try new recipes, and with only the two of us at home now I hate to try big meals just on us....

So why not have everyone over once a month and try them out on all of them? There are 6 couples that have run around together for at least 35 years or so. This is a good way for us to just get together and have a fun evening. Sometimes it is just so hard to get us all together. You would think when you get older and the kids are out of the house it would be easier!!! But sometimes it's not.

So I made a call to everyone and ask them what they thought? I told them they had to bring nothing except an appetite. I would be doing all the cooking! Do you think anyone turned me down? We all decided to split the cost of everything and I could just cook away. I told them everything would be brand new recipes, something I had never cooked before. Yea I guess my husband was right, I am a little crazy!!! But we got together last weekend and there were no fatalities!!! LOL I sat the tables up in the family room, with mix and match china and silverware, a couple of my mother-in-laws beautiful tablecloths an some antique lanterns of Tom's Grandfather. I even folded the cloth napkins...

It is amazing what you can find on the Internet and all the instructions on how to do it!

We started the evening off with a recipe from Emeril Lagasse

Artichoke and Spinach Dip

(click here for recipe)

I even tried frying the tortilla chips... It turned out pretty good...

Than it was time for the bread, I love to bake bread. I just don't make it as much as I would like, because I would eat every bite. I love home baked bread, I don't think there is anything better than bread. I used to love the bread they made at school when I was a kid so I made the roles just like they did.

Rolls

9 1/2 Cups White Flour

4 Cups + 2 Tbs. Wheat Flour

1/2 Cup + 1 1/2 Tbs Veg. Oil

2/3 Cup + 7/8 tsp. sugar

1 Tbs. + 1 1/8 tsp. Salt

2 Tbs. + 2 1/4 tsp. Yeast

1 Qt. + 1/8 Cup Warm Water

Mix all ingredients until dough is elastic and well mixed

Let rise until doubled in an oiled bowl (coating dough well with oil)

Divide dough into 2 oz. balls

Put on greased jelly roll pan let rise

Bake 375 degrees for about 20 minutes or until golden brown

Brush melted butter on top as soon as they come out of oven.

Makes around 48 rolls

They freeze well...

Only I had to add a little twist to some of them... I baked one for each of us in a small canning jar to sit at each place setting adding a little sesame seeds to the tops. They turned out great, as we all know bread is a tricky thing, sometimes it turns out great and sometime not so great!!!
I got lucky with the new recipe!

I even added some rosemary to some of them...

When you have fresh baked rolls you need something special to go on them!!! How about

Cinnamon Honey Butter?

(click here for recipe)

I could have just licked the bowl when we were done... LOL I even got honey from the neighbor that has bee hives. You can't get much fresher than that...

First came a simple salad with just some fresh red and green leaf lettuce a few grape tomatoes and a few roasted tomatoes. Topped with some Parmesan cheese and fresh made crouton's and a Basil Vinaigrette Dressing.

I made the crouton's out of Cracker Barrels Sourdough Bread.

1 stick of melted butter

2 Tbs. seasoned garlic salt

2 Tbs. Parmesan cheese

Cut the bread in squares, and toss in bowl with butter and herbs.

Bake until crunchy,let cool

The salad dressing was a Basil Vinaigrette Dressing

(click here for recipe)

Now to the main course. This is what I stressed over the most. I wanted a really good pork recipe, and something different. It was a 5# pork loin roast that I started the night before.

Pancetta-Wrapped Pork Roast

By Giada De Laurentiis

(click here for recipe)

The flavor was wonderful and it turned out beautiful. All the herbs right out of the garden fresh really makes a difference I think. The aroma in the house was outrageously amazing...

This was a really easy recipe, even though the ratings on this was an intermediate.

As you can probably tell by now I love watching the Food Network and Giada is a favorite, she has the most beautiful smile and makes things look so easy...

Here we are all tied up and ready to get a bath of White Wine and Chicken Broth than popped it in the oven...

All finished and just resting on the plate for a few minutes before carving...

Shrimp Stuffed Potatoes

By: Paula Deen

(click here for recipe)

I fixed two different potatoes that night, just because I couldn't choose what one I liked best. Than I really didn't know if everyone liked sweet potatoes or not. Tom isn't a big sweet potato guy, but as it turned out everyone liked sweet potatoes.

This was the first time I had ever put shrimp in a potato and it was great...

These are the Seafood Deviled Eggs.

This recipe came out of the new Pillsbury Appetizers and Desserts magazine this month.

(click here for recipe)

My husband loves deviled eggs and what goes with pork better than Deviled Eggs. Especially with seafood in them!!! They were yummy...

Now to my pick of the evening, I have to say I liked this one the best of all. Sweet Potatoes, cinnamon,sugar and coconut all great together.

Sweet Potato Balls

by: Paula Deen

(click here for recipe)

Yea they tasted as good as they look...

You just grab up a handful of the mashed sweet potato and add a marshmallow to it and roll the potato around it, than roll in the cinnamon,sugar and coconut than bake. These can be made the day before and just popped into the oven to bake at the last minute. One of my girlfriends said it was just like desert... and it was!!!

Look at that marshmallow in the center!

Well here we are with everything on the plate ready to eat....

But of course we had to have desert...

Caramel-Pecan Apple Pie

by: Taste of Home

(click here for recipe)

This pie was rich - rich - rich... and we still poured more caramel on top of it!!! LOL

The only thing I changed was the pecans I used walnuts instead, either would be good...

I love just about anything I get from Taste of Home always easy recipes and great tasting...

I didn't use an unbaked pie shell I baked my own.

Crust

1 3/4 C Flour

2/3 cup Crisco

1/2 tsp. salt

1/3 cup water

Well all was cooked,baked and enjoyed by all I think! We had a great evening talking and catching up on each others lives.

It is so nice to have great friends like these, what I call " LIFE LONG FRIENDS" those that have always been there.

For some of us it has been a rough time, three of us has lost parents in the last 3 months. We have been there for each other just as we knew we would someday.

For some it has been a wonderful time with beautiful new Grand Children, it is the circle of life I guess...

I'm so bless to have such great firends to spend this time with...

As I always say...

"LIFE'S TO SHORT, ENJOY IT!! HAVE SOME FUN!!!

I hope you enjoyed the recipes, now take them, make them and share them!!!

Have a Good One,

Lynn

PS Wonder what we will have next time? It's a surprise... I don't even know yet!!! LOL

This ones for you "LIL"

2010-11-07T15:10:00.004-06:00

It has been a rough month in the Usary House. One of the sweetest ladies I have ever known died 2 weeks ago. She was my Mother-in-Law... Since I grew up across the street from my husband and his family, and we have lived next door to them for 32 years I have actually known them forever! For a lot of people living next door to your in-laws would be terrible, but for me and my family it has always been wonderful and my in-laws were wonderful. My Father-in-Law died almost 6 years ago now, and he has been truly missed.

This picture was taken in May with her daughter Patti and son Tom (my husband)

Lil had just turned 83 on Sept. 9, here she is dancing in her wheelchair with her youngest grandson. She loved to dance and she loved her grandchildren more than anything.

She was a tiny 5 ft tall ( 4 ft. 10 really lol, but she always told everyone she was 5 ft.) I remember one day she ask me to go buy her a pair of tennis shoes, when I ask her what size she told me size 3 I didn't believe her until she took off her shoes and showed me. I must have been around 17 at that time!!! She loved working in her flowers and the garden and that day just didn't want to leave to go get new ones!!!

Back in the day her 6ft. 1 husband used to throw her threw his legs and above his head when they danced. I would have loved to have seen that. She was 87 lbs. when they married. But she could shoot a gun and fish with the best of them...

So dancing at her last birthday was great to see!!!

You can tell she was having a blast...

All the staff at the Nursng Home had so much fun with her, and loved her.

Later that night we went a picked her up and took her to see her oldest grandson preform with the High School Band. We got her there just before half time and brought her home right after they finished. She was so happy to see him play for the first time on the field, he is a freshman this year. "She said it was great all those kids came out to back him up" how cute was that...

Here is Joe & Lil in a picture just before their 50th Anniversary, what a great couple...

Lil loved to craft and sew, not to long after we were married she started a craft show. It grew quite a bit over the years. So much so that she had to move it from the community building to the fire department, where she had a lot more room for crafters and the public that loved coming to it. She did this for 30 years and it was always the third weekend of October. She had a set of rules for her crafters and the most important one was that no one could start packing up anything until 4:00 when the show was over. Well on that 3rd weekend this year she packed up and left us 15 minutes early and I could just hear her saying ha ha I broke my own rule... It was just fitting she died on the day of her craft show.

It was wonderful for my girls growing up next door to their grandparents,my oldest Colleen was the first grandchild on both sides of the family. What fun they had over the years with all the grandparents.

We are all going to miss her very much, things aren't going to be the same without her laughter and quick wit. One of her favorite sayings were:

"I'm so *TERD (*she would spell this) Tired

I could *FART(*she would spell this) Faint"

It took me the longest time to catch on to what she was spelling and saying...LOL

Those Sunday dinners with her great cooking, Christmas Cookies( by the dozens) and Party Mix, Great Christmas Goodie Boxes she made each of us, and just that loving smile she always had. Everyone that knew her loved her.

This Blogs for you Lil, hope you're kicking up your heals with Joe!

May you Rest in Peace...

We love you....

I am still alive... AND KICKING!!!

