Just Saying Hello

Thoughts and Quotes: Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time.    Marabel Morgan

I didn't know who she is either, so I looked for her on Wikipedia. Click HERE. I don't think her books would sell today.

My persistence this week is spot on, but my excellence is lacking. I had to drop everything and do some cleaning. It was either that or move, and I decided the cleaning was easier - a special clean, but not a deep clean. I've had too many lick-and-a-promise cleans in a row, so a special clean was in order. As a result, I don't have much to share, but here it is.

Teaching and Learning: I've discovered my new secret weapon - it's jars, if you can find them. I saw a lady on Pinterest who made five salads in jars for her next week at work. She used quart canning jars and layered her salad - dressing on the bottom, then sturdy things like chicken cubes or kidney beans, then veggies like carrots and celery, then greens. She would just shake the jar, and voila! lunch. 

I wasn't sure I wanted a salad which had been sitting for five days, but decided to try three days. Not the same as a fresh made salad, so I decided why not prepare everything ahead and put the ingredients in separate jars? That way, you could prepare your salad easily and it would be fresher. 

That's when I discovered that glass jars keep produce fresh much longer than plastic bags or bowls. Right now, in my refrigerator you'll find celery, radishes, strawberries, grapes, shredded cheese, cantaloupe, and chopped onions. 

I've been using jars in my freezer for years with portioned leftovers. Here's enough taco meat for two tacos, one serving of chili, lemon juice cubes, and leftover enchilada sauce. 

Now I put my blueberries in glass instead of plastic bags, and the other jar is homemade chicken stock. I also have cranberries in the garage freezer.

I've been told to only use canning jars in the freezer as some of the others might break, but I've been using odds and ends for years with no problem, so long as I don't fill them too full.

Another thing I learned this week is that whatever you're seeking might be right in front of you. You just need to look around.

I needed a pitcher for the amber snackset table; the one from last week.

I searched the pitchers from one end to the other and back again for something suitable. Nothing.

Then I happened to look down, and there were the amber things I'm not using, waiting until I finish the table, so they can go out the door. The perfect pitcher. And this can apply to everything in life, not just objects. What you're seeking might be right in front of you. You just need to look from a different angle.

The Pepper and Pals Report: Both Pepper and Stormy are sleeping more as the mornings are sometimes gray or foggy and the days sometimes overcast. They chase the sun, but sometimes when it moves on, they're just too tired to move.

There's nothing more peaceful than a sleeping baby or a sleeping cat.

I don't know how she can sleep like that, lying on her tail.

My neighbors are moving and having an estate sale. I got up to this. The turquoise pickup on the other side of the island is a serious shopper. Look at the size of the trailer he's pulling.

They were parking a long block away.

When the sale was in progress, they inflated the Halloween decorations on the back upper deck.

His wings flap, and he has streamers hanging out of his mouth which flutter and look like fire. The deck is visible from my family room, and the first time Stormy saw the dragon, her ears perked up, her eyes got big, and she was ready to go to war if that thing dared to invade her territory. They're gone today, so I guess the dragon went to a new home.

Tasting: Six months and two weeks since I've eaten out except for fast food. I finally had lunch with Mim at Neighbors Mill where we could eat outside. I started to say that we dined al fresco, but the place is too casual for those romantic sounding words. I had a great Reuben sandwich. Mim had a goodlooking egg salad sandwich and a cup of tomato basil soup. No photo because she slipped on something and the soup sloshed over her tray, so it looked messy. That's my excuse, but the truth is that I forgot. 

We'd been discussing the evil virus and how good it felt to be out for a meal and what was opening, etc. and I said that I felt ready to chuck the whole idea of staying home. You know I believe in signs, and Cousin Donna sends me butterflies. Suddenly, this gorgeous lady, all dressed up in her autumn colors, came in for a landing on Mim's arm. So that does it! Since Donna approves, I'm going out.

