Where Did September Go????

Yikes! Time is flying by!!! As someone said to me, "I shut my eyes Monday night and wake up, it is Friday morning already" Yep, it's true. Why did time go so slowly when I was younger and speed up so fast as I grow older???? Never will understand this concept of old age!!!!!

Well, can't believe 5 weeks have passed since my last blog, either I am lazy or just running out of mojo to blog, either or, just not much happening in my life (for now), which is fine with me at this time in my life. My Chicago Blackhawks have started their pre-season games and October 10th is the first of the regular season. So, this is good! I like hockey, then NASCAR, then Football. Hopefully the Packers do well without Arron Rogers. Oh, and the Blackhawks do well without Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Time will tell, I guess.

Hospice meeting was yesterday, always fun to meet together and see what the others have brought to the table as donations to the "card ministry" to Hospice.

So, these were some of my offerings. The cards above were fun to make, an idea I saw on Facebook. I really should make a template next time, so the pieces will be uniform and fit. I sort of pieced together the segments, so no, they were not uniform, each one was a bit different, but maybe that was part of the fun. I shall have to make some more like this, maybe some Christmas cards and Valentine cards too.

The bottom card, another pieced together card in a different design. Liked the new "blessed" word for this card, just bought it recently, filled up the space that did not have a blocked design.

These two cards were made at the Thompsom Center. There is a room set aside for Scrapbook and card makers. All the supplies have been donated, so the classes given are free. They usually have two teachers that give of their time showing us how to make cards. Then on the days they are not there, it is free time, and we can do what we want using the supplies that are there. So, this is what I came up with, the medallion was there to use, and the leaves die I brought from home to use there.

In this picture is another leaf card I made at the Thompson Center. The card on the left was made at home with my laminator and foil and ran a strip of green cardstock down the center and then placed the "blessed" word on it.

The cards below were an idea I found on the internet, not sure where. But I found the marbled cards from Hobby Lobby and thought they would make a nice card, I added the flowers and "just a little note" and left the inside blank.

So, this month of October will be "yard clean-up month"? The big tree in the back yard will dump millions of leaves, last year I never finished the whole yard, maybe this year will be different. The front yard, I have to cut down the peonies bush, daisies, my large porch vine and whatever else I can get too. Yeah, a lot of work for this old lady at this time. We'll see how it goes.

I have been going through some more of JP's old files from the 80's and 90's, gosh he had a lot of stuff. There were a few tracts intermingled, so I will be able to send them to Bob, who has been passing out all of JP's tracts that he had in his office. I moved all of JP's prayer journals to where the files were kept and put JP's ashes with his prayer journals, kinda keep it all together. Then there will be room in the file/safe to put a few other of JP's keepsakes. Along with a folder I am putting together that is titled "In Case of Emergency and/or Death for Louise E. Gatti" Everything that I can think of that has to do with JP, Louise, this house, Insurance, Wills, etc. so whoever the Executor is will know all there is to know and where to find it. Is that all possible???? I don't know, but I have been told to do this by a couple of people, it is a gift to those left behind that will have to take care of everything after I am gone. A morbid thought!!!!!

Can't think of much more, the time is 4:30 and I have yet to accomplish anything around this house. I am going to make a chicken dish tonight that I saw on Facebook that looked really good. My tomatoes are starting to ripen so one tomato will be used in the dish. I will take a picture of it, if I remember and don't eat it first.

Talk to you later, keep looking up better days are coming!!! 

Cheers ~ Louise

Computer Problems

Hi there everyone. Hope you are all having a wonderful September. Summer went by way too fast. Well, this post will be VERY short. It seems I am having a problem with my computer. I wanted to give you a few pictures and a short paragraph or two. BUT, for some reason Blogger keeps on telling me "Blogger is not responding" and won't bring up my file of pictures. So, no card pictures this time around. So boring.

Facebook is doing the same thing to me..."Facebook is not responding" and it takes a couple of minutes for Facebook to start working before I get all my newsfeeds. 

Just not sure what is wrong....wonder if somehow I got a virus, but then I thought Norton was taking care of things for me. I may have to take this computer back to the store and get it cleaned. ONLY, if I can get it done for free. Maybe there are a few programs that are bogging down this old computer. Tomorrow I will pull the plug and see if the computer resets it's self. Getting very frustrating how this computer is working soooooo slooooooow and not responding properly!!!

So if you do not see me for awhile....let it be known, I am having problems with this computer. I will try to comment on your blogs if Blogger allows me to. You all have a good Fall and keep looking up ~ hopefully better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hi there everyone. Hope you are finished with all your Christmas shopping, cooking, baking, cleaning etc. All that goes along with Christmas. It sure can get hectic, can't it?

I cut down on my Christmas card giving this year and decided to send out my cards via Facebook and "blogger." So if you did not receive a card from me this year....here 'tis....Have a Very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy, happy 2019 New Year with many, many blessings!!!

PS. These cards actually went out to relatives and two Pastors. Wish I could have made more like these....they were stunning in real life. Some day I will find the die and make more!!!

