RHUBARB-FLOWERS and VEGIES

Hi there everyone....where did July go????? Now it is August, time sure does fly by quickly!!! I have not been doing many cards, but I bought a few things from Spellbinders which should be coming this next week....so maybe I will get some inspiration. This will be a treat, as I have not splurged on card making supplies for at least 5 months.) Hospice meets September 6th, so I better get cracking soon, and get some cards made.

A friend gave me a bunch of rhubarb last week (he has 23 plants), so you know I got a lot. I turned most of it into sauce. In this picture below, those are "Rhubarb Bread Pudding Cups." 
First I made the sauce: 
5-6 cups of chopped up rhubarb
1 to 1-1/2 cups sugar (recipe called for 3 cups sugar)
1 package strawberry jello

Now here is the trick...mix the rhubarb and sugar in a bowl and put in the microwave for maybe 7 minutes. (more or less depending on your microwave) It should be cooked through. Add the jello and mix. Can't resist...a few teaspoons went into my mouth...have to make sure it tastes right. So yum-ee

Next step, spray the bowl, place croutons in bottom of little bowls, pour a couple of tablespoons rhubarb sauce on top of the croutons. Mix 3 eggs and milk or cream together (you could add a few shakes of cinnamon) and pour on top of bread and rhubarb. Poke with fork to make sure egg mixture is spread evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes. When egg mixture does not wiggle on top, it's done. Cool a bit. Top with ice cream or whip cream.....YES!!!

So in these pictures are some of my flowers. Here are my brown eyed susans….last years flowers did not do well.....this year there was an abundance. I love these flowers.

In the back yard are my Bee Balm and purple Clematis. So pretty when I look out the back kitchen window. When the storm came through, they got knocked down....oh well, next year they will be back. We call the Bee Balm our "choir" there are so many of them.

My little rose bush....adds some nice color in the front yard.

My Italian Beans....gosh I love these beans....they are more flat, rather then round, I like the taste of them. I have been microwaving then, adding butter and some garlic seasoning.....very good.

The picture above, you see my zucchini plant, (finally got 3 zucchini's so far) and 2 tomato plants. the one on the left is a "Big Girl" and the one on the right is a called a "Mortgage Lifter" Lots of tomatoes on the Big Girl, not many on the Mortgage Lifter yet. Looking forward to BLT's!!!

So here is the pretty pink rose the vet gave me for Kylie.....when we buried Kylie, I gave here the rose and her teddy bear.

I am still missing this little girl.....I cry almost every day. She was with us for 13 years....very hard to forget her. I don't know what hit me yesterday, but I had a break down....and cried and cried. It's only been 3 weeks today, since she left us. I hope she is happy and running around, chasing her rabbits and squirrels and butterflies.

Time to close here, gosh, it sure feels like Saturday, but it's only Friday night. We might be going to an annual scholarship fund raiser tomorrow....not sure yet. I guess we can go for as long as we want, cause there is no puppy dog to get home to and let out.

Have a great weekend, talk to you later. Cheers ~ Louise

Some Blue Apron Meals & A Warm Cuddly Blanket

Hi there everyone. Hope you are having some nice cool fall days.....it sure does feel like fall out there. I am starting to pull up some plants that are dying out.....gosh, I may  even put some things away for the winter....less to do for fall clean up, I guess.

I am not exactly sure where the spring and summer went to...but it sure went by fast. Must be the older we get the faster time goes by and as the Bible says, "we are all but a vapor" and vapors or puffs of smoke don't last long, do they?!?!?!

Today I am going to show you some of the meals I have made with my "Blue Apron" meals that I have so far received. Here is the link to Blue Apron if you would like to check it out. So below are 5 meals....not sure what happened to the sixth one....must not have taken a picture of it for whatever reason.

In the above picture is the "Chicken Milanse with Summer Corn, Cherry Tomato and cucumber salad. I liked the way the chicken was made and have already bought some panko breadcrumbs to make this again. The chicken was dunked in flour, then a mustard/water mixture then into panko crumbs and fried in olive oil. Very tasty.