I felt even more convinced when I saw these statistics on the news last night:

Survival Rates:

0-19   99.997%

20-19  99.98%

50-69   99.5%

70+      94.6%

Thrifting: I left Mim and was headed back to Nixa to go drop off things (mostly gardening books) at our local thrift shop, when I passed a big yard sale in progress. Of course I stopped. Fooled you. I was going to see if they wanted my donations, and I wouldn't have to go to the shop in Nixa. They did. Then fooled me, because look what I bought.

Throws for the feral kitty winter houses.

A book for someone who needs it, bowls that match Hannah's everyday dishes, a basket for January (you'll see it then), a stamp set, an ink pad, a coffee pot I just couldn't pass up, and a notebook (never buy a notebook at Walmart) for 25 cents. Everything for $14.50, so I gave her a $20. They were trying to raise money for a friend who needs a wheelchair. Stormy, checking it out.

How could I not buy this coffee pot? Look at those peach tulips (one of my favorite colors), and daffodils (my birth month flower).

A very fun stop. While I was there, someone was buying my gardening books, and it turned out that she was from California, just up the freeway from where I lived, she owned a floral shop there for years, she belongs to the same Bunco Club as my friends Sally and Martha. We had a nice chat.

Thank You: To Mim for this exotic sounding spice I'd never seen - zatar. You can read about it HERE. Mim says that it's wonderful on toast with an egg and avocado.

Thank You Also to My Special Girls Up North: I received two CARE packages with all kinds of goodies. They're a class act - even the boxes are pretty.

They hit all the notes. Spring papergoods.

A Summer read.

Things for Fall

Cozy slippers for Winter.

Halloween (Pepper loves this)

Christmas

And they know how to read my mind. I've been thinking that I'm really weak with geography, and maybe we should study together next year. And I get crafting paper which is maps. Ha!

Tasting: I finished the Snackset Lunch finally.

M E N U

Broccoli-Apple Salad

Creamed Chicken and Peas 

in Patty Shells

Candied Butternut Squash

Mixed Grain Muffins

Orange Spice Tea

Maple Sundaes

Teaching and Learning: Steps 5-8 on ending procrastination. How did you do with 1-4? I think that "Eating the Frog" step works quite well.

5. Use the Eisenhower Matrix. The Eisenhower Matrix prioritizes your tasks by urgency and importance. Check it out by clicking HERE.

6. Complete Quick Tasks Immediately. If you know a task takes only a few minutes, then do it right away.

7. Create a Mini Habit for Challenging Tasks. Set a "lowball" goal that makes it super simple to get started.

8. Build Elephant Habits for Ongoing Projects. Chip away at a simple but time-consuming project in 5-to-15-minute daily increments.

That's all I have this week. 

Oops! Last minute development. Jill found this injured baby, and needed someone to babysit him until her vet opens tomorrow. I picked him up and took him to the Emergency Clinic to make sure he isn't in pain. They said he's not, so he's mine until Monday. He's only three or four weeks old and having trouble with his left side. The vet said that it's probably because his eardrum is damaged, causing him to be unbalanced. She thinks he'll heal. I tried washing the blood off, but will just do a little at a time. He ate wet food from a spoon, but he mostly wants to sleep. He's going to have one blue eye and one green eye. Prayers for this sweet baby, please. And prayers for a good home. Neither Jill nor I need any more kitties.

MAKE A WISH ON THE FULL HARVEST MOON THURSDAY NIGHT

APPLE A DAY

STILL TIME TO GO TO THE LAKE

WORK ON YOUR FALL WARDROBE

BUY SOME BULBS TO PLANT NEXT MONTH

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

 

 

Back Already

Thoughts and Quotes: It is never too late to be what you might have been.

                                                                         George Eliot

Things to make us happy: Following my own advice, I brought in a rose for my nightstand, and the last of my zinnias for the kitchen. It really does feed your soul - try it.