Another thing I cut down on this Christmas is my decorating, I still have about 5 boxes to put up, my village, the manger and lots of figurines. I did manage to put my little tree up with lights, decorations etc, the presents were wrapped the other night and put under the tree. I put 3 window lights up (tree, wreath and snowflake) with still one box to unload. It's Christmas Eve....I may not finish, not unless when I finish this post and unload that box, then I am done with my decorating. LOL!!! 

Made some cut-out cookies and a pumpkin pie. The cut-cookies still have to get decorated....do I really care? Not sure, they are pretty good just as they are.

Had a few financial things going on this month. Had to sell a few things just to keep our nose above water. Next month won't be any better because I have to come up with $288 for taxes on the house. Not sure where that will come from....oh but God does, we will just have to wait and see.

JP has this week off, which means a smaller pay check in a couple of weeks. It has been rough going since August when he decided to work just part-time. Maybe in the spring I will get a job with Rover.com and dog-sit, my home or the dogs home.

Well, I am going to close here, time for dinner. You all have a GREAT Christmas. Keep looking up......better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

And the Countdown Begins - 28 Days Till Christmas!!!!

Hi there everyone, hope you are having a good month. Can you believe, Christmas is right around the corner. 28 days and counting. Our days are flying by. Thought I would show you my Christmas tree from last year. It was up for 4 months and had 3 lives!!!! 

A Red, White and Blue Christmas and very patriotic. Love the glow of the blue. Put up in December, then changed over to......

A Valentine's Day Tree. I usually move the tree to this corner, after the village gets put away. Everything is red, of course. Then by the middle of  February, the tree turns Green for...….

You guessed it, St. Patrick's Day!!! But notice my red elf....he seems to like this tree and keeps watch all 4 months. Finally after March, I take the tree down....I have toyed with the idea of leaving the tree up for Easter....but I am finally tired of the tree, and away it goes, down stairs and packed away for another year.

This is Kylie....she was barking at me. She is blind and hard of hearing (sometimes) other times she can hear. She can hear me clap my hands and knows pretty much to follow me. She is going on 14 years...I thought we were going to lose her a couple of months ago, but she snapped out of what ever the problem was. I think the Vet thought she had cancer and was not giving her much of chance. I just changed her dog food and give her real hamburger and chicken with rice, chicken or beef broth and scrambled eggs. That's pretty much her diet, along with milk bones and special cuts as a snack.

I kind of thought I would not put the tree up...only because I have not felt like it.....but then, this could be Kylie's last Christmas.....maybe I need a few more pictures of her and her Christmas tree.

This is my snowman on the front door....guess it is time to put him up.....awww shucks, maybe I will repent and change my mind and put a few decorations up. I really need to get some cards done to send out....I am thinking of cutting my list down, and put a card up on my blog and facebook….wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and hope everyone sees it. So many times I send a card out and NEVER receive one back....sort of tired of that. Is that the spirit of Christmas? I don't know, maybe I am the one with the problem.

Oh yeah....I finally, after 4 months got the money for a new/used stove. It will be delivered December 8th...I can hardly wait. I really miss putting something in the oven to bake. For the last 4 months I have been using a hot plate, George Foreman grill, crock pot, microwave and Nu-wave....which has worked. But so many recipes call for baking and I could not bake.

For Thanksgiving I made a turkey breast in the crock pot, bread pudding, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy and a pumpkin pie....in the microwave. Have you ever heard of a microwave pumpkin pie...it was pretty good. I shall give you the recipe in my next post.

Well, time to close here....tonight I have to make a few cards. Hospice meeting next Friday....so I better get cracking here. You all have a great rest of the month....see you in December. Keep looking up, better days are coming (I hope). Cheers ~ Louise

Oh August.....Not Sure I am Liking You

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having a good month so far. Thought for this post I would put some funny signs up that tickled my funny bone when I saw them. Probably got them from Penterest and Facebook.

I suspect you are wondering why I chose the title above...right?!?!  So far this month, JP has been steadily losing hours at work, which means the pay checks are getting smaller. I could not pay our house taxes in full this July 31st....now we will get penalized. I have to go to the Court house to pay the rest....I am scared. I am hoping we have enough to pay the mortgage also....won't know that till Friday, when JP gets paid.

Our little schnauzer/poodle was having a problem, so I got her in for an emergency appointment Tuesday. Her annul glands were giving her trouble, so the vet expressed them, took some blood for Heartworm. Gave her meds for that and flee/tick meds and off we went. Kylie is feeling much better, thank you.

Sunday, I was cooking some chicken breasts on the stove and suddenly the stove started buzzing at me....what the??? The clock was not working and I was getting messages to "lock" then I found that the oven was not working. I was very perplexed. We pulled the plug to see if it would reboot its self.....no after about 5 minutes it started buzzing again. Oh what to do, what to do. 

Yesterday I went to the store where I bought the stove....I have only had the stove for 2 years and 4 months...so the warranty is over. I am not sure they can do anything, except sell me another stove. The guy said it sounded like the computer board was shot. Oh yay for me!!! If we could get it to the store ourselves, they could fix it for more $$$$. I am just not sure what I should do at this point. 

Guess I will let it sit and cook with my crock pot, oven-net, microwave, Nu-wave, grill more and maybe pick up a fry pan at the second hand store. I am even thinking of putting the stove on the street for the garbage men to take. Buy a second hand counter for more storage....maybe a pantry. Do I really need a stove??? Gosh, no more pies and casseroles (sad face). Will have to weigh all the pros and cons on this one.