2010-10-10T16:48:00.005-05:00

We have been back in school for about 6 weeks now, but seems like 6 months. I think I'm getting to old for this stuff. The kids are so young and the chairs are too small! LOL I can't believe I haven't blogged since August. I come home from school and just sit down and knit for a few to chill out. Than it is back to reality fixing dinner and doing some house work... shower and to bed I go.
I finally got some of my plants back inside today in the basement under the lights. I would love to be able to bring more in but there just isn't room. Than of course you have to remember to water them. I am not a good inside winter gardener. I just hope they survive!!! I had a volunteer Gourd come up this summer right by the back porch and I just didn't have the heart to pull it up. Now I'm glad I didn't I have lots of gourds to decorate with this fall...

The blooms have been just beautiful...

At least I have been able to get some knitting done... This one is knitted on # 19 needles with strips of muslin... about 4 yards of it. But it was so cool to do and really didn't take too long to finish. I love it in my bathroom...

This one on the other hand is taking a while and I have to concentrate too hard. It is called "Entrelac" you knit in two different directions. But once you catch on it is easy... This is done in 100% wool and I will felt it when I am done to make a purse. My daughter is knitting on too but she is way ahead of me!!!

I purchased this yarn off of EBay a while back, it is bamboo and very tiny. I had no idea what I would make with it and have started several projects only to rip them out. But I think I will like this little lacy light weight scarf to wear to work. I may add some beads to the edges just to dress it up a little when it is finished...

This one is really funky, the yarn keeps changing and I love it... I will probably give this one as a Xmas gift...

Now to my new Favorite Pattern. I have made 4 of these for gifts already... It is really easy and quick and it looks great on!

I wore this one to a football game the other night and it was great... It only takes a 50g ball of yarn. You just pull one end right through that little opening fold down the little collar and you are ready to go...

THEY ARE JUST TOO CUTE...

I love the computer you don't have to buy books anymore to get patterns you can get so many of them free right on the computer... You just have to look around to fine what you want!

Well I hope it isn't so long in between posts anymore, I will try to be a better blogger!!!

Have a Good One,

Lynn

Fun Filled "BUSY" Week!!!

2010-08-28T19:17:00.010-05:00

It was not only the first week of school but a lot more was going on this week. Why is it you can go for weeks with nothing going on and others there is something almost every day?

This is Mary from West Virginia University doing a presentation at the Veterans Square on Ergonomic Tools. Showing us how to get back into our gardens if you have any joint problems. I wrote a grant this spring for the Green Thumbs Grant and the Marion County Master Gardner's received $1,000.00 to be used in the raised beds at the Veterans Square, $200.00 went to the tools to be used there.. Here we are trying out some of the tools and deciding what ones we want for our gardens!

Next was the Tomato Tasting Festival at High Gate on Sunday. This demo was all about worms and how to have your own worm farm to make your own compost. Of course my husband was real excited at this demo! We are the proud owners of 1 lb. of worms and as we speak he is in the garage getting his worm farm going... There he is in the back in green...

This is a local Chef doing his demo on tomato's, he always comes up with great recipes for us each year!!! He is a real crowd pleaser...

The butterfly farm came with a tent full of butterfly's for the kids to go into and enjoy. My neighbors granddaughter Kyra loved it and took lots of great pictures...

They were just beautiful!!!

Lots and Lots of them...

This is Todd from WVU doing his demo on the Ergonomic Tools... The crowd seemed to have lots of questions for him and the tools were great!

Here's our worm farm booth with all the instructions on how to make your own at home...

There were 62 plates of tomatoes to taste and boy were they great, lots of different varieties to choose from and be judged for flavor...

They are always presented beautifully and the community loves tasting them all...

One of our Master Gardner's dug up a whole tomato plant with a Tomato Hornworm, with Wasp Larvae laid on it, and brought it to the festival for everyone to see. It was really cool, click on the link and check it out, it is really interesting...

I went to my neighbors garden to swipe some of his Heirloom Tomatoes and he was lucky enough to win Third Place. He was so excited when I took him his ribbon!!!

Here is his tomato on the winners table, it is the one in the back.... This tomato seed was given to him 35 years ago by his son and he had no idea what kind of tomato it was. He calls it Pleasant Valley Delight and the judges were delighted with it too...

The winners table...

Music was played by this lovely lady all day, I just love to listen to her!

Some of our happy Master Gardner's standing out front greeting everyone as they came in...

Our newest members to my back yard, just born last weekend. Their eyes aren't even opened in this picture. I looked at them on Friday and they are really growing. They are Chipping Sparrows...

Last Friday night we went with friends to Pricketts Fort to a concert, this was intermission and Tom was visiting, there were so many people there we knew.

Good Old Mountain Music, these women put on a great show!

Here's a little clip of some of the music, hope you enjoy....

Have a Great Weekend!!!

Lynn

The Big Surprise!!!

2010-08-19T21:15:00.003-05:00

You've got to love the husband that calls home and says "Call Kyra I am bringing her home a surprise. Than doesn't even tell me what it is! Because he knows I will yell... LOL Well Kyra is the neighbors Granddaughter and she loves all creatures.... So I just knew it had to be something alive...
He pulled into the driveway with that big grin on his face and a baggie in his hand... Inside are two really tiny Black Snakes... It was a rescue he said... They were all tangled up in a Spider Web at our daughters house in the driveway... He saved them from sure death!!!

Kyra had no trouble putting her hands out to hold them right away...

Aren't they cute "TWINS".... Not any bigger than an earthworm... She took them right over to the house and got on the computer to see exactly what kind they were and how to take care of such babies... You can find out anything "just Google it" LOL

Her Grandma and I weren't too thrilled but the guys and her were thrilled to death!!!

School starts on Monday I bet no one else will have this kind of show and tell!!!

I guess it could have been worse, they could have been fully grown...

Have a Good One,

Lynn

Wordless Wednesday...

2010-08-17T21:43:00.001-05:00

Have A Good One,

Lynn

So My Mom is Famous!

2010-08-12T13:47:00.008-05:00

So my mom is becoming quite famous in our little town. The newspaper office called her last Tuesday and said "We want to do an article about you, and how you love to cook. Can you have something ready for us on Friday, we are coming to your house? But we want you to use only recipes with 4 ingredients or less, what can you do?" So mom thought for a while.
We thought she would come up with one or two dished, but that would not be my mother. She came up with 7, yea I said 7. Everything from a drink to appetizers then on to the main course and dessert. Not only does she cook great but everything has to look pretty too. She made Minted Iced Tea Coolers, Bloomin Onion Dip, Baked Zucchini Fries, Italian Turkey Sausage with Zucchini and Tomatoes, Pepper Jack Crescents, Round Steak with Potatoes and Green Beans and for dessert a Pineapple Angel Food Cake and Cool Whip. I have had most of these things and let me tell you they are yummy! The onion dip is a staple at all family functions and the pineapple cake is a great light and fluffy treat in the summer.The article was the entire back page of the paper. She doesn't know I am writing this but I am sure she will add pictures of all the food with recipes on here soon. Sorry if I made your mouths water.

Have a great day,
Colleen :o)~

Ok when I checked my blog this morning something just wasn't right... I had not written a blog yesterday, but there was one on here to my surprise...
Note to self: Don't give your daughter your password!!! LOL

So I guess I had to add to this blog and give you the recipes...

As Colleen told you the newspaper called on Tue. evening and ask if I could come up with a few recipes with 4 ingredients or less and they would be stopping by on Friday afternoon to see what I had come up with... I am always up for a challenge! But 4 ingredients.... After thinking about it for a while I came up with a quick lunch for four... with leftovers for my parents and the neighbor!!! LOL I just can't cook a little bit of anything...

Ok the table was set really early on Friday morning, while all the food was cooking. I had prepared the desert the night before so it was out of the way... The appetizer was coming out of the oven just about the time they arrived...

Bloomin' Onion Dip

1 cup vadalia onion chopped

1 cup Miracle Whip or Mayo

1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded

paprika
Combine onion,miracle whip and cheddar cheese: Put in non greased pie plate.Sprinkle paprika generously on top.Bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.Serve with your favorite dipping crackers.Yields: 6-8
This is a staple for all parties in our house...

Drinks were served...

Minted Iced Tea Cooler

3 peppermint-flavored tea bags

7 cups boiling water

1 cup cranberry juice

3/4 cup pink lemonade concentrate

Steep tea bags in boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Discard tea bags. Pour tea into a pitcher or large bowl; stir in cranberry juice and lemonade concentrate. Cover and refrigerate overnight.Serve over ice, Opt. add a lemon slice,cranberries and a sprig of mint.

Yields 8 servings

Come and get it!!

From the left:

*Round Steak with potatoes and green beans

*Turkey Sausage,zucchini,tomatoes and rice

*Zucchini Fries

*Pepper Jack Cheese Crescents

*Bloomin Onion Dip & Crackers

Round Steak

1 round steak; cut into six pieces

1- 3 pound can green beans with potatoes

1- Family Size (26oz.) Cream of Chicken Soup

Milk; about 1/2 of the soup can

salt and pepper to taste

Place round steak in bottom of a 11x13 baking pan.Drain green beans and potatoes; pour on top of steak.Mix soup and milk together; pour over steak, green beans and potatoes.Bake covered 350 degrees for 2 hours.

Yields: 6

This was a recipe given to me by a dear friend when she brought it to the house the week after Colleen was born. So I have been making this for 31 years. Of course you can change things around, I have put broccoli instead of green beans. Cream of Mushroom soup instead of Chicken. You can cut up your own potatoes and put on one side of the meat and green beans on the other side. It is just quick and easy to make and just plain good...

Coffee anyone? It's time for desert...