In this picture is the "Cod and Miso Soba Noodles with multicolored Cherry Tomatoes and Eggplant." JP liked this meal as he is a "Cod-fan" Me not so much. I am also not caring for the eggplant either. This dish was just okay in my taste pallet.

In this above picture is "Summer Ratatouille and Parmesan Polenta with Heirloom Eggplant and Garlic-Cheese Toasts" a really yummy meal. Polenta, which was an interesting dish to make. I shall be looking for Polenta in the store now....hopefully I can find it. Again there was eggplant in this dish, not my favorite. Zucchini would be my choice. The garlic bread is always luscious!!!

NOW this was really a good meal...."Spiced Meatballs with Garlic Toasts and Summer Squash Salad" The recipe says, spiced meatballs served in a warming tomato sauce are a North African specialty. One of the defining features is a hint of lemon. The salad included green olives, mint, lemon, Parmesan cheese and the squash. The meat balls were really tasty. Yes, I would make this again.

OH YUM....I made this last night and JP wanted a second helping. I was hoping to have enough to freeze for a meal while I am convalescing after surgery......but nope, not this meal. This meal is a "Stir-Fried Ginger-Basil Chicken with Tinkerbell Peppers and Coconut Rice." The coconut rice was made with a coconut milk powder that was mixed with water then added to the rice to cook. Need to look for this product for sure. The stir fry had such a good sauce...we both enjoyed it immensely. Most definitely will have to make this dish again.

Tomorrow will be my final visit to the eye Doctor to check my eyes....I have 6 more days of drops....it's be a long hard haul....but I am almost done. I shall celebrate by buying a warm cuddly purple blanket I saw the other day at Shopko. Oh my, it was so soft, I could see myself cuddled up in it during those long cold nights....it's on my list to buy, SOON like this week!!! 

Also tomorrow, I will be making a dish that will be coming in my Blue Apron box on September 3rd...the day of my surgery. I told JP to just put all the food in the fridge....hopefully in the following week I will be able to cook a little.

The recipe is called "Tomato & Goat Cheese Pie with Sweet Pepper and Basil." I have lots of tomatoes and basil from my garden, bought the goat cheese and pepper and will buy a pie crust tomorrow. So, I am all set. Hopefully I will be able to freeze some too. I did make some lasagna soup on Saturday....I should try and freeze a couple of containers there. That's if JP has left some in the pot.

I made him a rhubarb/strawberry pie on Saturday....I am surprised there is still some left. He is slacking a little.

Well, time to close here, don't want to wear you out and make you hungry with all my ramblings. Have a great couple of days and keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

A Very Big Change......

Hi there everyone. How is your day going? Mine has been pretty busy, starting with getting Kylie to the groomer by 8am. Usually after I drop her off, I go to the store for food then come home. Today, I just came home. Went on the computer for awhile, then made some breakfast. Nothing fancy, chocolate rice cakes with cream cheese and strawberries. Sat outside on the porch for awhile. Then started washing the covers on the chairs and pillowcases that Kylie sleeps on. Well gosh, after a shower and haircut she needs clean bed coverings, right??.

Then I went outside to cut some rhubarb and made some crisp....NanaDiana's recipe this is so easy and makes lots....well, it should last at least a couple of days. The Groomer called to I could pick up Kylie at 2:30. So I stopped at the gas station for gas, pizza and coffee then on to the Groomer. Gosh, Kylie was so happy to see me....she must think I am not coming back for her....silly girl.

I ran across this picture of our house when we first bought our little house in 1991.....what a big change this house has seen. The tree in back of the house is WAY big now. The bush in front of the house was really small.....and that tree left of the house was the neighbor's tree...man I hated that tree, it caused a lot of problems. Finally the neighbor had it cut down....the limbs were rubbing on our roof.

The guy we bought this house from was single and getting married. So the extent of landscaping was....all rocks around the front and side and back of the house. Whew.....it took me quite a few years to remove the rocks and replace with flowers and plants.