Good news though, was talking to a friend on the phone tonight, she wants to gift me with her old vacuum. Yes, I said, the one I have is not very strong. She said the one she has is so strong it would probably suck up the dog....lol! It even has a hose to clean the cobwebs off the ceiling...yay for that I have a few. She has another vacuum that she likes better.

Another exciting thing that happened. I signed up to be a consultant for DoTerra Essential Oils. Yep, I will have my own website, where people can order from me there. So as I get more acclimated to the oils and website, I will try and link it up with my blog. 

I have been getting hot flashes lately...whew...hot, hot, hot and I have to wave a fan in front of me. The lady gave me some spearmint oil to apply to the back of my neck....BOOM the hot flash went away.

DoTerra has an oil and ointment for pain, it is called "Deep Blue". For the last couple of months I have been dealing with a "Sciatic nerve" problem. I have tried 5-6 different products for pain...nothing has touched it. Then "Deep Blue" came along and POW the pain has subsided. Well, this morning I woke up with the pain, could hardly get out of bed....I rubbed some "deep blue" on my butt. Made my way to the bathroom. By the time I was making breakfast....the sciatic pain was gone. Gosh that stuff works GOOD!

YES...I can hardly wait for the Hockey season to start...maybe this year the Chicago Blackhawks will win the Stanley Cup!! Oh and another thing, we are one day closer to the return of Jesus for his Church....oh what a day that will be boys and girls!!!

So anyways...a few other things going on so far this month. I had my teeth cleaned today....they took x-rays, I have to wait till next week to find out if there were any cavities besides the ones I already have. But otherwise my next appointment won't be till February 11th...hope there is not a snow storm that day!!!

JP has some lab work to have done next Monday. Then Kylie has another appointment on Tuesday for an exam and shots. Wednesday I go to make cards at Betty's. Thursday, JP has an appointment with the foot Doctor...he has a few corns on his feet that cause him much pain. We tried some oils on his feet...has not worked yet as far as I can see. Looks like a busy week already...just hope the $$$ covers all the bills and extra appointments.

Well time to close, it is getting late, I want to go downstairs for awhile and maybe watch some TV. With JP home, it seems my schedule has changed a little bit. You all keep looking up....I am pretty sure better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

4 More Days!!!

Hi there everyone. Hope you are all enjoying this Christmas season. It's 4 more days till the big day!!! I am mostly done with everything. There's a few things I want to get. JP needs a new pair of shoes for work. But I need him to come with me to the store to try them on and buy them. He is not one for shopping. So after Christmas, and the big rush to return things is over, we'll go find him another pair of shoes for work.

I want to get a "Spring-form" pan.....so I guess that will happen after Christmas too. I am looking forward to making a few things in it, like a CHEESECAKE!!! I have an apple cake recipe that uses the spring-form pan, so I am looking forward to getting this pan.

In the picture below, is what I bought for ME....a Chicago Blackhawk beanie hat. I will wrap it and tag it from JP and Kylie. Their shopping is done!!!

This will keep my head warm during the winter months. My summer hat will be another Chicago Blackhawk hat also. Maybe something like this. 

Or maybe this one, I like that gold Chicago Blackhawk....pretty! Maybe I shall have to invest in both of them?

By the time summer comes, my hair will be long and I can wear a pony tail and stick it through the back of the hat. That was my style this past summer....was fine with me....a very easy style to take care of.

JP is also getting a large tin of pop-corn. He also wanted $$$ to buy apple juice at work, so I will give him a bunch of quarters to use for the machine so he can get "his apple juice addiction." Oh and I bought him a bottle of "Miracle Marvel Oil" for the car. He will be happy with that.

I want to make a special meal for Christmas....but I have to wait to see if we have enough money after paying bills. Maybe Sunday after church we will stop at Festival foods and buy a "Boneless Rib Roast" I saw a recipe on Facebook that made my mouth water.....I want to make it for Christmas!!! I told JP that the menu for Christmas will be prime rib, asparagus, maybe corn, and potatoes and some kind of dessert. BUT....it depends on how much money is in the check book. If not enough, we'll have to get a cheap steak (poor us) and mushrooms. Actually, that sounds good too.

I am making an apple pie tonight....I doubt it will last till Christmas...I guess by then, if it did last, it would be pretty old by then. My pies don't get very old when JP lives in the house!!!!

I am starting to make cards for Hospice, I have till January 26th before our next meeting. Least I can take my time to make them and not be rushed. I found a new technique using coffee filters. It's called "Tie-dye" using brushes or stamps. I saw a couple of different ways to do this....it should be fun trying to make and duplicate the technique.

So, I guess it is time to close here....no telling when I will be back. If I don't come back before Christmas....Let me just wish you a very Merry Christmas and enjoy your family and friends. Remember too, that we are celebrating Jesus's birth.....JESUS is the reason for this season. Have a great time and keep looking up....better days are coming!! Cheers ~ Louise

Labor Day Weekend

Hi there everyone....hope you are having a nice and relaxing Labor Day Weekend. Well, as of 1/2 hour ago, our relaxing Labor day weekend ended. I saw a few bees buzzing around in the basement as I watched TV. OH NO!!! We have had a problem with bees the last couple of weeks outside, along side the house. JP sprayed them a couple of times....but I guess the can of spray was kind of old.