A light and refreshing summer desert...

Pineapple Angel Food Cake

1 box Angel Food Cake Mix

1 can crushed pineapple

Cool Whip

Mix Angel Food Cake mix and pineapple with juice in a glass bowl; let set 15 minutes.Put in 9x13 cake pan "DO NOT GREASE PAN"

Bake 350 degrees for 34-37 minutes.

Serve with Cool Whip

Yields: 12

Well I guess I got excited and forgot to take pictures of everything else but I have the recipes for you...

Italian Turkey Sausage, Zucchini and Tomato Dinner

1-1/4 pounds Hot Italian Turkey Sausage

3 small zucchini, cubed

1- 28 oz. crushed tomatoes with garlic,oregano and basil (Red Pack Brand)

Hot cooked rice or pasta

Over medium heat, brown sausage until no longer pink; drain.Cut sausage into 1/4 inch slices; return to the skillet to brown completely.Add zucchini and tomatoes; cook until zucchini is tender. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes . Serve over rice or pasta.Yield: 4-6 servings.

Pepper Jack Crescents

1 tube (8oz.) refrigerated crescent rolls

3 Tbs. shredded pepper jack cheese, divided

2 Tbs. chopped fresh chives

1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard

Unroll crescent dough . Combine 2 Tbs. cheese, chives and ,mustard; spread about1 teaspoon over each triangle. Roll up from the short side. Place point side down on an ungreased baking sheet and curve into a crescent shape.Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield: 8 rolls

Baked Zucchini Fries

3 medium zucchini

1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs

1 cup all purpose flour

2 eggs,beaten

salt and pepper to taste

Cut zucchini into 2 inch long strips and 1/4 inch thick pieces.Put flour into a baggie with salt and pepper; next add zucchini to coat well. Than dip fries into egg and roll into bread crumbs. Place on non stick or greased cookie sheet.Bake until fries are tender and coating is crisp, about 20-30 minutes. Let cool slightly. Can be served with salsa or nacho cheese.

Yields: 4 servings

I hope everyone enjoys all the easy 4 ingredient recipes today, and thanks for stopping by.

And for you COLLEEN DYANE USARY I will talk to you later!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Have a good one,

Lynn

Farmers Market Tuesday!!!

2010-08-10T20:47:00.003-05:00

I go to our local Farmers Market every Tue. evening, but tonight it was packed. I even got there early and had to wait in line. They don't open until 4:00 and they can't sell anything until 4:00. So while I waited I saw a really big cabbage that looked wonderful. The smaller ones were $3.00 but this big one was $4.00. When I said wow what a cabbage, the little girl behind the table said I grew that one! With a big smile on her face, and an even bigger smile from her Grandfather!!! Each year our county gives out cabbage plants to all the 3rd. graders and tells them to plant them and who ever has the biggest cabbage the will win money. I'm not sure how much but the kids get so excited about it! This one weighed 9 pounds, she had taken pictures and sent them in to try to win!!! My husband gave me an extra dollar and told me to go buy it!!! I told her any cabbage that big was worth at least & 5.00... That smile got even bigger, like she had just won the lottery!!! How cute she was. I wish I had taken a picture of her with it, but it was so packed I just wanted to get out of that hot sun... I also picked up some yellow squash, that will be dinner tomorrow on the grill...

Look how big this cabbage is!!! Can we say Cabbage rolls here we come!!! Yum Yum...

Hope you all have a great week, stay cool!!

Lynn

It's a WOW Chocolate Pie !!!

2010-08-05T16:56:00.004-05:00

I just can't keep out of the kitchen this summer. I have made this pie and taken it to 4 different places the last 2 weeks... It has to be one of the best pies I have tasted in a long time and everyone seems to like it! It's like a big brownie in a pie... I love searching the Food Network, Epicurious and Tastespotting for new and different recipes. this one came from the Food Network and is courtesy of Paula Deen. So try it out but be ready for some really rich chocolate... and you MUST have ice cream with it!!! Pie Recipe (just click on Pie Recipe) AND ENJOY!!!

Have a Good One,
Lynn

Zucchini Summer Recipes... Shall We say YUM...

2010-07-28T14:05:00.005-05:00

If you can't tell I am on a cooking frenzy, the neighbors love because I have shared all week...
It is summer and the time to cook out of the garden. No better time of the year.

For those of you that don't think you like Zucchini you really need to try it, you can fix it so many ways. Here is another new one I just tried this week...
Recipes from Epicurious

Green Beans and Zucchini With Sauce Verte

Sauce verte is French for "green sauce." In this recipe, the sauce gets its vibrant color from basil, green onion, parsley, and capers.

Everything fresh out of the garden, What Could Be Better!!!

I love growing Herbs....

Ingredients

Sauce verte:
1/3 cup (packed) fresh basil leaves
1 green onion, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons (packed) fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons drained capers
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, peeled
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Vegetables:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound green beans, stem end trimmed
12 ounces zucchini, halved lengthwise, each half cut lengthwise into 1/3-inch-wide strips
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley leaves

Preparation

For sauce verte: Blend first 7 ingredients in processor until finely chopped. With machine running, gradually add olive oil. Process until coarse puree forms. Season sauce verte to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

For vegetables: Heat oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add vegetables; stir until coated. Sprinkle with salt and 3 tablespoons water. Cover; cook vegetables until almost crisp-tender, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Uncover; cook until vegetables are just tender, about 2 minutes longer. Stir in enough sauce verte to coat vegetables generously. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. Garnish with parsley and serve.

___________________________________________________________________

I made these Monday night and Tom and I ate them all. When Zucchini is growing like crazy this time of year we eat it almost every night and this has to be my favorite this summer. I will be making this one often I am sure. Especially since they are baked not fried!!! This recipe came from the Web site Epicurious, just type in what ever ingredient you want and all kind of recipes will come up!!! LOVE IT...

Baked Zucchini Fries With Tomato Coulis Dipping Sauce

(A coulis (pronounced /kuːˈliː/, "koo-LEE") (French, from Old French couleis, from Vulgar Latin cōlāticus, from Latin cōlātus, past participle of cōlāre, to strain) is a form of thick sauce made from puréed and strained vegetables or fruits. A vegetable coulis is commonly used on meat and vegetable dishes, and it can also be used as a base for soups or other sauces. Fruit coulis are most often used on desserts. Raspberry coulis, for example, is especially popular with poached apples.)

Dipping Sauce

1 pound ripe tomatoes, peeled, cored, and diced
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon minced shallot or onion
2 teaspoons fresh basil, chopped

(I added fresh oregano,fresh basil and fresh garlic also)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Fries

Fries

1 cup unseasoned bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
3 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into 2-inch-long and 1/4-inch-thick pieces (peel first, if desired, and avoid round pattypan squash — the shape does not lend itself to fries)

Prepration

1. Combine all the coulis ingredients in a blender and pureé. Transfer to a sauté pan and cook over medium heat until fragrant and warmed through, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the refrigerator to cool. (We liked it Hot instead of cool)
2. Preheat oven to 350°F.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the bread crumbs, salt, and pepper( I added some hot pepper seeds to spice them up a little). Place the flour in another medium bowl and the beaten eggs in a smaller bowl.
4. Dip the zucchini sticks first in the flour until lightly coated, then in the beaten eggs( I only used the egg whites). Roll them in the bread-crumb mixture until well covered.
5. Transfer the zucchini pieces to a nonstick baking sheet and bake until the zucchini is tender but the coating is crisp, about 20 minutes. Let the fries cool slightly before eating. Serve with the coulis as a dipping sauce.
Tip: Yellow summer squash (like the long crookneck and round pattypan varieties), golden zucchini, and common green zucchini (pictured here) are interchangeable, so choose whatever looks freshest. The ones that are shiny-skinned and taut, not rubbery, are your best bet.

If you try these let me know how you liked them !!

Have a Good One,

Lynn

Dog sitting weekend...

2010-07-27T20:50:00.002-05:00

My Mother-in-Law is now in a nursing home, she had this wonderful dog and 2 cats. The cats are still in her home next door and we keep them taken care of, but the dog went to my Sister-in-Law and her family. So we dog sit when they go out of town. As you can see she makes her self right to home here. She is was so cute laying with her head on the arm of the chair sound asleep I just had to take a picture... Her name is Shy Girl ... It was a lazy day for all the dogs I just went around the house and took pictures of sleeping dogs, here is Mia under the end table...

Keegan in front of the door in his sunshine....

And the Princess Claudia on the bed in a pile of blankets....

A Dogs Life at our house, I think my next life I will come back as a dog, a very pampered dog like all of these!!!

Have a Good One,

Lynn

Friends and New Recipes

2010-07-25T15:39:00.004-05:00

Friday was a beautiful day to have a few friends over from school. I love having friends over to try new recipes on!!! Everything I made for lunch was a new recipe. The Internet opens things up to anything you want. I started by thinking what do I have on hand that I can fix for lunch? I had just gone to the farmers market and purchased a large head of cabbage so that was my starting point...
So I started at the Food Network and found a wonderful recipe from the show Barefoot Contessa.
Stuffed Cabbage (click on this link for recipe) I love cabbage rolls!
The only things I changed were I had no raisins and instead of ground beef I used 2 lbs of ground turkey and 1/2 lb. hot turkey sausage. They turned out wonderful.
The one tip I give everyone when making cabbage rolls is from a friends mother who taught me probably 20 years ago. Core your cabbage and wrap it tightly with Saran Wrap. Place it on a plate in the microwave and cook 15 minutes on high. Carefully take out and unwrap it. The leaves are ready to use just cut out the large vain in the center of each leaf. If you get closer to the center of the cabbage and it needs cooked a little more just put back in and cook 5 more minutes... This is so easy and mess free... Next on the menu was Roasted Tomatoes from the show Giada at Home (Click on link for recipe)

It called for Gorgonzola or grated Parmesan and I used Parmesan because that is what I had.. They were simple and great hot right out of the oven... The fresh parsley right out of the herb garden was wonderful... I love summer and fresh vegies!!! Next were the green beans. I just added one diced onion and 2 cloves of garlic, salt and pepper and let them cook down for about an hour....