In 2001 we got a grant from the City to get siding, windows, doors, a new porch and a roof done. The below picture is pretty much what it looked like......I did paint the porch and floor, probably 2-3 years after it was done. It stayed pretty much the same for all these years.

                          (both these pictures were taken in the same month....before and after)

Today.....this is what my house looks like now. The shutters were painted and put back up. The porch painted, new basement windows and a re landscaping......I am so very happy with my little house.....from what it looked like in 1991 to today 2015....it's a very big change!!!!

I wish the picture from 1991 was a little bit clearer, but it was a picture from an old Polaroid camera and had gotten very dark. I very seldom do scanning and for the life of me, could not figure it out.....suddenly I figured it out and "wa-lah" I shall have to do some more scanning of "Old Pictures". That should be fun.

Well, time to close this blog....need to go outside and plant a few flowers and move the cucumbers in the back. They only got about 4 hours of sun....that's not enough. Think I will do some cucumbers in the front....full sun there. Maybe over to the left where that big bush was....plenty of space to roam.

Have a good evening and keep looking up. Cheers ~ Louise

A New Month and a Garden Harvest

Hi everyone, how are you all doing this first day of the month??? Wonder how fast this month will go by??? Hard to believe the summer is almost over except for a few more warm days ahead of us and then WINTER is just around the corner.....YIKES!!!!

Well, I thought I would post some vegies from my garden.  I made a tomato garden this year....so in the above picture you see some of my tomatoes. My but they were yummy this year.  BLT's  were absolutely divine!! My cucumbers are doing good this year as I planted the young plants in an old wheel barrel. I have tried planting in other areas but they just did not seem to grow.....the wheel barrel must have had perfect growing conditions this year.

I have onions growing all over the place....but none of the onions seem to get really big....more like small marbles...oh well, guess I will just buy them at the store. The rhubarb did not do good this year, no harvest. Had strawberries growing in the front of the house.....they did well, lots of sun and rain for those berries. Not a good year for beans....planted in two different places....they did not take off...oh well. My oregano and garlic are doing well. Peppers are growing along with the tomatoes. Oh and how did I forget....I planted potatoes in a container....they are still sprouting, so have not received a harvest as yet...that's if the squirrel does not get to them before I do......DARN that squirrel!!!!

We've been given lots of vegies though...tomatoes, peppers, jalapeno peppers, egg plant, cucumbers, cabbage have been bountiful, with more to come, I hope.

In this picture is my green apples..........I am so happy that these babies made it. As of this writing I have 11 containers of cooked up apples in the freezer. Each container will make one apple pie. Oh yum!!

Our Labor Day will consist of JP going out to the tree and getting some more apples off the tree. He is taller then I...so hopefully he'll get higher then I could. I think they are ready now, cause the apples that I cut open today....the seeds were black or almost turning. So I will cut some more apples up tomorrow, cook them and freeze some and make a pie for Labor day. We have company coming from Chicago....so guess what....they are getting some apple pie. Why buy dessert when I can make a pretty good pie here with some whipped cream...........oh my, I can hardly wait!!!!

Well, time to close, it is getting late and I need to get some sleep. Going to be a quiet day around here, we'll get some things done around the house before company comes next weekend. Have a great Labor Day and don't' labor too much......lol!!! Keep looking up for your redemption draws nigh!!!
Cheers ~ Louise

Birthday and Blood Test

Happy, Happy Birthday!!! My husband's birthday was on the 17th.......65 year old!!! I made him a card something like the above card but with blue flowers and butterflies. I placed this above card in my Etsy store if you would like to take a peek at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/ I think if you read on to the next blog from the 14th, I talk about his Birthday celebration alittle. Below, is his birthday cake. Made rhubarb and strawberry dessert layered on angle food cake and whip cream and a luscious strawberry with the candle stuck in it. Making the strawberry/rhubarb dessert is really easy.


Here is the recipe:
4 cups of rhubarb (peeled and chopped)
2 cups of strawberries (cored and sliced)
1/4 sugar (optional
or
2 packets of sweetener
Mix together in a casserole with cover.
Bake 1 hour in 300 degrees. Cool and pour over angel food cake and cover with whip cream.