So, I bought a new can at Walmart. I told JP tonight....don't forget to spray the bees....he did and guess what, they found a way to get into the house. Now they are buzzing around my stamping stuff. JP sprayed the lights where they were buzzing around and naturally the spray went all over my papers, stamps and ink and stuff....erg!!! He swatted a few bees and the lights above my stamping desk went out. Geez........

So we shut things down and came upstairs. I went to the computer to see if there was some home remedy we could use.....yep, mountain dew and dish detergent, mixed together. The sweetness of the dew draws them and the soap coats their wings and they drown cause they can't fly. So we put 6 bowls of the potion out in different spots to see if that will solve part of the problem. I don't carry much soda in the house and only had a few cans of 7-up....so that is what I used.

We had this problem maybe 10 years ago and we called the exterminator, he set a smoke bomb out in the basement. I just don't want to call the guy over the weekend....could cost and arm and leg to have him do what we might be able to do....oh well, we'll see.

I told JP he is going downstairs tomorrow morning to see what the damage is.....Hopefully they are gone.

So we celebrated 44 years of marriage on the 27th of August. This is the card I made for JP. Was kind of fun to make. I used the left over stuff from my Stampin'up kit for August.  Not sure if I talked much about our anniversary. I did on Facebook and got lots of "likes" and comments. We didn't do much, it was raining that day and kind of dreary. I cooked a steak, fries and salad later on in the day.....nope, not much of a special day.

Today would be my Father's Birthday. He would have been 99 years old. He has been dead for 56 of those years....my how time does fly. He was the love of my life when I was a little girl....the sun rose and set on my father. No one could take his place. My stepfather tried, but to no avail. My stepfather wanted me to call him Dad....but I couldn't. He was pops and that's all he was to me. Pops died in May....he will always be Pops. Least I didn't call him Pete.

This week JP and I have to get the porch cleaned off and furniture moved and get the backyard fence and shrub down. Because Habitat for Humanity is painting the porch floor and putting up a privacy fence in our backyard. I can hardly wait. So, I will have some new pictures for you. Stay tuned. Here is what our fence looks like now. JP is going to mow all the greenery down and we will take down as much of the green plastic fencing that we can. I will be sure to take before and after pictures of everything.

Well time to close....it's almost 11:30pm....maybe time to close shop....I wish I could be downstairs making some cards.....but the bees have invaded our home. So I guess I shall say good-night.

Cheers ~ Louise

Mechanism of a Mosquito Bite

Hi there everyone. Here it is....August 1st....how did your day go??? Did you get bit by any mosquito's today? I must have brought one in the house with my walk with Kylie. It found me and attacked me while making Kylie's dinner. I saw it buzz around and go into the refrigerator while it was opened, buzzing, buzzing, it landed on a drawer, I hit it and SMOOSH!!! Blood came out....yep, it must have been my blood. I HATE MOSQUITO'S!!!!

So I thought you would enjoy this little education on the Mosquito. I found it on Facebook and shared it to my Blog.

Combating those little bugs has been a challenge for me. I have found that rubbing alcohol works when I get a whole bunch of bites. One small bite, an ice cube or a tube of "After Bite" works. What kind of remedies have you used. I would be interested in knowing.

My next post in a few days, I will be sharing some more cards...yes, I have been working on them. Getting ready for my Hospice meeting September 1st. My goodness, this summer is flying by. Pretty soon the snow will be flying too....one good thing, there will be NO MOSQUITO'S!!!!

Have a great night and keep looking up......better days are coming.
Cheers ~ Louise

February is Slipping by Fast!!!

Hi there everyone!!! February is slipping by fast....oh yes it is!!! Here it is....the 7th already. A truism, my mother always said to me, "don't wish your life away, Louise....it will come fast enough." I never knew what she meant by that, now I know. There is a scripture I like, it's on my facebook, "I was young, and now I am old yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." Psalm 37:25

So today I want to tell you about this great and tasty seasoning. The following picture is from Hardcore, check out their site. There's one blog I like to visit just about every day and she has talked about this seasoning for months now. Biz,  is a diabetic AND a terrific cook. She also is on WW and has lost weight using the point system. I give her lots of credit, she is very well-rounded, exercise, diet and still manages to enjoy life to the fullest!!!

Doesn't this steak look d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s I can hardly wait to cook a good steak on the grill this summer.....there I go again, wishing my life away. So anyways, Biz has been talking about this seasoning and then she would put pictures up of the steaks....mmmmmm....I could almost taste the steak through the pictures.(she takes great pictures too.) Finally I gave in and bought the seasoning going straight to their site. I also left a comment to Biz on her blog and said.....OKAY....you sold me, I am going to buy this seasoning......so I did!!!

In this picture is my Hardcore jars in the seasoning cabinet....yes they have Hardcore red which is for pork and chicken and maybe even fish. The Hardcore black is for steaks and hamburgers. Jess Pryles, the maker of these seasonings sends recipes every now and then....shall have to try them for sure. So far, I have used Hardcore Black for steak and hamburgers oh and I did use the Red for chicken wings.....oh yum!!!