I made a large salad and we called it lunch!!!

Of course you have to have desert and it was a Blueberry picking week here and I had way more than I could possible eat alone. So it was time to bake... This one is Blueberry Zucchini Bread (click on link for recipe)
When I greased the pan I dusted it with 2 T Sugar and 1t cinnamon... Yummy...

This one is:

Lemon-Blueberry Bundt

Adapted from Cooking Light

2 Tbs. sugar

3 Cups flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 3/4 c granulated sugar

1/4 c butter softened

grated zest & juice of one lemon, divided

4 large eggs

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 (160z) container reduced -fat sour cream

2 Tbs buttermilk

2 c fresh blueberries

1 Tbs. powdered sugar

Preheat oven 350

To prepare cake, grease a 12 cup bundt pan and dust it with 2 Tbs. sugar. Set aside.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. combine flour,baking powder,baking soda,and salt,stirring with a whisk.

Place 1 3/4 cups sugar,butter and rind in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 2 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time,beating well after each addition (about 4 minutes total). Beat in vanilla, lemon juice sour cream and buttermilk. Add all but 1 Tbs. of the four mixture; beat at medium speed just until combined. Toss blueberries in reserved dry ingredients; gently flour into the batter. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake 350 for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 15 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

I think my favorite was the Blueberry Zucinni Bread. I love the Cinnamon.... But those Scones from the last post were to die for right out of the oven!!!

Ok I am going to start on a post with lots of flowers I have things blooming and growing like crazy....

Have a Great Week,

Lynn

July Bloomers & A Wonderful Recipe...

2010-07-17T21:31:00.006-05:00

For those of us on a diet I took all the calories out of this one so go ahead indulge!!!! As I was going through one of my favorite places TasteSpotting
Looking for a recipe for Blueberry anything, I found this recipe at Tender Crumb blog
They are Blueberry Scones and boy are they good or should I say Great... she has some wonderful recipes on her blog so drop by and check them out!!! I made them for a party so I cut one in half and Tom and I tested it and I froze the rest really quick... LOL

This is the first time I have planted Bells of Ireland and they are coming up really pretty... I love lime green and the centers are so cute... click on the picture for a closer look!

My Tipsy Pots over flowing with flowers... You can hardly see the pots. I love these pots, I have 4 of them around the yard. My husband says I have way too many flowers.. Well maybe - But I don't think so!!! LOL
Here's the view from the other side...

The baskets by the Secret Garden...

My favorite corner on my back porch...

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

PS I have a Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake in the over right now, so I will send the recipe and pictures this week with a review!!!

Have a Good One,

Lynn

Here Comes the Rain!!! Finally!!!

2010-07-09T14:38:00.006-05:00

Well it finally rained a little this afternoon, not nearly enough though. I just hope it raines all night. It did fill the rain barrels and I guess that counts for something...

My favorite Geranium is blooming like crazy. I propagated this from a friends a couple years ago and I hope to keep it going from now on... I think it is the most beautiful Geranium I have ever seen...

"The Appleblossom Rosebud"

PlantFiles: Fish Geranium, Horseshoe Geranium, Zonal Geranium Pelargonium x hortorum 'Appleblossom Rosebud'

Family: Geraniaceae (jer-ay-nee-AY-see-ee)

(Info )Genus: Pelargonium (pe-lar-GO-nee-um)

(Info )Species: x hortorum (hor-TOR-um)

(Info )Cultivar: Appleblossom Rosebud

Category:Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Height:12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
Spacing:12-15 in. (30-38 cm)
Hardiness:USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Sun Exposure:Full SunSun to Partial Shade
Bloom Color:Pink
Bloom Time:Late Spring/Early SummerMid SummerLate Summer/Early FallBlooms repeatedly

This was right after the rain, I love to see the raindrops on the flowers...

This is another of my favorite Geraniums, but I'm not sure of the name. I just went to Daves Garden and posted a picture for ID so maybe I will get the real name of it... I love that site so much info in just one place...

Isn't She Beautiful???

Zinnia's were my father-in-laws favorite so I grow them every year...

Summer Sun Sunflowers...

I was amazed when the seeds I saved lastyear came back true to the big double petunias I grew from seed lastyear...

I also had an Ornimentl Cabbage come back up from lastyear, it even produced seed this spring... I think this really cold and snowy winter really helped...

The Gerbas are such a beautiful color of pink, so fresh and clean looking... especially after the rain...

Butterflys have been out in force, I could take pictures of them all day. There are so many different colors to enjoy...

Hope you all get some of this needed rain where you are... Have a great day...

Have a Good One,

Lynn

4th of July Camping Trip...

2010-07-07T17:30:00.014-05:00

As we came across the mountain we stopped at the overlook to see the beautiful water on the South Branch of the Potomac. The water was really low but still a wonderful sight. This is one of my husbands favorite place to fish... Shorty after arriving at the campsite it was time to start putting up our tents... First we put up our daughters... What a difference from the tents of the past. Back in the 70's they were so heavy and all those poles, it took for ever to put them up. Now it is just minutes and in a really tiny case. I love it!!!

Than on to ours... The flag went up and shall we say "Home Sweet Home"...

Mia just sat and watched as we worked...she loves to camp!!!

We took all three dogs and the little kids loved to walk them. I don't think they have been walked this much in years... This one is Claudia and Riley loved walking her...

This one is Keegan and he was Caleb's favorite... We had 7 dogs in camp again this year. Thank goodness they all get along great!!!

The "Princess" Claudia was ready for bed early in her own chair all cuddled up in her blanket!!! Shall we say PAMPERED!!!

Early the next morning we went for a drive... To "WalMart" for a new air mattress since mine died!!! LOL

On the way we saw so many fields full of hay bails... Hundreds of them... It wasn't a holiday weekend for all the farmers that had 5-6 beautiful days to get the hay put up!

Big bails of Hay...

Here we are in our big field all set up... There were 24 of us in all in our group...
Down in that valley between two montains... Nothing but green...

I was always know as the "Queen of Sleep" my whole life. But in the last year or so I am the "Early Bird" So I was up at Sunrise and off for my walk.This was on my morning path even before my coffee... Since I was usually the first or second one up... Look at the sun hitting the beautiful green West Virginia Hills....

That bright sun coming up through the trees....

If you click on the photo you can still see the dew on the leaves. It was so crisp and clear in the early morning.. So quiet, all you could hear were the beautiful sounds of the birds. The first morning I came across 6 dear in the field just browsing. They were so graceful as they caught wind of me and jumped the fences to the next field...

This one is for you Balisha, the dew on the tip of a leaf... With the bright morning sun hitting it!!!

Everything looks so bright and fresh in the mornings...

After breakfast on Saturday my daughter and her boyfriend JR decided to take a float down river, they put in around 11:30am. Kayaks were about the only thing going down the river this weekend with the low waters...

Here they are coming down the river at 5:30pm about 6 1/2 miles down river... They fished,swam and Baked all the way down....

They were really tired when they pulled in, that's a long float with the water so low. Lots of paddling and even walking, but they had a good time....

Than it was time for dinner, it was a hot dog night. Everyone with their hot dogs in the fire getting ready to eat. This is so much fun as everyone gathers around the fire in the evenings...

They were really ready to eat!!!
Mama Lynn as the kids call me was in charge of the Funnel Cakes that evening. I usually do this with my best friend Patty, but this time my Sister-in-Law Patti helped me. I had the big Iron Skillet out and they were eating them as fast as I could make them!!!

Sunday morning you can see the haze over the mountains as we gathered under the tarp trying to stay in the little bit of shade we could find, until it was time to go sit in the river to cool off...

There is one thing you do when you are camping and it is EAT!!! This group knows how to camp and Cook. Sunday night started off by starting the corn over the fire...

While the new rookies were shown how to crank the ice cream makers... And Crank and crank and crank....

Here's a few more being shown by the Master Ice cream Maker...

Tom and Claudia found some shade for a few minutes before dinner to take a nap...

While Rusty put on the steaks and cooked them to perfection...

Would you look at the size of them, and I ate every bite of mine!!!

Dinner is over and we are just waiting for desert to be ready, I told you this group knows how to put on a quite a spread !!!

The homemade Ice cream is ready and it was so delicious!!!

Of course we had to have homemade apple and blueberry cobbler cooked in big iron dutch ovens, in the hot coals to go with that cobbler!!! LOL

Now I really couldn't move just waddle across the lawn to my chair!!!

As the evening came to a close in front of the fire we watched fireworks and just enjoyed the company...

Of course with Mia on my lap, she hates fireworks. As if it weren't hot enough I had to hold her and all that fur!!

My sister-in-law had the other two all bundled up for the night...

Than another big morning breakfast, even a few leftover steaks got warmed up with all the other things...

Fried potatoes...

Bacon and Sausage... Along with eggs, toast, fruit, and much more.

For us it was time to pack up and head home, after a wonderful 5 days on the river it was time to say good bye to everyone and we all went in different directions promising to return another time for more fun and great food...

