Flowers. Cards. Water Pond, Food

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having some nice days. I think it will finally feel like spring this week. Maybe I will get some things done outside this week. I have been enjoying my flowers....tulips, but they are starting to poop out now. It's a good thing I took some pictures of them before the rabbits and frost got them. The flower below, is actually a store bought bouquet that I treated myself to for Mother's Day. It's still sitting on the dinning room table, but it's little petals are starting to fall on the table.

My variegated tulips....so pretty, but for some reason the rabbit thinks it is food. Good thing I took a picture this day, because the next day they were down like the rabbit thought he was a lumberjack and "timber" they fell to the ground. (darn wabbit!)

My pink variegated tulips....I think I planted these the first couple of years we were living in this house and they are still going strong.

Pretty yellow tulips.

My pink tulips.

My orange tulips. I think I need some white and red tulips, maybe I should plant some this fall.

Here is a card I finished last night. I bought a new die cut which makes these cute little flowers, a nice little card for Thinking of you notes or birthdays.

Got my pond going the other day.....love the sound of water trickling. I had to tip the bond back upside and replace the rock around the pond. There's a few rocks that I need to have JP move, too heavy for me. I don't want to get another hernia.

So here is another Blue Apron meal I made the other day....very yummy and tasty. "Pork Tteokbokki with Asparagus and Spicy Black Bean Sauce" I didn't make it as spicy as it called for, so JP ate it with pleasure.

The asparagus was cut, blanched and drained thoroughly. Ginger and the bottom part of two scallions was cooked in oil with salt and pepper. Add the ground pork and cook till browned. Rice cakes (These rice cakes are Korean-a deliciously chewy ingredient often shaped and prepared much like a rice noodle) have been boiling in water till tender then added to the mixture along with 1/4 cup of the rice cake water. Then add the blanched asparagus, black bean sauce, soy glaze and half the reserved rice cake water and as much of gochujang as you like....(that is the spice). Cook a few minutes more, then divide between 2 dishes and garnish with the green tops of the scallions.....Enjoy! Yep we sure did.

Tonight I am making Zucchini pancakes for JP's dinner along with some left-overs. Bought a cantaloupe a few days ago and still have to cut into that. So I guess JP's dinner will be a modge-podge of things to eat tonight. 

Tomorrow, I have to go to the store and get some meds for JP and will probably tackle some weeds. I did get my front porch water fountain going.....yay! Now it is time to sit on the front porch, that is Kylie's favorite place to watch the world go by.

Wednesday, I have a date with Betty....my card making day......so you probably will see those cards on Thursday or Friday.

Well, you have a great day and keep looking up......better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

Old Stove ~ New-Used-Stove

Hi there everyone....how are you doing this fine day????? My Hawks are in the Stanley Cup Playoff's, they are playing the St. Louis Blues, so far the score is 0-0 and we are in the 3rd period!!!!
I will let you know the score at the end of this post.....Go Hawks!!!

Well, as you can see....I got a new (used) stove (please scroll down two pictures)....the white stove which finally matches my refrigerator, pretty cool, huh???

So the above picture is my old Norge, it came with this house when we bought it in 1991, so yeah, I had it for 25 years and who knows how long it has been within this house. It was "on it's last legs" as the appliance man said. It was working on only 2 burners, the timer and clock did not work, the oven door did not close all the way, so heat escaped  when baking and the oven door handle fell off dozens of times, finally I had JP grey tape it back, I got tired of opening the door and the handle would come off....geez!!!

In the above picture is the old stove all cleaned and ready to hit the rode....I shall miss you....no, not so much!!! (notice my lovely yellow walls (Rebuilding Together painted my kitchen and I have been adding the back-splash, a little at a time, I need to get another package at Menards this week and finish the bottom part. I seem to splatter a bit.)

TA-DA....here is my new (used) Amana stove. The appliance man said this stove is from the 2000's....so yeah, a little bit newer. A digital clock, timer, oven cleaner, it even shows the temp as it is preheating too. The heating elements get hotter faster too. I have a feeling when I fry a steak in the pan, I will actually be able to hear the sizzle of the steak....can hardly wait!!!

I am really enjoying this new stove and have been cooking up a storm. Last night I roasted a whole chicken.....tried a new recipe, no, I did not take a picture, I guess I forgot.

Tonight, I made this Cheesy Asparagus Tart with Hollandaise Sauce. If you are interested in this recipe, I think you might find it here. Yummy, this was really good. When JP comes home I will heat it up and a ham loaf from Easter Sunday. There will be Chicken soup from the roasted chicken last night. I love making Chicken soup....no two pots are ever the same.

In this picture.....I am making a chocolate/peanut butter cake with fudge frosting. I have not taken a picture of the finished product. You will have to come back in a few days to see what it looks like finished....lol!!!

Well time to close here for a few days....have to go finish my cake and watch the rest of the Hockey game....we are in overtime..score is still 0-0.....my goodness!!! This is just the first game for them with 6 more to go. I think, who ever wins 4 games, wins, then it's on to the next team. Just this one series will last 2 weeks....in all, the hockey teams will be playing into June. I sure don't remember the season lasting this long when I used to see the games in Chicago back in the 60's....course then there was only 6 teams....now there is 30 teams (if I calculated right). 

Aw....shucks....St. Louis scored!!! 1-0!!!! Well, there's 6 more games to go with St. Louis.

You all have a great day and keep looking up....better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

Glimpses of Thanksgiving, Birthday and Pizza

 Glimpses of Thanksgiving Dinner. Oh it was a wonderful meal!!! I talked about this wonderful meal we had on Thanksgiving, but did not post pictures to this blog. The turkey was so moist, with gravy, mashed potatoes, squash, cranberries, in the forefront you see the asparagus that was baked on the crescent rolls with lots of mozzarella  and pumpkin pie....a very good meal set for a KING!!!

Glimpses of my Birthday cake 6 candles = 66. Don't often make a cake for my birthday, but this year I did. A very moist carrot cake with cream cheese frosting........what can I say, delicious!!!



A glimpse of "hash browns potato pizza" Now this was a great pizza!!
1 package of hash browns, oil pan well, even leaving extra oil on pan. Spread hash browns out evenly on pan and sprinkle a little oil on top of hash browns. Because you will want the hash browns to brown on the bottom at 400-450 degrees for 10 minutes.
Spread some pizza sauce or tomato sauce on baked hash browns.
spread, chopped onions, peppers, sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms and cheese....whatever your desire.
Bake till the cheese melts (vegetables are done) and you have a crispy bottom.
Not sure how I came upon this recipe but it sure is delicious!!!



Glimpses of my cards the votive, made this collage on a new site I found. www.picmonkey.com  Take a peek at the site, you might enjoy playing with it.

Etsy, oh Etsy why are you causing me so much grief???? Yes, it is true. Since Thursday, I have tried listing some Christmas cards and a pretty votive and cannot seem to list. I go through the motions, jumping through all those hoops, answering the questions, uploading the pictures, and writing the description..........which all takes time, then I go to "list preview" and NOTHING happens. I am really bummed, 9 times I have tried listing and to no avail. Emailed Etsy to let them know the problem. It seems it is not their problem but on my side. This is the 1st time in 5 years that I am having this problem. Have upgraded Internet Explorer and now have to upgrade Google Chrome. They told me I would have to find a new browser..............no............these are the only two I will do, not adding any other browsers like AOL, Foxfire, or whatever they are promoting. I find it hard to understand why other people are NOT complaining............very strange.

Well I guess I shall close this blog for today.......need to see about upgrading Google Chrome and try getting a few cards in my shop. Talk to you later and keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh.
Cheers ~ Louise