So here is the steak all covered with the Hardcore Black, I did let the steak sit out for about an hour (as per Biz)with the seasoning on it.....made for a very tender piece of meat......yes it did!!! I fried the steak in an oiled hot pan with some mushrooms and peppers....2-4 minutes on each side. The steak was on sale at Pic n Save, an $8 piece of meat for $4.50....affordable. I think I will do this again for Valentine's Day.

This is what the plate looked like all cooked up....yes I did enjoy this meal. Steak, mushrooms and peppers, cottage fries and sour cream and asparagus.....yep it was delicious!!! And NO, I did not make this for JP - this was for "Louise only" sometimes a girl just needs to "treat" herself.....hahahhahha. Had more steak the next day for breakfast....yep, steak and eggs and again, did not share. Maybe for Valentines I will make him his own steak....we'll see.

He did give me $5.00 to buy some flowers....have not invested yet....there is still time for that. I am not sure steak and flowers are an even trade....can't eat flowers!!!! Course there are no calories in flowers, but then not much in steak either. Maybe it's just a Win-win situation. We are both happy in the end!!!

Still have not taken a picture of me with make-up on and a new do with my eyes all healed. My niece has sent me some sample Roden and Fields eye cream, lip cream, face cream and mask.....I have tried it and really like it and have seen a difference...gosh that stuff is great, I just wish I had the $$$ to buy from her. Actually my two nieces are selling it....I do believe they will do really great in this field. Maybe one day when my ship comes in, I can invest in Roden and Fields....but I have a feeling my ship sank in the Bermuda Triangle never to rise again!!

Well, time to close here....nothing much is coming up till next week. I have a Doctor's appointment for my A1C....sure do hope it is controlled and better this time around.

Cards are in the making......working on Hospice cards again....next meeting is March 3rd. They keep me busy, otherwise I would be doing nothing but sitting on my thumbs. Looking forward to Spring coming, maybe this year I will have the motivation to get outside and do something. Last summer I had lots of ideas but no motivation to do it. Hope that phase is over and out!!!

You all take care and keep looking up~~~better days are here again!!!  Cheers ~ Louise

More Christian Prophets Are Confirming That Trump Is Our New President!

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having a good day....it's Saturday again, my how time flies. Just wanted to let you know. I watched this video last night and thought it was a "Keeper" so I saved it to my blog rather then to Facebook. I actually wanted to see how close this prophet came to prophesying the Word of the Lord, and the election of Trump as President. I don't expect you to watch it, that's okay. This is just for my information.

I was quite surprised that I was able to save this to my blog....who knows, you may see more videos on my blog now that I know I can do this....maybe you will see some cooking tips or something from Blue Apron via YouTube....who knows.

Won't be doing anything special today....maybe just raking some leaves and preparing for winter time and the coming awakening!!! You all have a great weekend and keep looking up.....better days ARE COMING!!!! Cheers ~ Louise

Happy Independence Day

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having a wonderful 4th of July!!! The day is beautiful and sunny here in Wisconsin. Perfect weather for fireworks, get togethers, picnics, cookouts and fun in the sun. Me....I will just lay around and maybe get a few things done around the house. Oh, and enjoy my gardens and hope the mosquitos don't find me and carry me away. (that would be a miracle)

So, as we enjoy this day, let us not forget all those men and women who fought for our freedoms. Our freedoms that seem to be dwindling more each day. Remember all those that went before us doing great things and accomplishing great things never before seen. Things that you won't hear on the news media that can only be explained, because God did the doing.

I thought I would share a few pictures and ideas for cards that I found on the internet. I did make a few cards via the idea above. Some of my ideas are in the banner above.

My Patriotic House Mouse's. They show up every year about this time.

Loved this poster when I saw it....I think I found this on Facebook along with the horse below.

Another card. I think my rendition of this card is in the banner above.

Happy 4th of July and celebration of the Birthday of the Declaration of Independence. We are still so very young as a Nation, with lots to learn.....but, we are one of the greatest Nations and still very much blessed by God. For now.

So keep looking up, better days are coming. Cheers ~ Louise

God Bless America!!!!

Rhubarb Pie and Ashby's Teas

Hi there everyone.....hope you had a good day. I have been very laxed in my blogging lately, not sure why???? Maybe cause I don't have that many visitors and/or commenter's. Gosh, just not sure how one goes about having regular readers and commenter's. Or....maybe my life is not that exciting that people don't care to come by and see what I am up to.  That's okay....no problem.

I for one, have a few blogs that I like to visit daily, I don't comment much, one reason is, I have to be in Google Chrome to comment, for some reason blogger won't let me comment when I am in Internet Explorer.....just don't know why things have to be so hard. Oh well, I guess I must be more diligent a commenter in order to receive comments and be in Google.

Right at this moment....this rhubarb pie is baking. The rhubarb is from our backyard....yum, I can hardly wait for a bite....better pull the whip cream out from the freezer. It's really an easy recipe. I use a freezer pie shell or Pillsbury pie and roll it into the pie pan. The filling is:
4-5 cups of cut rhubarb
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1 egg (it keeps things together)
Mix together with your hand is the best.