Tasting: I tried a recipe for Lemon Cheesecake Mousse from Pinterest, and liked it, so I tried it with lime and liked that as well. So why not make it with any flavor Jello you desire?

JELLO CHEESECAKE MOUSSE

1 4-serving size package Jello

1/2 cup boiling water

1 8-oz package cream cheese

1/2 cup cold water

1 cup Cool Whip + more for garnish

Berries or other for garnish

Put the Jello in a small bowl and pour in the boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved.

Add Jello to blender with cream cheese and cold water.

Blend until smooth.

Pour into a larger bowl and whisk in the 1 cup Cool Whip.

Pour into serving dishes (4 to 6) and chill for at least two hours.

Garnish with additional Cool Whip and a few berries.

Try lemon Jello with blueberries, lime Jello with raspberries, cherry Jello with chocolate curls, orange Jello with banana slices, etc.

Quick, easy, and so festive.

Those Who Inspire Us: I've told you about my sister-in-law (Lil' Sis'), who is a current day Wonder Woman. She just finished her second book, and did a podcast I think you'll enjoy. You, too, will be inspired by my Lil' Sis'. Click HERE.

Those Who Scam: I've had two new kinds of scam calls lately. One claims to be from the Social Security Administration. My ID has been stolen, so they have cancelled my social security number and now I'm no longer a citizen. They used my credit card as well in El Paso, Texas, blah, blah, blah. Two men will come to my house the next day; they will be dressed in business suits, and what time will I be home? Oh, all day? What time do you go for your walk? So that's it! What time will I be gone, so I can be burgled? I told him that if he wants to be a scammer, he needs to clean up his accent and hung up. End of that guy.

Then I got a call from Daniel at Amazon telling me that someone charged an iPhone for $1,499 to my account on order AMZ987 and that I should press two and report it. 1. That's not even close to what Amazon order numbers look like. 2. The guy who answered at press two had a heavy accent - the definite red flag. Of course, he wanted me to go to my computer and open it and he'd give me a form to fill out. Sure, Buddy, and would you like all my passwords while we're there?

What will they think of next? Be wary - there are lots of people who want your money.

Tasting: Soup 20, Raspberry Soup by Committee

RASPBERRY SOUP BY COMMITTEE

I used a recipe from the internet and served this soup at dinner.  After we all made our suggestions for improvement, this is the result.

Serve as a first course on a hot evening, from a cup at a ladies’ luncheon, as a dessert soup, or instead of pastry for your quick afternoon tea on a hot summer day. Serve it in a cream soup bowl, so you can pick it up and drink it down if you’re in a really big hurry.

24-oz fresh or (thawed) frozen unsweetened raspberries

1-1/4 cups water

1-1/4 cups cran-raspberry juice

2/3 cup sugar

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1 Tbs lemon juice

2 cartons (6 oz) raspberry yogurt

Sour cream, crème fraiche, or whipped cream (optional)

Puree raspberries and water in a blender.  Don’t overdo it or you’ll be eating bits of seeds. Put raspberries in a large saucepan and add the cran-raspberry juice, sugar and cinnamon.

Stir over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and strain.

 Allow to cool. Whisk in lemon juice and yogurt.  Refrigerate.

 Do a dollop just before serving. Serves 4 to 6. 

And now these cream soup sets (6) are leaving. Such nice quality - Villeroy and Boch - and I got them really cheap at a thrift store. Boo-hoo. (Daughter is doing a fist pump)

Thirty-two more to go by the end of the year? Might not make it unless I really focus. I've been making my big plans for next year. It's all Boys Town's fault. They already sent my 2021 planner, so I just had to start filling it in. And I spent an entire day working on my plans for next year's blog format. I even have the first post almost finished. We have to have twice as much fun in 2021 to make up for 2020.