I like this dessert almost as well as just plain strawberries. Oh Yummy!!!
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Well, tomorrow I go for my blood test to see if my liver levels are normal after not taking any medication for a week. Got prayer today at church. So I am just believing that "God's Got It"

Guess I will close here for now, need to get to bed, the morning comes early and my appointment is at 9:20am. You keep looking up and I will too!!! Remember your redemption draweth nigh.

Cheers to all ~ Louise

Ahhhhh Sweet Saturday

I LOVE SATURDAYS.........can sleep in late, not have to rush around getting ready for something, slow down and take time to smell the roses so to speak. ----------------------------------------->

As you can see I am spending part of my Saturday doing this blog, but this is a fun time for me, I like typing and thinking at the same time. Well, today is my husband's birthday, he is 61 years old. Ha, now we are the same age, I am the older woman in his life (by 6 months), excluding his mother who is 85 years young.

His birthday present or should I say presents are two violet pots, (for his violets), concentrate cherry juice for his gout, rhubarb cake, a turkey dinner for today and going out for chicken dinner tomorrow after church. He made out like a bandit! Birthday's should be like that though, don't you think? Sort of a celebration of life..........and celebrate all week long, why not? It's not everyday you are 61......one more year and he can retire if he wants. Nice goal to have, without a goal or vision the people perish!

Back to his presents, got the pots at Savers (a second hand shop, proceeds go to Easter Seals), the pots are handmade ceramics......very pretty!!!!! I actually got 4 pots, what a deal!!! Two for my violets. We are in competition as to who can keep their blooms blooming longer. So far his are doing fairly well, different light situations, my window does not get a lot of sun, north window, his are on the east window, which gets the morning sun, guess that makes the difference.

Did you know Cherry juice is good for gout? Yep, works like an antioxidant. I can get a quart at Copps for $16.99, or go to the health food store and get a quart for $17.99. Been going to the Free Market to get our water and they have cherry juice concentrate $3.99 for 8oz. that lasts a couple of weeks, making one quart at a time (with 2 tablespoons at a time). He drinks lots of tea also. We have a wonderful tea shop with over 200 different kinds of teas......oh it is a wonderful place to go. (Fava Tea Company will be another blog sometime) We have kept his gout in check by adjusting his diet. Sugar seems to stimulate his gout, so we try and stay away from things made with a lot of sugar. It's been a challenge but it is worth it, gout pain (which is a form of arthritis) is horrific. He can hardly walk around when the gout strikes in his toe or foot.

We have rhubarb growing in the backyard...........found a really fast and quick recipe last night for it, very good warm and with ice cream or whipped cream...mmmmmmmmm good!

QUICK AND EASY STRAWBERRY RHUBARB CAKE
4 cups rhubarb, 1" pieces
1 pkg strawberry jello mix
1/2 cup sugar (cut this down to 2 tablespoons, next recipe may even cut it out completely)
1 pkg yellow cake mix
1 cup water
Spread about 4 cups rhubarb pieces in 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with 1 pkg Strawberry Jello(dry powder as evenly as possible. Sprinkle 1/2 to 1 cup sugar over that.(uge, too, too sweet)
Next layer is 1 pkg yellow cake mix (straight out of the box) Last pour 1/2 to 1 cup water over everything. This should be done as evenly as possible, dampening as much of the cake mix powder as you can. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Good warm, good cold, good plain and yummy with cool whip on top.

Well so much for today's blog, think I will go wash my hair and get that turkey in the oven for his special day.............mmmmm turkey sandwiches with cranberries sound yummy. Have a good day and don't forget to put your best foot forward, don't look back, nothing you do about it anyways :-)

Here's a picture of another new set of cards I put together, these are my Thank you card sets.

2 butterflies and 2 fishes, the inside of the cards are blank so you can write your own message. I have priced these 4 cards @ $11.00 (that would be 2.75 per card - still cheaper then the stores)Postage is $1.75 - Paypal will take care of the transaction or you can send a money order. Go to my shop at: http://www.cards4ubylouise.etsy.com/