Have a Good One,

Lynn

They're Back.... Yuck!!!

2010-07-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

Look how beautiful, well at least for the most part!!! But guess who's back???

I hate them and they are destroying my flowers! The Beetle bags are going up and I keep smashing them. But it is hard to keep up with.

Have a Good One,

Lynn

Happy 4th of July!!! God Bless America...

2010-07-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Happy 4th of July
Hope Everyone is enjoying their day!!!

Have a Good One,
Lynn

Mexican Sunflower Fiesta Del Sol...

2010-07-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

Every year I try to order some new and different seeds from Park Seed Co.

This year it was the Mexican Sunflower Fiesta Del Sol . It produces masses of flowers all summer on a compact plant of lush green leaves... Every year I have a new favorite and this is it! Look at that great color!!!

This is just one plant....

It loves the morning sun...
My pick for this summer for sure!

Have a Good One,

Lynn

Newly Renovated Quiet Spot!!!

2010-07-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Secret Garden, but known to most it is "Kyra's Secret Garden"

A few years ago when the Neighbors Grand Daughter was old enough to come wondering over from next door. She loved to wonder thought the trees in the back yard. Going in and out of the pathways. She will be in the third grade this year and still enjoys going in and out of the pathways discovering all kinds of things in there. I love the new gate my husband made me this spring, it is Wonderful and just bring things all together....

So right at the beginning of the first path is Kyra's sign to her garden...

But as she said yesterday " It has been "renovated"....

My daughters bought me this new garden stool for Mothers Day this year and this was just a perfect place to put it. Somewhere to just get away from the world and relax....

Quiet and Tranquil...

Take a Good Book and tune out the world for a little while...

Thanks Girls for such a Great Gift!!!

Have a good one,

Lynn

Little Reese Cup...

2010-07-01T07:30:00.002-05:00

Would you just look at this cute little one!!! His name is Reese and his mother is one of my youngest best friends. I have known Kayla since the day she was born. She only lived 3 doors down from us. So many wonderful memories fill my head when I think of all the fun times the girls spent together over the years growing up.
At about age 3 or 4 in the summer they lived in bathing suits and wore roller skates everywhere. LOL
Little Reese was born about 3 weeks ago, This is the little knitted hat and diaper cover I made for him. He sure looks happy in it!!! What a smile for such a little guy!!!

Have a good one,

Lynn

Wordless Wednesday...Pretty in Pink...

2010-06-30T10:39:00.000-05:00

Enjoying Life!!! It's Summer....

2010-06-29T07:26:00.004-05:00

As you all know summer is my most Favorite time of the year! I can't imagine why everyone wouldn't want to be outside as much as possible. I'm up at 6am walking in the yard with my first cup of coffee. Than sitting on the porch reading the paper and eating my breakfast, cereal with fresh blueberries. It is hard for me to come inside to clean house until dark... My Crocosmia 'Late Lucifer' is booming like crazy, it is Toms favorite and this year it is bigger than ever.

Those big red lush blooms are really going crazy...

Pink Mandavilla...

False Sunflower, Rough Heliopsis

Butterfly weed...

Not sure but they are beautiful, it came up from last year and I don't even remember planting them. Does that mean I have way to many flowers!!!LOL

One of my painted buckets...

My old chair on the pack patio full of flowers...

Lots of annuals...

Hope everyone has a great day outside, enjoy it to the max while it lasts!!!

Have a good one,

Lynn

The trip home....

2010-06-28T06:39:00.012-05:00

"Wild Wonderful West Virginia"

That is what the sign says as you enter the beautiful state of "West Virginia"

The beach is a wonderful place to visit, but there is no place like Home. It was a long drive home, but I kept busy Knitting the hours away...

We stopped at roadside stops to stretch our legs and look at the thousands of Lily's in bloom...

The New River Gorge Bridge

This bridge was completed on October 22,1977. Each year on the third weekend in October they have Bridge Day. This is the only day that visitors may walk across the bridge. The event lures hundreds of parachutists, cheered on by thousands of spectators, to float the 876 foot drop to the river below. We took a walk down ALL those steps through the beautiful wooded area to see the grand view... Taking a little rest at the bottom before walking back UP all the steps to the top again... It was our cardio workout for the day. Actually it felt good after sitting in the car for so long!!! What a view of our beautiful state, it doesn't get much greener than this!!! Rolling Mountains,grand rivers and so many trees... This is a wonderfully colorful scene in the fall...

In the spring the Whitewater rafters are out in force on this river, big time... Time to go back up the steps, winding up through the woods, lush with Mountain Laural. At least it was cooler in the shade, because it was in the 90's on Saturday and humid!!!

Click on the picture to get the closeup..At the visitors center the grand flower beds were in full bloom with Liatrus and butterflies everywhere... Sun shinning,butterflies everywhere and flowers blooming everywhere!!!

What Could Be Better?
Well we are home safe and sound.... Back to reality...

I have been working in the flowerbeds like crazy I will post pictures tomorrow. I have so much in bloom I don't know where to start!!!

Have a Good One,

Lynn

2010-06-24T20:41:00.007-05:00

Setting in the water on a beautiful afternoon with friends, what could be better. Look at that wonderfully clear sky, and calm water...

THEN...... WIPE-OUT..... LOL
Off to a great dinner out...

Lynn & Robin

Jean,Kyra & Judy

And Delicious Food...

Than we ended the evening back on the beach with fire works and a beautiful full moon over the water...

Have a good one,

Lynn

Fun At The Beach

2010-06-22T18:14:00.011-05:00

Early morning at the beach, which is so not me at the beach. Usually I want to chill and sleep in at the beach. But being here with the girls, Jean and her sister Judy love to walk really early. This morning we left the house at 4:45am. It was still dark, but when the color started coming up it was beautiful. Look at the sun on the water, absolutely magnificent!!! This was dinner tonight at one of their favorite restaurants...

Robin and Judy...

Jean, Kyra and Me...

Kyra (Jeans grand daughter) loves feeding the birds and they really love her...

Up close and beautiful...

This is the harbor about 10 blocks down where I went to check on boat rentals, these pictures are for you Tom...

This is right across the street from our house, so beautiful....

All the girls at 5:30 am, I was still even in my Jammie's!!!

This is the front of our little cottage on the beach.... We love to sit on the porch...

This is the walk to the beach....
We make this trip quite a few times a day....

We are having a wonderfully relaxing week, a much needed week.

Have a good one,

Lynn

A Beach Vacation

2010-06-20T07:06:00.003-05:00

A beautiful morning at the beach!!! I am at Carolina Beach, NC with some wonderful friends... It's a girls week at the beach...
Walking at the beach at 5:30 the sky is so beautiful. I am really going to try and walk every morning. I'm not really into walking, even though I know I should. But at the beach you just want to walk.
The weather so far is beautiful and the water feels like bath water. I'm looking forward to just sitting on the beach today and just relaxing, not a care in the world....
I missed getting up this morning and walking through the flower beds... My hubby Tom has promised to water all the flowers! I'm sure he will, BUT I just hope he keeps them alive for a week. Walking back and forth from the water barrels to water everything really takes some time. I bet he will cheat and use the hose!!!LOL
HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL YOU DADS OUT THERE!!!

Have a good one,
Lynn

Pictures-Pictures and more Pictures...

2010-06-12T20:08:00.059-05:00

Have I ever told you how much I LOVE SUMMER!!! You will never hear me complain about heat!!! I love it... and everything that comes along with it!!! Of course the Grounds Keeper is exhausted after a long day in the yard....

We wait all winter for these days to come and when they finally do... you just don't want to come inside... I am up and out at 6am... Coffee in my hand just walking around looking at everything and how it has grown overnight. I just don't want to miss a thing. All the new babies I grew from seeds this spring inside, now getting bigger and bigger with each day!!!

So lets take a walk around a few of the beds in full bloom....

"CLICK ON ANY PICTURE TO GET A LARGER VIEW"...

Mallow...

Helipsos-Summer Sun Sunflower

Lemon Drops (I think)

Comfrey...

Lily...

Primrose...

Masses of Primrose, have taken most of it out around the house already this spring....

Foxglove-Digitalis

Snapdragons........

The "Secret Garden" and my Wonderful new gate..... My husband Tom built this for me and I LOVE IT!!!

He put so much time in this and it sure shows. It was everything I wanted and MORE!!!

My new wave petunias... There were only 10 seeds in this packet but it was worth it... This is one plant and it will only get bigger...

Clematis.... Growing up the new gate...

Calendula.......

Lots of them Mass planted by the birdbath....

Hens and Chickens...

The back side of the Secret Garden...

Inside this pot hanging from the tree is a 1 gallon milk jug with a tiny pin hole in one corner, filled with water it just keeps dripping into the saucer beneath to keep my birdies watered and cool all summer....

This is the side view into the Secret Garden, there are two paths going through it....

This is the back path.....

This is the back view of the Secret Garden from the Bird Garden...

This is the Bird Garden / Herb Garden / Butterfly Garden in the back yard...

Here are two of the tiny sunflowers....

The topiary pots filled with herbs, and Wooly Thyme on the ground...

Do you see the concrete Cat peeking out from behind the Sedum???

Lavender Blooming.....

The neighbors old plow, looking quite beautiful among the herbs.....

The tiny plants on the front edge are Bush Basil, they will get so big and

beautiful, we will be eating pesto all summer.....

Not sure exactly what this bush is but the birds love it....

Lots of berrys to eat...

" Miss Petunia"

And of course "Miss Petunia" in her glory... Decked out in Red-White and Blue this year...