Pour into the pie shell and cover with a topping of 3-4 Tablespoon butter, 1/4 to 1/2 + cup flour and mix together till crumbly (you may have to add more flour to make it more crumbly) Then I add some cinnamon to the mixture then spread across the pie.

The pie is baked at 425 for 10 minutes then turn the temp down to 350 for 30 minutes. Cool and serve with ice cream or whip cream.

Today in the mail, I received this wonderful tea, "Ashbys Tea"....so good. I never heard of it till I went to Doloris' house to cut her hair and she served me this tea.....the purple one is what I tried, "Cinnamon Plum Tea".....I always like something new and this sounded so delicious. The other tea I tried at her house (6 weeks later) was "White Pomegranate Tea"....oh my, that was good too. I vowed that I would buy some and that was like in January.....finally I ordered the teas on Monday and the teas came today.

I decided that I need to go back to my tea drinking, been doing too much coffee lately. I think the added cream sure can add calories to ones body.

I used to think my ducks all had to be in a row, and if they weren't I would shoot them....which is what I told one of my former bosses 14 years ago....we just laughed about it, because I found out later, he needed to have all his ducks in a row too!!

 

Anyways, I found these signs on the Internet....I think the duckies were on Facebook, the bottom sign, (probably Facebook also) they both brought a smile to my face and I needed to have them for my files. Which reminds me, I have been slowly working on cleaning up my picture files and putting all my 2015 pictures on the memory stick....no telling how many pictures I have. But it seemed to clear up some space, so I was happy about that.

Yep....sometimes I could use a little help around this house.....wonder what it is like to have a chef, butler and a maid????????????? Guess I will always wonder about that one and just do it myself. I don't mind the chef part, as I like to cook. A maid that cleans the house......that would be nice as I am not a cleaner.....just do the basics. A butler?????? now that would be interesting.

Watching hockey at I type this post, the Nashville Predators and San Jose Sharks are playing.....the Predators are losing miserably 5-0 and this is the last chance for the Predators, 7th game....oh well, looks like the Sharks will be playing the St. Louis Blues, not unless some miracle takes place for Nashville.

Tonight's dinner for JP, when he comes home, will be pork steak with applesauce, roasted cauliflower, fruit and rhubarb pie....well rounded I think, it was delicious as I already had some pork and applesauce.

Well, as soon as this game is over, I shall go downstairs and get my cards ready for Hospice tomorrow. I thought it was last Friday but after checking the schedule....I found I had one more week to work on cards. It will be the usual 50+ cards, but at least I am not rushing to make them.

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

Food, Flowers and Crafting

Hi there everyone....hope you are having a good day. Was reading a few blogs today, gosh, a few bloggers are really going through some sad trials. Prayers for you all, only God will see you through.

Then the bombings in Brussels today and Obama in Cuba talking to the Communist and at a baseball game??? I don't know....these are my thoughts, I think he knew about what was going to happen and planned to go to Cuba and after this, he is going to Argentina, is that another Communist country??? Oh my, nothing good is going to come out of all this.

All that happened today, sure got us distracted from the elections, seems the elections took a back seat. It's all a ploy and diversion to get our eyes off of what is going on.....really going on behind the scenes. As I said....nothing good is going to come out of all this, nope, nothing good.

Well, on to a lighter mood.....food, flowers and crafting. So below are a couple of meals I made from Blue Apron. Yep...."Cuban Sandwiches with Sweet Plantain and Kale Salad" Man, this was really good. The Cuban sandwich was made with pork, Swiss cheese, marinated pickles and mustard, the bread was grilled and pressed down....yep, I would do this again. I guess, after reading comments on the "real" Cuban sandwich...it also has ham in the sandwich, I shall try that next time.

Did you ever cook a plantain? Looks like a banana, but is harder and bigger. Peeled and sliced and grilled in oil, then salted. The kale was sliced fine combined with garlic paste and the juice of a lime, salt and pepper. Mixed with the plantain made for a very delicious salad. I gave this meal 5 stars.

This meal was the "Chicken Cacciatore with Fettuccine Pasta & Mushrooms" Oh yummy, this was really good and a very easy meal to put together. The chicken fried in olive oil then cut up in pieces. The mushrooms fried then garlic and red pepper flakes (depending on how spicy you want it) then the tomato sauce and water is added, cooked then the chopped chicken, cooked pasta, butter and some reserved pasta cooking water. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with the Parmesan cheese.

A very delicious Blue Apron meal......another 5 star recipe.

In these next three pictures are my pretty little purple crocuses....

I thought I better take a picture of them from my kitchen window today.....

Because we are supposed to get a foot of snow tomorrow and they will be crushed under the weight!!! Pour little flowers, they thought it was spring and all chances of snow had passed.....I guess not.

I saw this on Facebook and had to save it to my files....it brought a chuckle for me today. Would be nice if I had a real craft room, but my craft room is down in the basement. Sometimes it is a bit dreary down there. But it is a good place to run to. I guess I do have a lot of card crafting stuff....but it is an accumulation of 20 years of making cards....yep, I have lots of stuff, but not half as much as some people do, oh well, to each his own.

Well, time to close here. I guess the next few days I will be crafting and making cards.....not planning to go outside in the snow.....one good thing, it won't last long and the temps are supposed to get warmer....at least in the high 40's by this week-end. Anyways, I need to make some cards for Hospice and get some new cards up in my Etsy store, guess I have been MIA there too.