Thrifting: No, I haven't gone yet, but when I made my coffee one morning this week, I grabbed a turquoise mug, and it just felt "off." As a bookkeeper, I love everything balanced, so maybe this has precipated my love of having seasons. I like things to fit into the four cubbyholes of Spring: March, April, May; Summer: June, July, August; Autumn: September, October, November; Winter: December, January, Febrary. Yes, I know the calendar marks the beginning of each season, but my seasons sart on March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1, so that's when I change my front door wreath. Well, most of the time. But I have a special pumpkin wreath which goes up on Oct 15-November 30. And, if course, the Christmas wreath is exchanged for a winter wreath on Jan 1.

So about that turquoise coffee mug - it is now in the garage, awaiting its turn come June 1, because turquoise is a summer color. And my cabinet is so much less cluttered, because I have sent all the off season mugs to the garage.

Five Autumn Coffee Mugs

My Thanksgiving Mug

I think I have a Halloween mug in the garage.

Now I can start looking for Autumn afternoon tea mugs and cups. I think I sent all my Christmas mugs away, so that will be on the list, with winter coffee mugs, winter afternoon tea mugs and cups, etc.

I also organize my clothes by season, so now I'm into browns, tans, golds, orange, olive green for Autumn. (Think autumn leaves).

Winter is red, forest green, white, gray, and black. (Think snow, bare black trees, gray skies, evergreens, Christmas red). 

Spring is yellow, pink, lavender or purple, peach, and baby blue. (Think Easter eggs, bulb flowers, blue skies).

Summer is white, navy, khaki, red, turquoise, black slacks with any blouses which match, and my summer uniform - white slacks with any color tee shirt. (Think oceans -  navy or turquoise, khaki sand, red and white beach balls and awnings, dress-up black slacks, and casual white slacks.

When I win the lottery, I'm going to redo my entire house (or build according to my dream house plans) in all neutral colors - just like now with Navajo white walls, ivory woodwork, and real estate beige carpeting and tile. But all the upholstered furniture and drapes will be neutral. Then I can change the season by changing the bedspreads,  toss pillows, throws, wall decor, throw rugs, towels, knick-knacks. Of course, it has to be a big win, because I'd also have to hire a storage locker to store everything and a van to move it each season. 

Have you ever noticed that dreams are almost as much fun as the real thing? And guess what's playing on the TV right now - I Can Dream, Can't I? I love having ATT U-verse because the music is ad free, all instrumental, and there are lots of choices. I usually listen to "Easy Listening," but when they start playing jazz, I change to "New Age."

Tidying: I've been cleaning my office for a day and a half. I'm in that "clearing out and organizing" mood, and I need to get moving. I think I can finally finish if I don't open the closet door and start going through the file cabinets. That reminds me that I never did finish the 14 Ways to Overcome Procrastination, so let's start over, and I promise to do better.

Lesson 1: Resolve any potential emergency. Taking care of emergencies immediataely will prevent scarier issues down the road.

Lesson 2: Do a 5-10 minute daily review. Spend a few minutes going over the day's priorities. Of course, bookkeeper Patsy has to have a list to check off.

Lesson 3: Focus on your MIT's. Identify the tasks that have the biggest impact on your life and do them first.

Lesson 4: Eat the frog. If you can complete the hardest task first, all other tasks will seem less daunting.

Okay, that's enough to practice for now. More next week.

I'm going to go finish off the raspberry soup and FINALLY finish dusting the office.

EAT THE FROG EACH DAY

PAIRED WITH AN APPLE

AND A BIG GLASS OF WATER

GET YOUR FALL WARDROBE ORGANIZED

KEEP WEARING SUNSCREEN

PRAY FOR AN END TO THE CHINA VIRUS

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE

 

  

I've Missed You

Thoughts and Quotes: Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.   Jane Howard

I'm happy to have alone time during this (according to Susan Branch's blog) damnpanic because I have lots to do, but I miss talking to you. This will be short, because I'm on a roll.