There are lots of vines at her base this year just ready to start growing up her skirt and blooming....

She is just a Good Ol Girl.... Ready for summer......

Or should I say a Big Ol Girl... LOL

Here's a shot of the back bed and some of the things growing here.....
See how many you can name???

I can't beleive how things are blooming so early this year, it must be all the snow we had this winter. This Butterfly Weed shouldn't be blooming for another month here...

My Nicotina that comes back every year in this spot I love their night blooming color....

The back porch.... A new pot, I can't wait until the petunias start spilling out of it... Mandevilla..
The Tipsy Pots are starting to overflow like they should....The little white flower spilling out of the blue pot is one of my favorites,just so sweet and airy. It is called Diamond Frost, it mounds and blooms until frost... My kind of flower....

By the front porch steps, Galardia...

Night Blooming Jasman....

The Cone Flowers

Burgandy Baby Nicotina.... I had no idea it would get this big!

Well it is time to get back in the yard. I'll give you another tour in a few days as new bloomers come on....

Have a Great Day,

Lynn

A few new bloomers...

2010-06-02T21:21:00.011-05:00

The Copper Sedge is doing great although my daughter says it looks like dead grass... This picture was taken a week ago and the Nigillia is a lot bigger now and most of it has already gone to seed. The cute Sun was given to me by my neighbor on the first day of Spring. That day is like a great holiday for us. We hate winter and are always ready for Spring!!! The cute little chair was given to me by my girls for mothers day. It is a beautiful piece made of heavy iron. It was a nice touch in this garden... I love it!!! The Korean Bell Flowers are going crazy, I probable pulled this many or more and tossed them. They will take over if you let them. But I just love them.

The Gallardia is going crazy and the hummers love it!!!

There you can see that cute little chair much better now...

Campanula Bell Flowers what a great color added to the beds...

Just a few flowers, I will post more later...

I have been following a new blog and they are having a giveaway that is great so go to

Stone Gable and check it out!!! Also a great new recipe to try...

Have a Good One,

Lynn

I love your blog award!!!

2010-05-30T20:18:00.002-05:00

This award was given to me last week by two special blogging friends now it is time for for me to pass it on!

This first blog has been a favorite for about a year now, Nina at Nature remains just has a way with words that makes you feel like where ever she is you are right there with her!!! I love to read her writtings. Last year when I traveled each day with the 6th grade class, English Class was my favorite, I made sure they all knew about this blog so they could read all the expressive language she used in her blog. The kids loved it!!!

Second Cathy At Tolentreasures has a wonderful blog, she reminds me of me at that age. Tole Painting like crazy on anything that didn't move and some that did, sewing, knitting, gardening and anything else we could get into... all while having a family and just enjoying LIFE!!! I enjoy reading about all that she does. Great Job on a Blog Well Done...

I could name so many more, I love reading every ones blogs all different, that is what live is all about everyone different and beautiful in their own ways!!!

Have a good One,
Lynn

My new Award...

2010-05-25T11:45:00.004-05:00

It has been a wonderful week, I have been honored twice this week with this beautiful award!

First from a fantastic blogger at A Hocking Hill's Garden. Lona has a great blog with the most beautiful roses and wonderful gardens. I do not have the ability to grow roses the way she does, they are gorgeous. Her photography is amazing, I love dropping by to check out what she has new each week blooming. Thank You so much for this honor.....

Second I received this from one of my first real blogging friends Balisha at Never Enough Time

I have been visiting her blog for a long time. She is a true friend, we have so much in common we love so many of the same things. I love to read all her poems that she writes about Everything!!!

Almost every day she has something new to enjoy!!! Thank You for this wonderful award!!!

Now it is my turn to pass this one on....

But you will have to wait a few days sorry, but after a 12 hour day at both jobs that I truly love I am just too tired tonight to type. Check back in a few days...

Love you all!!!

Lynn

May Blooms...

2010-05-18T20:13:00.013-05:00

This weekend was so beautiful, we spent all day Saturday and Sunday putting out mulch, 6 scoops of mulch. We only have one more bed to do and we will be finished. The rain has stopped us probably for the week. Thursday is our only day this week for a chance of a little sun. It is suppose to rain all weekend. Yuck!!! So I snuck outside for a few shots of some May blooms in between raindrops....
For those of you that follow, Miss Petunia is back up and ready for all the vining flowers to start growing up her skirt. She will have a big basket of flowers in her hands. She has Irish Moss growing on top her head. It will have little white flowers all summer. I have planted candy corn vine, hyacentbean vine, hummingbird vine at her base. She will be blooming like crazy this summer...
This is my herb/bird/butterfly garden. It belonged to my Mother-in-law and when she got ill I took it over for her. That is her house in the background that is in my back yard... This is my second year planting herbs here and they are really looking nice and I have started quite a collection... Here is the Candy Corn vine...

The Clematis In the Secret Garden is starting to vine up the new arbor and really blooming...

Look what a beautiful Face the Columbine has....

This one was new last year and I have No Idea what it is, it is only about 6 inches tall but has spread beautifully and one of the first to bloom this year. If anyone knows what it is please let me know...

Speedwell was one of the first things I planted in the perennial garden in 1995 it is still beautiful in the spring...

Pink Deadnettle, I had no idea until today it was an herb... I need to move a piece to the herb garden. It was used to check bleeding and treatment of menstrual problems and bleeding after childbirth.The Lavenders first blooms....

Honeysuckle is going crazy and the butterflies flock to it. I remember as a child there was a wall of it along the street in front of my house. I loved to watch the butterflies all day long...

White Deadnettle, I love how it looks tucked under plants, the leaves are great...

I Love spring and summer it is so much fun watching everything grow and bloom!!!

Have A Good One,

Lynn

New flowers for 2010

2010-05-17T11:11:00.006-05:00

I thought I would show you some of the new plants I have this year... (these aren't my flowers I just pulled them up off the Internet) Mine are still just babies but they are doing really in the beds already this year...
I love little tiny things and this small sedum is great with all my hens and chickens in the Secret Garden... This is brand new for me this year it is Trailing Vinca I hope mine turns out this grand...

This is a perennial Trailing Dusty Miller, I placed it by the mailboxes hoping it will trail down over the wall...

Copper Sedge, my daughter tells me it looks dead, but I love the copper color it gives next to my front steps... It is also a Perennial...

This one is Mexican De Sol a small sunflower.

I will post a few more in a couple of days... I have lots of new things this year, It is an experimental year for me, I just wanted something different and I hope they work out...

Have a Good One,

Lynn

New Secret Garden Arbor...

2010-05-13T20:27:00.002-05:00

My new arbor is almost done... I love it! My husband is amazing ...

Now all I have to do is find the hinges and latch I like!!! Easier said than done!

About month ago we were talking about the warn out arbor in my Secret Garden. It needed replaced, but I couldn't find anything I liked. Tom said show me what you want, I went to the computer and showed him about 5 different ones I liked and what I liked about each of them. Next thing I knew he had one drawn up. It was like magic. Everything I wanted in an arbor. I used my money I won in the cooking contests and away we went. Here's Tom holding the gate in place so I can see what it is going to look like done. He knows I'm a visual person. The sides have the same diamond shape on them too...

I want wrought iron for the hinges and latch, I just have to find some, the arbor is so beautiful I just don't want to just put anything on it. Well I better hit the Internet, come back in a few days and see what I've found!!!

Have a Good One,
Lynn

Wonderful Family!!!

2010-05-09T21:07:00.005-05:00

We spent this morning with my Mother-in-Law at the nursing home. She has to be the sweetest woman I have ever met. We have lived next door to her for 32 years and it has always been wonderful. I have so many wonderful memories over the years. The first year we were married I taught her how to drive, I was only 19 at the time and fearless... They told me no one could teach her how to drive... Well that's all anyone had to say! Three months later she had her own car and was driving everywhere!!! And Loving it!!!
One time she asked me to go buy her a pair of new tennis shoes, I asked her what size and she told me 2 1/2, and I said ok really what size do you need??? I didn't think anyone could wear that small of a shoe... I don't think she was ever 5 feet tall , but that is what she told everyone!

This is my mother-in law and Tom my husband and his sister Patti. I just took this picture last Friday since it turned out so good I'm going to have it printed and framed. We were all on our way to the Funeral Home because one of her best friends that lived right across the street from her had died.. Everyone at the nursing home told her how great she looked and asked where she was going? Well she told them the Funeral Home, " But I AM Coming back!!!" she said...

Today the head nurse was there because she is having trouble eating so she told her she could just eat a little every hour or two. When they came in to give her, her meds that she hates to take, the nurse asked what she wanted to take them with to make them taste better, she said Bud Lite! That nurse said OK what ever you want!!! So we are taking a little cooler to keep them in! Sometimes Life is Good, she gave that nurse such a Big Hug!!!

She is very ill with cancer, but what a sense of humor she has. She is not letting it get her down, I just thank God she is in no pain, and they are taking such great care of her...

I was blessed with the Greatest of IN-LAWS....

Lil I Love You!!!

A Wonderful Evening at the Fort!

2010-04-22T19:05:00.011-05:00

Have you ever had one of those days where you know you have something to do after a long day at work and you just want to go home take a quick nap and just chill. Instead you rush home try to get a few things done and rush out the door to a meeting.... It was a beautiful evening, I could be working in the flower beds for a few hours!!!
It was our Master Gardeners Meeting and I really wanted to go I was just tired. So I went home freshened up a little and off Tom & I went.

Well this was the first thing we saw as we pulled into the bay right before getting to the Fort. They were so beautiful and having so much fun, I made Tom stop so I could take a picture. It was a clear beautiful evening and the Fort was looking great with the freshly cut grass and all the trees just busting out everywhere...

Prickett's Fort

(click to read history about the fort)

Job Prickett House built in 1859 by Captain Jacob Prickett's great-grandson, Job.

I'm sure you can imagine all the history that has come out of this beautiful home...

Another house on the property...

But this was why the evening was so wonderful, we got to go into the Fort and enjoy an hour sitting in front of a fire, listening to our wonderful speaker telling us all about all the wonderful herbs that were brought to this country so long ago, looking at all the ones dried hanging from the rafters. She made us feel like we had gone back in time...
Did you know we didn't even have honey bees???

Pointing out each an everyone she had us all amazed with all the interesting little stories she had to tell about the history of how they were used to cook with and dye yarn and clothing with. I could have stayed all evening listening...

But as she said...It will be dark soon and she wanted us to see the herb beds out back!

But herbs weren't the only things out back...

Look at this cutie and what beautiful wool....

These are the little guys that give her the wool to spin and use all those things to dye her yarn with...

What a woman!!!

She pointed out all sorts of yummy herbs and told us what tonic's they were used in or what part of them were used for the most beautiful dyes...

Everyone just taking in every interesting tid-bit she had to tell us...

So that evening I was dreading turned into one the the best evenings I've had in a while...
Spent with amazing gardeners and great friends!!!

Have A Good One,

Lynn

Braided Onion Filled Loaf... another winner!

2010-04-04T18:36:00.015-05:00

UNBELIEVABLE....

You are not going to believe this but "I Won Again!!!" After submitting my Soup recipe that I thought would never win, I decided to submit my bread recipe that I really love and have made for years. When we first got married I bought a recipe book and this was my favorite recipe in it. That was probably about 1975, just a few years ago.... I have made it every year since for Christmas dinner and special occasions. My family would fire me if they didn't get it Christmas night... Now I can say it "is" the Award Winning Bread...

But I have gotten a lot of razzing winning 2 months in a row... But this one is my favorite! So I made a loaf to take to school tomorrow in hopes they won't tease me too much!!!LOL

I hope some of you make it and enjoy it just as much. I love sharing recipes..... Braided Filled Onion Loaf

1 pkg. active dry yeast rapid rise
1/4 cup lukewarm water
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 Tbs. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbs. sesame seed
1 tsp. garlic salt

In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add 2 cups of the flour, sugar, salt water, milk,1/4 cup butter, and egg. Stir until all ingredients are blended. Gradually stir in remaining flour until dough leaves sides of bowl. Place dough in an oiled bowl; turn to oil dough. Cover loosely and place in a warm area to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 1/4 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a bowl, mix together melted butter, onion, Parmesan cheese,sesame seed, and garlic salt. Punch down dough. On a lightly floured board, kneed dough until smooth and elastic. Roll dough to a 12x18 inch rectangle. Spread filling on dough.(not quite all the way to the edges) Cut dough lengthwise into three 4x18 inch strips. Roll up each strip lengthwise; seal edges. On a buttered cookie sheet, braid strips, keeping seam sides down. ( I always start braid in the middle and work my way out).I brush top with mix of 1 egg and 1 Tbs. water and sprinkle with extra sesame seeds and even garlic and Parmesan cheese if you like.(I like it this way) Set aside and let raise for 1 hour. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cover with foil for about the first 20 minutes (spray foil with Pam so it doesn't stick to foil) Cool on a wire rack.

STILL KNITTING...

I am in love with wool and what you can do with it "FELT". I started knitting in November and have learned so much, there's just one problem I just can't seem to Stop! Spring is here and I have slowed down but!!! I still have the knitting bug, and I love felting things, slippers, purses, even flip flops. I have so many things I need to be doing but I just have to sneak in a few minutes here and there to knit a little. Last weekend we had to take a drive to see my uncle in the hospital 2 hrs. away, I knitted all the way there and all the way back. If I keep this up I may never have to buy a purse again!!!LOL doesn't this look like Spring? I had some yarn left over from my moms slippers and just had to do this one the week before.

I even lined this one....

SPRING AND IT'S BEAUTY....

It is so wonderful to see all the spring flowers coming up again! I just love the wonderful smell it brings inside... This was just before we sat down to dinner today...

How can you not help but smile when you see the beauty that God gives us everyday....

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!

Lynn

Master Gardeners Kids Booth

2010-03-27T16:09:00.006-05:00

A couple of weeks ago was the annual Garden Show at the Mall. The Master Gardeners always have a booth and have a great time...
This year we added our Kids Booth, my husband and I started this last fall at the Reading Council's Readers Walk and decided it would be a good thing to continue with the Master Gardeners. We read garden themed books to the kids, plant seeds and tell them a little about how seeds and plants grow! THEY LOVE IT!!! At this age they just soak everything in like sponges. You can tell this Master Gardener is a retired teacher, she has such a great way with the kids and they love her!!!

We had a great crowd of kids all day. They would come and plant a seed than get a cup of lemonade and sit down and listen to a story. We planted around 130 seeds that day and gave away kits on how to make grass head people...

Even the parents loved it...

Another wonderful retired teacher, look how cute this little one is sitting on the straw so interested in this story with his lemonade...

We really need to get the kids back outside, gardening,playing and just having fun! Get them away from the TV's and video games!!! They are missing so much!

Have a Great Weekend!!!

Lynn

Go Mountaineers!!! We Love Them!!! Final 4 Bound!!!

Spring is almost here...

2010-03-17T20:25:00.007-05:00

Spring is almost here... I guess I'm going to slowdown on the knitting and get out in the yard!
I'm a brand new knitter and I'm really hooked. It has been so relaxing and something easy to take with me where ever I go. In the car, at the hospital, Dr.'s appointments. It's my new mobile craft!!! LOL
This is just a little bowl I made out of some leftover wool. I love to do felted projects... Cables are so much fun to do and I learned so much from this little hat project. I've been trying to pick projects that have something else that I have no idea how to do. I need to learn how to read the patterns. I even bought the book Knitting for Dummies. It is a great book...

This arm warmer has the horseshoe cable on it...

My new spring felted bobble purse is finally finished, I lined it last weekend (in between planting seeds).

This purse is done in the seed stitch with a I-cord strap... Boy I even am starting to sound like a knitter!!! LOL I'm learning all the names for these stitches.

This one is the seed stitch to, I don't know if it is going to be a scarf or a purse yet, the mystery project...

This is going to be my Mothers new slippers for her 84th birthday tomorrow. It just amazes me that you can knit something out of wool and they shrink and felt and turn out beautiful. I will give them to her and put them in the washer with hot water and they will felt and that way I can put them on her and mold them to her feet. It is COOL HOW IT WORKS!!!

This is what they look like when they are finished! REALLY !!! Those big purple things will look like this when they are done!!!

Well time for bed...

Have a Good One,

Lynn

I WON!!!! And I can't beleive it!

2010-02-28T21:01:00.004-06:00

I'm in the middle, sorry I couldn't get this picture any bigger I got it off the newpaper site.

Spicy Mexican Tortilla Soup Special

That is what the headlines read on Friday morning on the front page...

Yea I made the front page!!!

My husband read in last Sundays paper that they were going to have a contest for soups this week, so he went out on Tuesday and got all the ingredients for his favorite soup and told me I had to make it that night. Just to make him happy I did, never thinking I would actually win. He took it to the newspaper office the next morning for all the judges to taste. That evening I got a call and she said Congratulations Lynn You WON!!! I was shocked, to say the least!! Well her is what the paper said:

Spicy Mexican Tortilla Soup Special

Lynn Usary"s recipe takes top prize in first monthly cook-off

FAIRMONT- There's something special about Lynn Usary's Spicy Mexican Tortilla Soup.

First, it's a prize winner.

Its unique blend of spices placed it at the top of the menu of the first Times West Virginian's monthly "My Favorite Recipe" cook-off, beating out 16 other soups to win her $100 and the blue ribbon.

Second, "It's stupid-simple to make," she said.

Full of chicken, corn, peppers and spices, and topped off with some crunchy tortilla chips, it's one hot meal. but don't let its 16 ingredients intimidate you.

"All you do is cook the chicken and shred it, and literally throw everything else in the pot and let it cool. It doesn't get much simpler than that," she said.

Usary loves to cook " just about anything," she said.

Anybody can learn to cook. It just takes practice. And you have to have fun with it." And she loves to share her recipes, too.

As with all good soups, you can tinker with the ingredients to suit your taste. You can make it less spicy by dialing down the chiles, sauce and spices.

Or, in the words of Food Network superchef Emeril Lagasse, "Bam! Kick it up a notch!" she said with a laugh.

She prefers it hot, but turned down the heat for the contest. " I thought that maybe not everybody likes it that way," she said. "But it's really not that hot. It's a nice spicy hot but not so hot it kills your mouth."

She always cooked and learned a lot from her mother-in-law, Lil Usary, she said. Her favorite thing to make is homemade pizza and bread.

"When we have company over, everybody picks what they want to put on them." And like any good cook, she uses fresh vegetables from her garden: peppers. corn. lettuce, green beans,okra and lots of "tomatoes."

I cook so many different things. (My Husband) Tom and I like such a variety of things. He loves my ribs. I've made the sauce for as long as we've been married, which will be 36 years in May," she said.

She doesn't buy food or cooking magazines, but cook-books are another thing. " I'm the queen of the cook-books," she said with a laugh. I've got two whole cabinets full in the kitchen , plus on top the cabinets. I like the ones with pictures in them. I'm a visual person."

She got this recipe from a friend" years ago." She even included it in a cookbook she made for her daughters.

Still, it took Tom's encouragement to get her to submit it for the cook-off the first cooking contest she's ever entered.

"He said I needed to send it in. He bugged me since he saw it in the paper. " You've got to put your chicken soup in there ."

Now since Tom was the reason she entered the contest in the first place, she's going to share the prize money with him. Right?

"Are you kidding?" she said with a laugh."OK. I'll probably take him out to dinner. He likes to cook as much as I do." (than it went on to say who else entered the contest...

So here it is I hope you try it!!!

Recipe:

Spicy Mexican Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

2-3 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

1-15oz. can Mexican style stewed tomatoes

1-10 oz. can enchilada sauce, (mild, medium, or hot)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 can black beans, rinsed

2 cups water (add more as needed)

1-14 oz. can chicken broth

1-4 oz. can chopped green chilis

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder, hot

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 bay leaf

1- 10 oz bag frozen corn

1 TBS cilantro

Tortilla chips scoops "To scoop with"

Directions:

After chicken is cooked and shredded, Put everything in a large pot to cook down for a few hours. Add extra water if needed.

I always double the recipe. It can also be made spicier by adding a can of chopped jalapenos or hot enchilada sauce.

It's great on a cold day... And we have had plenty of those this winter!!! ENJOY!!

Snow... Snow...Snow...GO AWAY!!!

2010-02-18T12:37:00.007-06:00

The snow is beautiful but I have had just about enough. Our last day of school was an early release on FEB. 5th and it hasn't stoped snowing since... It seems every night when it gets dark it starts pouring it down, covering the roads again... Last night when it started again I just couldn't believe it! We are suppose to get a break the next few days, but another storm is coming on Sunday night and Monday. Just in time for another week of school! This is my back porch today. I haven't seen the tables or grass since the first of the month, and it doesn't look like it is going away any time soon.

We just keep digging out.... Especially for those little dogs of ours. They run out to their little spot and run right back in. Toooo Cold for them...LOL

My neighbor even Plowed a path from her house to mine today, we keep running back and forth with our knitting projects.... In our big boots!

The ice is beautiful...

Drip... Drip...Drip...

Feb 8th

Feb 6th

This is our main street somewhere under all of this. I don't live on a back road or a side street, this is the main road!!! LOL

I used to say," If you don't like the weather Wait a Day". But that hasn't been the case this month! Maybe next month it will be better. I sure hope so. But I really can't complain, I love the time at home just being a couch potato. I hate going out in the winter!!!

Have a Good one and Stay Warm,

Lynn

The newest member of the family!!!

2010-02-16T17:41:00.003-06:00

(click on picture to inlarge)The newest member of the family...

Aiden Alan Jenkins

He was born Feb 13th at 12:10 pm ... 5 lbs. 10 oz and 20 inches long...
He is my Great Nephew, I can't believe my nephew Michael can be old enough to have 2 beautiful children of his own. My girls use to babysit him and his sister...
We went to the hospital on Sunday and took my parents to see their new Great Grandson. They were thrilled to get to hold him. He is just so cute and sooo tiny, I knitted him his new Blue & Gold hat and I thought it would be to small, thank goodness it wasn't. He still has room to grow into it!!!

SNOW SNOW SNOW...
We had our 6th snow day(in a row) today from school and it is still snowing. I can't imagine we will have school for another couple of days... ENOUGH ALREADY..... You know me I hate winter and the cold weather. We need sunshine!

Please say a prayer for my mother-in-law she is still in the hospital and not doing well at all...

Have a Good One and stay warm!!!
Lynn

Red Cross Shelter Evening!!!

2010-02-11T20:29:00.002-06:00

Last night I got a phone call asking for our help, It was snowing like crazy of course and the roads were terrible. It was a call from a friend trying to find someone to man the Red Cross Shelter at our Fire Dept., that just happens to be 4 houses down the street from us! I can look out my front window and see it! There are still so many people without power in our county.There was only one gentleman staying the night that had been without power for days. One of our other neighbors that was volunteering was warn out, because she had been working for a couple of days there and needed a break. We had never done this before but were willing to give it a try. I was so glad we did. When I got there it turned out to be an old grade school classmate and we all had lots to catch up on. After I got there with all my knitting and a book I decided to call my next door neighbor and invite her down for some fun. So we had a knitting party. She has been wanting to learn how to knit and what better time!!! We sat there until midnight laughing and talking about old times.... Than Tom took her home and we all went to bed. Even our two little dogs stayed the night!!!LOL

Some times it is just what you make of a situation, and this one turned out to be a great 24 hours. We got up this morning to a phone call telling us that all we had to do was run to Cracker Barrel and pick up our breakfast, Cracker Barrel is just about 1/2 mile down the road... So Tom took the dogs home and ran to get breakfast...They made us so much food and it was great as always!!! Than I called my neighbor and her Grand Daughter, and my daughter and we all continued our knitting party all afternoon... Around 6 this evening we got to come home, his power was promised to be on by the time he got home from midnight shift tonight and all was well!

I hope all that have had to stay in shelters during this crazy winter weather had the enjoyably time that we all did !!!

Stay Warm and Safe Everyone,

Lynn

The Sun is Shinning and More Snow is Coming!!!

2010-02-08T14:53:00.007-06:00

The sun is shinning bright today, which makes the snow look even more magnificent!!! We had no school of course. The rural roads are a mess and so many without power all over the county. My daughter moved into my mother-in-laws house with the dogs and brought some of the saltwater creatures to put in our tank hoping to save some of them... They tell her she may be without power until the 18th. Now with another major storm on it's way in the morning who knows when she will have power again... and we may not have school all week!!!

How do the branches on pine trees hold the weight of the heavy snow? These branches are touching the ground and normally I can't reach these branches. It is just amazing.

"Remember Miss Petunia"

Well here she is last summer just starting to grow...And here she is now covered in snow, all she needs is a carrot and a scarf around her neck!!!LOL... I can't wait to see her in bloom again...

Well we are bracing for another storm, but while we can still get out we are going out to dinner tonight and to the fabric store. I haven't left the house since Friday afternoon when school let out early! So it is time to get out of here for a while...

Stay Safe and Warm Everyone!!!

Lynn

How Many of us Have S.A.D. ?

2010-02-06T19:47:00.004-06:00

Do you suffer from S.A.D.?

At northern latitudes, many people experience a lower mood, irritability, decreased energy, and changes in appetite, starting around now and lasting until spring. About 10 percent of people in northern states experience full-blown Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), with depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, fatigue, carbohydrate-craving, and weight gain or loss. Another 30 percent experience sub-syndromal SAD, a low-grade version of seasonal depression.

This has been a tough winter and usually I fight the Winter Blues by keeping busy, but this year with having surgery and not being able to do the things I usually do it has caught up with me...

Too much snow and too little light makes things tough. I am taking lots of Vitamin D3 for all that added sunshine in a pill. But it sure would be nice to see some sunshine...

Although we had 12 + inches of snow yesterday and this morning, around 5:00pm the sun came out for about 20 minutes putting a beautiful cast of color on the white trees...

The skies opened up to the beautiful color of the sun and made things just about as beautiful as it gets this time of the year!!!

Just to catch you up on what has been going on around here, It has been the marathon Birthday Season in our house!!! My Oldest daughter had her Birthday on Jan. 26, My Birthday was Feb. 1, and the youngest daughter was Feb. 4th... So we have done nothing but eat for the last 10 days. Going out to dinner, making the girls favorite meals at home and eating Cake, Cake, Cake!!! I am scared to get on the scale!!!LOL
My mother-in-law has been very ill and in the hospital for nearly 3 weeks. She has been moved to rehab and doing a little better, just trying to get her strength back from surgery... Please add her to your prayer list!!!
I am thinking of nothing but SPRING it is just a little more than 40 days away, I put up my plant stand and lights and planted some seeds yesterday. It felt so good to get my hands in some soil. I can't wait to see those little sprouts coming up!!! My husband gave me my usual Birthday Gift that I ask for every year... A big thing of Pro Mix potting soil, we laugh about it every year! But he knows that is what I really want and he has fun telling everyone he gave me dirt for my Birthday!!!
Thursday before the snow started Tom surprised me with dinner when I got home from work!!! He is a great husband, when I drove up the driveway I could smell it...THE GRILL WAS ON AND HE WAS GRILLING OUT... It was only 33 degrees and there he was outside cooking dinner... Life is good and HE is Great!!!
Well I hope everyone is OK in the crazy Winter Storm and you all have power and keeping warm. Spring will be here soon and the Sun Will Be Out shinning strong!!!

Have A Good One,
Lynn

I need help from all my garden friends!!!

2010-01-26T20:12:00.005-06:00

Here I am at the Readers Walk Garden Booth this fall with one of the Grass Head People. We made kits up for all the kids so they could go home and make their own. We had a ball with them and the kids loved them...

So what I need is your help, I need to come up with a new idea for something like this that the kids will love, and where better to look than right here. I know some of you are bound to have some ideas for me!!!

1. We will need something that won't cost a lot to make kits with, we will be making 100+
2. Something fun for kids
3. Educational
4. With a garden theme
Look how cute they turned out and this was only after 1 week...

This was the instruction sheet we put in baggies with the grass seed...

So I am counting on you all to send ideas, pictures, links or what ever you have!!! Start thinking!!!

Thanks,

Lynn