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

Something Interesting.....Ancestry

Hi there everyone (whoever that may be). Hope you had a wonderful Saturday, it sure went fast, didn't it??? So much to do....I picked up branches in the back yard, filled the bird feeders, gosh they were empty, no wonder there were no birds in our back yard. Oh my gosh, there is so much to do, but I will chip away at the spring clean up of my front and back yard....as there is no one to help me this year, like last year, Rebuilding Together landscaped our front and backyard, and it was beautiful!!!!

Today I joined a new group on Facebook. It's called: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeAreGenealogyBloggers.com it's a place to go if you want to learn, and these are some of the main points of learning:

• To share blog experiences
• To discuss issues important to bloggers.
• To help with blogging plateforms and getting started on blogger, WP and Weebly etc.
• To grow readers and make money from your blog
• To hear thoughts on genealogy, history, DNA and etc.

These are just a few things, I am sure there is more. Maybe I will be able to get some hints here and there and especially help in trying to find missing people in my family tree. I think as we get older and find that there are not too many family members left around anymore. It's kind of nice to know you still belong some place, because if it was not for your ancestors, you would not be here today passing on the torch of life.

So here is a picture of my Grandfather, Dana Sylvester Yergin, (my mother's father), I am not sure I ever met him as he died when I was 10 years old. Following him and his life has been a little hard, for I have hit many brick walls. He divorced my Grandmother, she living in Chicago and he, in a boarding house with many people in California. When I looked up the census for 1940 that's where I find him, working as a upholsterer for a Car Company. He never graduated High School (only making it to his 2nd year) and I am not sure he was ever in the Army. Nope, don't know much about him. I think though....he was a good looking guy, so was my dad.

 

My mother never talked of him, only that she lived with him for awhile till her mother came for her from Chicago. My mother always longed to go back out west.....in her later years, her and my step-father moved to Las Vegas, my mother loved the mountains and that is where we sprinkled her ashes when she died in 2001.

 

I have a hard time understanding why everything was so hush-hush, I don't have too many memories of both my grandparents. My Grandmother lived with us till I was 5 years old or so and then one day I walked into her room and she was packing her suit cases. I said, "Where are you going grandma?" She said, "I am leaving, your father does not want me here anymore, so you can have this room!!"

 

Off she went, and I never saw her again till I was 17 years old and she was dying of lung cancer, it took her life March 16, 1963. My grandmother was glad to hear that my father had died 1961 and that my mother had remarried Pops in 1962.

 

I have been able to find my 5th great-grandfather, Michael Rhodes Sr. from PA, born 1752, died 1812 and that would be on my mother's side of the family ancestral tree.

 

So, I guess I have a lot to find and really not sure where to start, I always seem to get bogged down with grandfather and grandmother.

 

On my Father's side, I have gone back to 2nd great-grandfather, 1867 and 2nd great-grandmother who both were from Germany.

 

Would be fun to have more pictures then I do of the family, but a lot got lost in the floods over the years and were thrown out.

 

Well, I guess I better close here, I hope you enjoyed a little bit about my ancestor's accounts. I think I will add this to my interesting things to do besides cards, cooking and gardening.

 

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

 

A Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day

Hi there everyone.....was going to do a "Wordless Wednesday" today, but never got "around to it." Which reminds me of a person who actually gave me a "round tuit" (I guess he thought he was being funny) I did not laugh too much that day. Needless to say, he does not come around much anymore. Geez, can't understand why???? But every time I say I shall get 'around to it', he always pops into my mind. (smarty a--)

No, this is not a picture of him here. I saw this guy on Facebook the other day and needed to have him in my files.....yeah, sometimes I feel just like this guy and probably look like him too on certain days.

So today's agenda included cutting JP's hair. I made homemade sauerkraut last week and today put it in a crock pot along with some pork. Shall have to open up some applesauce or maybe make some with the apples in the fridge. MMMM pork and applesauce just seems to go together.

Tomorrow my Blue Apron is being delivered. Can hardly wait. I will have to check on what's on the menu for the next couple of days. I know one of the dishes is "Juicy Lucy Burgers and fries", yum, whatever they send, has always been a hit for me.

Tonight the Blackhawks are playing, I will be able to catch that on NBCSN otherwise I can't watch all the games. But, tonight I can......so I am glad I have dinner already cooked for JP when he gets home.

The BIL called today to let us know they will be coming for a visit in February....that should be fun, hope the weather is good for travels. They usually come for a couple of days, come for lunch and then leave. Least I have a goal to start some cleaning around here....shhhhhhh....could really use it.

Didn't do much more today.....need to start working on taxes and getting things organized....uge, one of my most un-favorite things to do....thank goodness our accountant does not want to see me till March...he gives me some time to work on it.

Well, I think I will close here, want to get some cards made. Hospice meeting is coming up in three weeks....so I need to get some Valentine cards made........at this point, I have NO ideas for cards. Yep, I tell you, being retired I sure can find lots of things to do.

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

Some Signs Along The Way......

Hi there everyone....how is your day going? The weather has been stormy with high winds and lots of rain. Our power went out the other night, along with 13,500 other homes, but came back on 4-5 hours later. Guess there were still people without, longer then that. One sure can be lost without the "POWER"!!!

We headed downstairs with a candle, a little flashlight, and a transistor radio ((yep, I still have one of those....why, I am STILL from the OLD SCHOOL)) We stayed down there till the warnings of tornadoes passed. The sirens were blowing too. I said, "Oh oh....tornado's!" JP says, "How do you know?" I said, "the sirens are sounding....that's how I know"..........geez Jay, do you think I am stupid or something?! We have to go downstairs....boy I tell you, he sure did not move very fast!!! Like everything....I have to drag him or push him to move or go to the Doctor....tired!!!

Some people like storms....me, I don't. I feel like I am in spiritual storms constantly....I would like a little calm and quiet now and then. Don't you?? My mom used to always say, "Everything is/was calm and quiet." Geez....what planet was she on??? I have yet to sense that "calm and quiet" in my life!!!!

Did I tell you....probably not, I mentioned this on Facebook. We got home from church on Sunday and there was a message on our answering machine. It was one of those computerized voices saying someone had sent us a text to our landline. We would not be charged for it (GOOD THING) and this was the phone number, but no name. (coward) and the message was...."I HATE YOU!!"

Oh my gosh....what on earth is this world coming to???? I ask you???  So my mind dwelled on that most of the day, wondering who in their right mind would do something like that??? I know there are some people that don't like us, but they usually stay away, but to come right out and leave a message???? Honestly, get a life and grow up!!!! I have been praying for them, whoever they are that God would convict them of their cowardly deeds. I just have to remember, "Vengeance is the Lord's" and what goes around, comes around. I am not one to do the same thing back, but I know "Pay day is coming, someday, to everyone.

I saw this sign somewhere on the Internet and had to save it.......It says it all, doesn't it???

 

Another sign that I must remember.....as I am very hard on myself at times. Not only do people criticize, but I do a pretty good job at criticizing and cutting myself down. Why, I probably have even told myself......I HATE YOU!!! So, I don't really need someone else telling me "I HATE YOU" also!!! Look who signed the sign.....another "Louise".

 

Yes, Blue Apron.....have you heard of this company? I saw it on Pinterest and checked it out Here is the site. What they do is send you three meals, with recipe, meat, vegies and spices. You do the cooking. Sounds like fun, plus you are trying things that may be completely new to you. The box comes all refrigerated and cold. You choose what you want to make that night or the next. I am going to try it a while see how price effective it is....I like to cook, so maybe this just might be a fun project for the summer.

 

Last night I made a scrumptious meal in the pressure cooker of pork, potatoes, carrots, onion and corn on the cob with Turkish seasonings and onion soup mix. OMG was that delicious. So between my pressure cooker, the Blue Apron and Schwans......we shall eat well!!!

 

Well time to close here for awhile....I am probably boring you by now and you have not read my whole post.....that's okay. You have a good day and keep looking up!!! Cheers ~ Louise

I Found This On.....

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having a "Bellissimo" day!!!! HA....I was making my breakfast this morning and that word popped into my mind. What in the world???? So I asked JP, cause he took Spanish, nope he did not remember. So then I asked the computer, it knows EVERYTHING!!! Turns out Bellissimo in the Italian Dictionary means "Lovely". So yeah, hope you are having a LOVELY day!!!

My breakfast by the way, actually turned into an early lunch. Lettuce salad with sliced strawberries and olive dressing and a toasted tortilla with melted cheese, kinda like a quesadilla...yummy. Very good, think I will do this lunch again. I seem to go in spurts....for over 2 weeks I was having 2 soft boiled eggs with toasted croutons and a slice of toast (actually it was toast cut up in chunks to soak in the yolk...the eggs were cooked perfectly. Well, now I think I am off that binge and now on to the salad and quesadilla for....well at least till this big bag of spring mix lettuce is gone. Don't want it to go to waste and hopefully not to the waist.

Isn't this just the cutest idea???? I found this on Facebook. I do have a skid downstairs. I shall have to bring it up and start playing with it this weekend. I have a mean squirrel in my backyard that likes to tear up my flowers after they are planted. I shall have to feed him dried corn cobs to keep him away from the bird feeders and my planted flowers and herbs. Bad Squirrel!!!!

Well, my house is slowly getting back in shape. Still working on the upstairs....there are a few things I may not be putting back in the kitchen and on the walls...they just might end up in my garage sale or a thrift store...who knows. I am almost liking the uncluttered look in the kitchen.

I still have to take lots of pictures of my house and all the new additions. I was telling a few people about my house improvements.....I think they were a little jealous.....oh well, I waited long enough for my ceiling to be fixed.....is 12 years long enough, I am sure they never had to deal with a leaky ceiling that long.

Well time to close.....there is a plant sale Saturday, if it is nice weather I might go see what they have. JP's birthday is on Sunday, he will be 68 years old but he acts like 78 years old......old man!!!
Maybe I will get a prime rib at Festival Food on Saturday and cook it on the grill for Sunday....we'll see. His birthday cake is cheese cake and Key Lime Pie with Cool Whip.....oh very diabetes worthy!!!

Have a "Bellissimo" Day and keep looking up!!!
Cheers ~ Louise