Yes, we need each other and we need family, and mine is getting smaller. I lost another brother on August 27. The oldest of the five, Danny, made his transition and then there were two. As I'm the oldest sibling (and the only girl), the natural order would be that I would be the first to go. Not so. I started with five little brothers, and now I have only two left. And so sad, because the new niece we discovered in March (Gina) is Danny's daughter, and he was on his way to meet her for the first time. He didn't make it, and died peacefully in his sleep in a motel.

I don't mean to nag, but PLEASE get your papers in order. You can't imagine what the ones left behind have to go through to clean up your affairs. 

And since I'm on borrowed time, let's get on with it, because I still have tons to do before I go, or as Robert Frost tells us, "Miles to go before I sleep."

Now where were we?

Tasting: Oh, yes. The food for the Busy Lady Lunch. Remember? I started it last time.

BUSY LADY LUNCH

MENU

Ham Salad

Potato Salad

Vegetable Salad

Rice Muffins

Pineapple Iced Tea

Summer Parfait

 The placemats, napkins, and napkin rings have gone to live with Terri.

I'm really behind on my soups now, but I did manage to finish a few. 

Manhattan Clam Chowder

And this set of dishes is gone.

Peaches and Cream Soup

Keeping the snack sets for a maybe book.

Chicken Barley Soup

A recipe from Friend Barbara

I have to keep these dishes for the theme dinner redo of Thank You, Jimmy Carter (peanut theme)

Thinning Out: Told you I'm on a roll. I cleared out ten banker's boxes of Christmas.

Blue Christmas (will take to Gina)

Christmas Tree

Taking to Katy

Plaid - to Terri

Snow Village - Terri

Snowman - Terri (she's having a yard sale)

Plus lots more odds and ends of Christmas. My heart was breaking as I packed them up, but you just can't keep everything (unless you get a storage unit), and my daughter is doing the happy dance every time I get rid of more things. This morning I reorganized the chargers, and found eight I'm ready to purge. I also have two boxes of gardening books ready to go (and I took a box to the thrift store already). Also getting rid of a ton of National Geographic magazines, and I do mean a ton. They're so heavy, I have to put about a third at a time in the recycle trash, and it's only picked up every other week. No one wants them. So sad.

Time to Move On: I'm working on a snack set lunch so I can get rid of a lot of amber dishes. Still in progress. Just started.

 I'm thinking:

Creamed Chicken and Peas in Patty Shells

Tossed Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

Butternut Squash

Mixed Grain Muffins

Maple Sundaes and Sugar Cookies

Orange-Spice Tea

How does that sound?

Today's Soups: Raspberry Soup by Committee and Summer Garden Vegetable. I need a new photo for the raspberry soup and the vegetable soup is a new recipe from a friend of Brother Bill.

It's already on the drop down above.

I have a lot of soup recipes already, but the photos were for my own use. I can't use things like this:

The Future: According to Susan Branch's blogpost, the new swear word is "2020". I think we'll all be ready for this year to end so we can get on with our lives. Especially at my age, you realize how precious time can be. I'm trying to enjoy every single day, even if I'm doing laundry or vacuuming. It's all good. 

Let's make a pact to gear up for 2021, and make it an extra special year to make up for the one we lost in 2020. Are you with me? I'll share with you the things I'm planning as we go along. You can use my suggestions or use your ideas. The important thing is to make each day a special day. Now go buy yourself some flowers for practice. Or just pick a rose from the yard and put it in a bud vase in your bathroom or on your nightstand. 

Or maybe you'd rather treat yourself to Krispy Kreme donuts? Or a root beer float?  According to Iris Murdoch, "One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats." Pepper and Stormy couldn't agree more. Let's try it.

START YOUR JOY LIST FOR 2021

AND WORK ON YOUR HEALTH

EAT YOUR GREENS

USE SUN SCREEN EVEN IN WINTER

AN APPLE A DAY

STAY HYDRATED

DRINK SOME TEA

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE