tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60841160786825449442024-01-09T16:05:32.599-05:00Untie The RibbonsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-86234637353152378602015-05-14T19:02:00.001-04:002015-05-14T19:11:39.572-04:00Fireplace Remodel is Finally Complete!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our fireplace remodel is finally complete so here is a little tour of our living room. And a picture of the fireplace before and after. It was converted from wood-burning to gas. Much more light in the living room now!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">AND </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A little close-up</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And going to the left - the valances in the living room are made from tobacco sticks and wood with a fabric insert</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To the right of the picture below is the door to the kitchen - the art piece is some sort of gaming antique with a VERY loud clacker</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the foyer on the left side of the front door</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then the rug hooked picture as you turn towards the hall - with a snoozing Shadow below</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbSANKfi3FtLB1ii2RJbuZbfhtFFfLr6yvdMRiBaVNjlhCuGr0RTsB7ZPeZr2kBEnlyHa9xXkYqRWbp5DDlAwgVmG1bM-B1dXVBeaTexr0JISpLKZV1sMwtZ1UmNtUUED4D1ltXN7qcm5/s1600/LRG10515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbSANKfi3FtLB1ii2RJbuZbfhtFFfLr6yvdMRiBaVNjlhCuGr0RTsB7ZPeZr2kBEnlyHa9xXkYqRWbp5DDlAwgVmG1bM-B1dXVBeaTexr0JISpLKZV1sMwtZ1UmNtUUED4D1ltXN7qcm5/s320/LRG10515.jpg" width="161" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To the left of the hall - this is an old painter's ladder that I painted multiple shades - next to the chair is a vintage wooden wagon that Jack gave me on our first Christmas together 31 years ago; the gumball machine in the wagon holds marbles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sorry this one is a wee bit blurry but I just love the artist who painted and collaged these pictures and have collected a few over the years</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFxrCJOLy7g0DBeX2AmCYAizYUhjgb9yJjBI2fcANPTHWKdtA-rILPayPD2ixSbqNgPtXLY_P9ym-SAzy2Vjn1cA2r0UhcuQFeROM9jWNY-XJUp7gqBQxq9QVj8CybdCOXPcnBvOIUnh9/s1600/LRI20515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFxrCJOLy7g0DBeX2AmCYAizYUhjgb9yJjBI2fcANPTHWKdtA-rILPayPD2ixSbqNgPtXLY_P9ym-SAzy2Vjn1cA2r0UhcuQFeROM9jWNY-XJUp7gqBQxq9QVj8CybdCOXPcnBvOIUnh9/s320/LRI20515.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hope you enjoyed the tour!</span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-66913642046412531342015-04-27T11:44:00.003-04:002015-04-27T11:48:49.689-04:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another awesome Spring Tonic - #3 - at Crack In The Sidewalk Farmlet was enjoyed last night. As usual a scrumptious meal and drinks - farm-to-table - some of it foraged; all locally grown or raised - four fantastic chefs - two amazing mixologists - and a volunteer crew of servers from Empire State South that took wonderful care of everyone!!! So here we go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First was the Crack In The Sidewalk Spritz - white wine with herbs foraged and grown by Crack In The Sidewalk Farmlet sweetened with local honey. along with hors d' oeuvres called Lazy Day triple cream gougeres - spruce tips, blackberry capers, lovage, and Kimball House garden honey - OMG - I just wanted to grab that tray away from the server and have them all to myself! However, I took a bite out of mine before I thought to take a picture, thus the wild-eyed picture of Mr. Jack LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Next was a rum drink with lemon balm and herbs and tiny pink flowers floating along with the first course of wild Georgia duck shumai, lardo, morel confit, fermented mushroom glaze, and shiso - kind of like stuffed pillows of spicy rice over greens - YUM! Unfortunately I ate mine and so did everyone else before I thought to take a picture LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then came a foraged Crack In the Sidewalk green salad with handmade ricotta from Decimal Place goat's milk with wild ramps and spring pea tendrils - I could eat this every day!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVISiq4dMMx5U5SuYXjrp-1hPBUU2tkRiBr0zj8QkWnYqgpHfufr3IDWI1ONdqlfBIUxfCd0-16g0olh9yA4xUxNbPv9wnwYi2EXi1mS3Fwu6cyYgCxKsdXNE7axfqQSw2Ql11GpvvnVr/s1600/ST3Salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVISiq4dMMx5U5SuYXjrp-1hPBUU2tkRiBr0zj8QkWnYqgpHfufr3IDWI1ONdqlfBIUxfCd0-16g0olh9yA4xUxNbPv9wnwYi2EXi1mS3Fwu6cyYgCxKsdXNE7axfqQSw2Ql11GpvvnVr/s1600/ST3Salad.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now it was time for the All Spruced Up St. George Terroir Gin, spruce, pine, rosemary, lemon, and bitters along with the next course of blue catfish stew, crosnes, alliums, nettle dumplings, and funions - it was so good!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then a wild boar and venison Sharma with sunchoke Rita and pickled salsify and fresh naan with sumac - AND - along with that a dish of morels, lacinato kale, divalia onion, flying dragon citrus, cured goose egg yolks, and - AND - yes, there was more - couscous, stinging nettle, burnt garlic, swine cress, oxeye daisy, and tabouli - are you full yet? LOL</span>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here comes the Wild beer from the Wrecking Bar: A black saison brewed with local honey, mugwort, dandelion root, </span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: #141823; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">dandelion leaf, ale hoof, yarrow, and stinging nettles from Crack In The Sidewalk Farmlet. To top it off was a gorgeous - almost too pretty to eat but nah - we went to town on it - Mille feuille, with wood sorrel and elderberry creams (i.e., a handmade puff pastry filled with a bright green cream that was so light and tasty) - I just wanted to keep eating!</span></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks so much to Kellie Thorn and Shanna Mayo - mixologists supreme, and Angus Brown, Jeffrey Wall, Ryan Smith, and Terry Koval - the best chefs in Atlanta, for making this evening memorable. Also thanks to Melonie Tharpe for hunting our wild boar and venison part of the meal. And of course to our daughter and son-in-law, Isia and Chris from Crack In The Sidewalk Farmlet - we could not be more proud of what you've accomplished!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This yearly event helps the double SNAP program at Community Farmers Markets as well as the Giving Kitchen. This is always a fun event and I hope if you're ever in Atlanta during April you'll be able to attend. Enjoy the pictures.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-67196541171658744842015-04-22T13:24:00.001-04:002015-04-22T13:24:18.103-04:00<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a bright beautiful day today on Earth Day and as promised, I took some pictures of my backyard garden today. We used vintage windows that had been removed from a craftsman style home, fastened them together with flat brackets, and put stakes at each side of the windows. Because we had a little opening at each corner, we used pieces of a roll of white wooden fencing to tie the corners together.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3SROJ3Jv4aI9dBur4j5SMjSHWOcnF6SvH-AzenzTqCNy9EKKyl4u8LDh5MHfiLN7SVBdbvfjnM3y2CJPnv6t06IDJP5W-zusSUCKOhmZPm_pb_aN8X7VwSraLb9u6zK-qbTkZB-0seIb/s1600/Backyard+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN3SROJ3Jv4aI9dBur4j5SMjSHWOcnF6SvH-AzenzTqCNy9EKKyl4u8LDh5MHfiLN7SVBdbvfjnM3y2CJPnv6t06IDJP5W-zusSUCKOhmZPm_pb_aN8X7VwSraLb9u6zK-qbTkZB-0seIb/s1600/Backyard+Garden.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So left to right shots here with a garden "gate" between.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivny32z1_jz1zzj0iMeU0YvJDq8MMl1WKgJT6yaHNFBOG32wFGYL_5vx7ir_PnSZ5K-ZmWWhxCfoOVq2q6dOin3rPiaszGq9AQlAzDu9MnoBedH18_JuDGH3f5YguLBxrdL2Befj8IiV8L/s1600/Left+Garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivny32z1_jz1zzj0iMeU0YvJDq8MMl1WKgJT6yaHNFBOG32wFGYL_5vx7ir_PnSZ5K-ZmWWhxCfoOVq2q6dOin3rPiaszGq9AQlAzDu9MnoBedH18_JuDGH3f5YguLBxrdL2Befj8IiV8L/s1600/Left+Garden.jpg" height="200" width="120" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBoKV2wM_rsY_vPAcHHMr2CKTpzin-hy6natWO2KwsFSRiGwSSKDZUkHW8Hsv7DFIs8bYbIYkIWuSXCFuM79IsLDn5M1p-HYPKZ1mjkWZSdvAtWN71dGRc0Po_cy3G1NLUVGoBrY-0Y1I/s1600/Right+Side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBoKV2wM_rsY_vPAcHHMr2CKTpzin-hy6natWO2KwsFSRiGwSSKDZUkHW8Hsv7DFIs8bYbIYkIWuSXCFuM79IsLDn5M1p-HYPKZ1mjkWZSdvAtWN71dGRc0Po_cy3G1NLUVGoBrY-0Y1I/s1600/Right+Side.jpg" height="200" width="120" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVTu5hZzsrMS4LZt0nOpwYud_HoNibq7fvKYbvDk4-kcWhI28sFXtes4p3QRtVKXO_6PZJpn4ZgTqMABuv3Fdpvjln7sYpDCxvdVRLtckbKnXXUVHqV3sIoFUXQWAsaNGXimgV94K4JPa/s1600/Garden+Gate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVTu5hZzsrMS4LZt0nOpwYud_HoNibq7fvKYbvDk4-kcWhI28sFXtes4p3QRtVKXO_6PZJpn4ZgTqMABuv3Fdpvjln7sYpDCxvdVRLtckbKnXXUVHqV3sIoFUXQWAsaNGXimgV94K4JPa/s1600/Garden+Gate.jpg" height="200" width="120" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">We sunk two posts and hung a screen door for the "gate". I painted the top of the screen but didn't realize that it wouldn't show unless we had something dark behind it. So I painted a thin piece of wood black and nailed it to the back of the door.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9jzK5NIujUlyyWwX39N1jHIWOUOFJlxuuLaCRA8Pr1BcBuQcPTuQqmyUcrfQchz56uuEutFdGd7gBtDu-X9GCEyRj_frVMVgotc_LS2NQ5uZVHmMjVOkN1Prnv_Rxx1o97B8Fs19e7hE/s1600/Garden+Gate+Close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9jzK5NIujUlyyWwX39N1jHIWOUOFJlxuuLaCRA8Pr1BcBuQcPTuQqmyUcrfQchz56uuEutFdGd7gBtDu-X9GCEyRj_frVMVgotc_LS2NQ5uZVHmMjVOkN1Prnv_Rxx1o97B8Fs19e7hE/s1600/Garden+Gate+Close.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So what have I planted? Two inch Strawberry corn (for making popcorn on the cob right in the microwave!), Blue Jade corn and Patisson Panache (pattypan) squash, Fin de Bagnol string beans, Green Arrow shell peas, several types of eggplant, several types of peppers, and about eight kinds of tomatoes - small and large. Everything organic of course.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And...I'm trying straw bale gardening for the first time (some eggplant and peppers planted in them). Let me tell you - the ants LOVE those straw bales. When I am pulling the wheat straw that is growing, I have to be really careful!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVr9WHRq_61Wihn5RLqApy4_8HFHUO-mFPAThXEq_ga1AMTk91vWseRI5bxtdYNQTLtCkiFDY_xuXms6WWJ0TrrLdiAxUn1ymb6DbCKnMZX0td47m1yyWsV3Tcw9c4t-8zKapiaBw39aw/s1600/Straw+bales+Eggplant&Peppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVr9WHRq_61Wihn5RLqApy4_8HFHUO-mFPAThXEq_ga1AMTk91vWseRI5bxtdYNQTLtCkiFDY_xuXms6WWJ0TrrLdiAxUn1ymb6DbCKnMZX0td47m1yyWsV3Tcw9c4t-8zKapiaBw39aw/s1600/Straw+bales+Eggplant&Peppers.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And just for good measure, we have a beautiful Japanese maple in the front yard that has been a haven for birds (and squirrels) for several years. Four bird feeders, a bird bath, and their very own chandelier LOL So I had to make a sign to hang in the tree (not that any of them, especially the squirrels, need an invitation)!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAABw6rsJxTRQ22RrkhfLJF6wwn9WPeW25NVsmpbbGNYoAkVvpTV6Ck-rc7tGPnqWCPqODOsAdT3NDlOHtm3mlcpPlFMaRhrISLLxZgKG5Jka382gnjko9xwFelF-xsIxai7h1WzZzN21/s1600/Birds&Squirrels+Welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAABw6rsJxTRQ22RrkhfLJF6wwn9WPeW25NVsmpbbGNYoAkVvpTV6Ck-rc7tGPnqWCPqODOsAdT3NDlOHtm3mlcpPlFMaRhrISLLxZgKG5Jka382gnjko9xwFelF-xsIxai7h1WzZzN21/s1600/Birds&Squirrels+Welcome.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So I hope you enjoyed this tour of the Cooper garden and I'll post some updates when everything grows (you notice I'm having an optimistic day LOL). Have a wonderful week!</span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-41002010927219507562015-04-16T14:46:00.001-04:002015-04-16T14:48:56.376-04:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So where in the world did the last year disappear to? Beats me and I won't even try to explain my absence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many new and wonderful adventures happened though. In June, 2014 I became acquainted with </span><a href="http://jillcooper.isagenix.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Isagenix</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and that has completely changed my life for the better! For the first time in over 20 years I have energy to spare and my new healthy lifestyle has given me better health than I thought I could ever have again. I truly believe that it saved my life. If you would like to get fit, lose weight, age with better health, and find financial freedom - click on the link above and contact me.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9q-0HRbDxndyEBf7wRnuvOUpkkDdsloW4Wa6m0RxBV7_To7lytS1x7BL_rcOCe0aPheFCpkXuCf8bFRhro0rMSCi9uMGd3XjcYdBfL-lMI1ATJ-b-oM7JyME5BFnSfTi-Iec-m63X0jm6/s1600/us-en-isagenix-logo-color+(200x68).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9q-0HRbDxndyEBf7wRnuvOUpkkDdsloW4Wa6m0RxBV7_To7lytS1x7BL_rcOCe0aPheFCpkXuCf8bFRhro0rMSCi9uMGd3XjcYdBfL-lMI1ATJ-b-oM7JyME5BFnSfTi-Iec-m63X0jm6/s1600/us-en-isagenix-logo-color+(200x68).jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With that energy, I then could look forward to retiring - which happened on March 31, 2015! Yippee! Bells and whistles going off all over the place!!!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ptLdlCypVwCkJwk_GfC5OEH9_ykQubXp7HRIiXvfYmTud8ASvlHqQbrHrhpr59ITIkF_whSEYYfcbXG6XPi0ldAv_ml_Zm_p2vF-eQ0hJcXyuHIhUZHprxZGt46TEW56xXxYgW4EWSpj/s1600/Bells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ptLdlCypVwCkJwk_GfC5OEH9_ykQubXp7HRIiXvfYmTud8ASvlHqQbrHrhpr59ITIkF_whSEYYfcbXG6XPi0ldAv_ml_Zm_p2vF-eQ0hJcXyuHIhUZHprxZGt46TEW56xXxYgW4EWSpj/s1600/Bells.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My backyard garden (which I might add grew beautifully last year) has been expanded and we are just about done with the fencing and gate - pictures to come in the next post I promise. It's a most whimsical and wonderful garden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm just now beginning to get used to the fact that I'm free to do what I want when I want and not rush through every weekend doing chores so that I can be ready for a work week to begin on Monday. I have so many ideas and plans that I'll be sharing with you as soon as my mind gets them a little more organized. HA!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And with that - I'll leave you with this thought for the week</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What will you do this week to be of value? </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-32964174714370394182014-04-26T17:47:00.000-04:002014-04-26T17:47:01.521-04:00Work of Art from a Bald-Faced Hornet<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> According to Wickipedia, the bald-faced hornet actually belongs to a genus of </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowjacket" title="Yellowjacket"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">yellowjackets</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> in North America, but unlike many congeners it lacks yellow coloring.<sup> </sup> Instead, it is called a hornet in the American sense of a wasp that builds paper nests. It is best known for its large, football-shaped </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper" title="Paper"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">paper</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nest" title="Nest"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">nest</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">, which it builds in the spring to rear young. The bald-faced hornet is protective of the nest and will sting repeatedly if it is disturbed.<sup> </sup>This wasp is more aggressive than most yellowjackets of <i>Dolichovespula</i> and the genus <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespula" title="Vespula"><span style="color: black;">Vespula</span></a>, and the nest should be observed only from a distance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Uhmmmm - had I known this yesterday I probably wouldn't have been sticking my camera under the hose hangar in my backyard. And unfortunately, since this is near a water spigot that I will probably be using daily to water my vegetable garden, it's going to have to go. Or at least Mr. Hornet is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">am of two minds on this - while I don't want to be stung, this hornet "home" is absolutely a beautiful work of art. Isn't it incredible how even a small insect can create something so delicate and colorful with only wood and saliva? It's about the size of a tennis ball or maybe just a little smaller. Most nests are much bigger than this one and oval-shaped so it makes one wonder - was Mr. Hornet was just making a condo for himself? Not only that but it appears to have a double wall for protection from the elements. And I wonder how it's attached to the hose hangar!</span></span> <br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-72772036150036745602014-03-24T17:47:00.001-04:002014-03-24T17:51:51.836-04:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">January - oh my - you'd think I'd gone on a trip around the world it's been so long since I blogged. Let's just put it down to winter blahs. Now that we're having a few warmish days in between the cooler ones, my mind is starting to defrost.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Warm enough this afternoon after work to paint the front of this</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">a light blue. Step one of getting ready to plant when I'm sure no more freezes are headed our way - can you hear Mother Nature laughing as I say that? I'm thinking succulents this year since it gets so hot in the summer that most flowers don't last very long even watering every day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We've had the back yard polished a bit - three trees cut down and all the brush around the fences cleared - well mostly cleared. So we're moving this from the mostly shady front yard</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">to the sunnier back yard this year and I'm giving it one more year of producing some gorgeous tomatoes and beans and whatever else I can come up with that my black thumb doesn't kill. What's that old saying? The fourth time is the charm - bwahahahahahaha! We'll see what happens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Two art retreats so far this year. The first in January at </span><a href="http://www.serenbecommunity.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Serenbe</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> - about 30 minutes from me - sponsored by </span><a href="http://southerncircleretreats.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Jenni and Tiffin</span></strong></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> and it was really a bunch of fun. I was able to re-connect with a wonderful friend from Washington state and her lovely daughter as well as meet lots of great people from neighboring states. The projects were totally out of my box so it was really nice to try some different things. Then a few weekends ago, a friend and I took two classes in Cindy Wunsch's fabulous<strong> </strong></span></span><a href="http://cindywunsch.com/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Studio Be</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> in Nashville (I met Cindy at the first art retreat). Be still my beating heart - what a great place! There was art everywhere and her studio sink looked just like mine - totally splotted with paint LOL There was also the biggest Goodwill store just down the street that had lots of treasures - so that was just an added bonus. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">And.....ta da......I repainted my studio over the winter, added a new table that I built (and Mr. Whimsey decided to "help" with) and FINALLY got some storage units that would keep my treasures from getting so dusty. So here is a look at the studio before I goobered up the table with projects last weekend LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Well that about catches you up on me. Now if we could just catch up to spring!!!</span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-87182729507353736882014-01-28T18:02:00.000-05:002014-01-28T18:02:16.286-05:00The Cardinal Hotel<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes it's snowing in Atlanta. When I got home from work today the bird feeders were looking a little empty. There were a couple or three cardinals as well as Carolina red-wings and finches feeding. So I added some seed to our triangle feeder, the bowl on the pole, and threw some on the ground.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well - they called their friends! At one point there were 13 male cardinals here along with most of their spouses. Mr. Whimsey is out right now putting more seed out. It's snowing like the dickens and since birds need much more food in these conditions to keep their energy up and keep warm, we're opening the hotel kitchen. LOL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wherever you are, I hope you are safe and warm!</span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-85783958277883190022013-12-26T09:14:00.000-05:002013-12-26T09:14:21.639-05:00The View From the Bed<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YsEkfu6ktguy3J9is-4_1gePU_2HMX4hS4c_WAlmaC2hIk0Ontgesoy11xL0DRlRJmqC3aWHhZq95pQDraEzIN4zfh3eyWcH_1LlutGT2D1I8Y6yfR7kwW1IA8ZNJGNA5fEijmghxeNh/s1600/Bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8YsEkfu6ktguy3J9is-4_1gePU_2HMX4hS4c_WAlmaC2hIk0Ontgesoy11xL0DRlRJmqC3aWHhZq95pQDraEzIN4zfh3eyWcH_1LlutGT2D1I8Y6yfR7kwW1IA8ZNJGNA5fEijmghxeNh/s200/Bed.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My favorite view in my home is the view from the bed. Each night when I climb into bed to read for awhile before I sleep, I first stop and take in the view. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">The copper dry sink belonged to my grandmother, and when my step-father went into the assisted living Alzheimer's home, I brought this treasured piece of furniture home as it was too big for his room.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBT3weUsvNptlqsoFsiAYTyscINyTp49gqy7owWgvKAe5E3F1kaRY4KgtG3CK48rCwnFM-X6CJyV9PyQ5yqMgHnQnSs8wBxUHVpt56oYfBDb1yd5ECbi8UBBXQsDWTX0n1qkPqic8C5D7a/s1600/ViewFromTheBed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBT3weUsvNptlqsoFsiAYTyscINyTp49gqy7owWgvKAe5E3F1kaRY4KgtG3CK48rCwnFM-X6CJyV9PyQ5yqMgHnQnSs8wBxUHVpt56oYfBDb1yd5ECbi8UBBXQsDWTX0n1qkPqic8C5D7a/s320/ViewFromTheBed.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">When I take in the view, I see all of the things I treasure most. Favorite pictures of family and friends from long ago who no longer exist in this physical world of ours. Favorite books - the kind you recommend but do not lend. Wonderful treasures made by treasured friends. Somehow being surrounded by these things and seeing them before I sleep, comforts my soul. It reminds me of how lucky I am - what a beautiful and good life God has given me. It reminds me of who to pray for when I say my prayers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Why not make yourself a little comfort corner in your home - it can be a place of peace. May you have many blessings in the new year.</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-15057803764371713712013-12-08T17:37:00.001-05:002013-12-08T17:37:54.640-05:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My sweet mother-in-law passed today at the age of 93 - Mable Jean Cooper.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYirg9I4AIVn69H8E85mLXMq2XoHjFVadn0IWflgPa-1fD6pW0yB-RnOTdpkvLjeXXDsrVhmRqMPRAK1kqcTFFzGoyebjcF-FxziwJeMjOyLqaWuQ3USwp0FXatmmFUDGvb5GodLPwL7LF/s1600/Jean+Luau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYirg9I4AIVn69H8E85mLXMq2XoHjFVadn0IWflgPa-1fD6pW0yB-RnOTdpkvLjeXXDsrVhmRqMPRAK1kqcTFFzGoyebjcF-FxziwJeMjOyLqaWuQ3USwp0FXatmmFUDGvb5GodLPwL7LF/s320/Jean+Luau.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">She went to join her beloved husband, John, on his birthday. Bet he loved his gift today in heaven!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECfF32mj8DS4yQQAdsVuv6pXrDbrykab11cm-9_kMTa7ckXATBnycE4gZJ_eOCioryfMkS9zgcaFVfCSTrw8wq7H8FMhjgNJlE7MmA3TthtH1-PiFw3JbnaJx_exwj0hYQ2la3AdDCzNd/s1600/Jack+and+Jean+Wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECfF32mj8DS4yQQAdsVuv6pXrDbrykab11cm-9_kMTa7ckXATBnycE4gZJ_eOCioryfMkS9zgcaFVfCSTrw8wq7H8FMhjgNJlE7MmA3TthtH1-PiFw3JbnaJx_exwj0hYQ2la3AdDCzNd/s320/Jack+and+Jean+Wedding.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Please keep Mr. Whimsey in your prayers this week as he travels to Pennsylvania for her funeral.</span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-80509730009786781262013-11-25T16:55:00.000-05:002013-11-25T16:55:41.837-05:00So Blinded by Beauty That I Could Not See<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once upon a time in a far off land - well not really far off - just about 2 hours north of me in Ranger, Georgia - is a wonderful cabin at the top of a mountain with a beautiful view. The second weekend of November - five of us trooped up there (Lois, Kristen, Teresa, Erma and I) and had a crafting weekend - for you see this cabin was set up by the beautiful Melanie especially for crafting. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwwZuqYnd4Jy4Z2uEruSZ17co8UuNkU0HTv88V0oinMUXhMwIGequt3CgqV_2nYiI_XwJDF8Kklvrz3yRjH6oUZ3WRxCVrZC1-2jva2SAGf0YLjc1Rwh0mF6DG2ylCikcNX6QybFitg9o/s1600/RangerCraftyCrew+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwwZuqYnd4Jy4Z2uEruSZ17co8UuNkU0HTv88V0oinMUXhMwIGequt3CgqV_2nYiI_XwJDF8Kklvrz3yRjH6oUZ3WRxCVrZC1-2jva2SAGf0YLjc1Rwh0mF6DG2ylCikcNX6QybFitg9o/s320/RangerCraftyCrew+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">I catered the long weekend and had all sorts of fresh and sinful dishes planned. It came time for lunch on Friday and although I searched the wonderfully appointed kitchen (and I mean this kitchen has everything you could ever need for cooking!) high and low for a knife - ANYTHING but a butter knife - even a <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">tiny</span></strong> </span><span style="font-size: large;">paring knife would do - all I could find was a vegetable peeler and a cheese slicer. Now I ask you - have you ever tried to slice a tomato with a butter knife? I developed quite a knack for stabbing each "slice" with the vegetable peeler and then sawing away with the butter knife until I had something that kind of resembled a slice of tomato. The brie was another story though. And that is how it went for Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast, and Saturday lunch. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3m3UKfnmtNNyiCgFE_zBv9pcwDI0KsAepFcHco1lWWQGhBuyrAqxHT5g9sAO4JLzHECa9A-IemYK4KJZXICiWmK3G9TQKiVemOs0G4ehtyx6quUNJJEiX9UVsK2uZDjRa-h8cZKeIxoh/s1600/Knives1+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3m3UKfnmtNNyiCgFE_zBv9pcwDI0KsAepFcHco1lWWQGhBuyrAqxHT5g9sAO4JLzHECa9A-IemYK4KJZXICiWmK3G9TQKiVemOs0G4ehtyx6quUNJJEiX9UVsK2uZDjRa-h8cZKeIxoh/s320/Knives1+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">After lunch on Saturday, Erma all of a sudden said, "Hey, wanna borrow my switchblade?"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-0XJHOU-FoT9XQxbotbqbWPq6odB_dp2yQ3sMdNnxTcm3iK-P6yH3fyAUktCI9yGilDA65WySc-eY0OlJbs___HWxYcfPgjkEcr18F9lGDtsopoc45BhlZnYSDbHbjYw-BJS1XfPbkur/s1600/RangerErmaSwitchblade+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-0XJHOU-FoT9XQxbotbqbWPq6odB_dp2yQ3sMdNnxTcm3iK-P6yH3fyAUktCI9yGilDA65WySc-eY0OlJbs___HWxYcfPgjkEcr18F9lGDtsopoc45BhlZnYSDbHbjYw-BJS1XfPbkur/s320/RangerErmaSwitchblade+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">"Uh, sure Erma, thanks! I'll see if that works better than a butter knife at dinner." And then Kristen and I took off for parts unknown - actually not parts unknown - up towards Blue Ridge to an artist's open house. When we returned several hours later - after deciding NOT to drop in on a wedding we saw advertised on the road, and not stopping at an inside yard sale at a very dicey looking trailer in the middle of a field - Teresa was laughing wildly when we walked in the door. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">She just kept saying, "Go in the kitchen and look at the crackers." I looked all over the place for ants or something in the cracker boxes and didn't see a one. By now Teresa was almost having a "pee in your pants moment" and said, "Look at the crackers." I said, "I'M LOOKING AT THE CRACKERS - WHAT am I supposed to be seeing?" Whut whoa - maybe this?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9UtmeDIHZpb-53hFT5XcM9HgOsFc9TBH1sdiNCGf30kgcezeTcW9Xo6qxhmpUk4SlHAZZZ8qy-o4oc6Royv-7nESlj6Wcno1WXV-w2dBvSIrDTqkIXLIlHMBv2YojTgCfDc8PWJ-lQPg/s1600/RangerNowIAskYou+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9UtmeDIHZpb-53hFT5XcM9HgOsFc9TBH1sdiNCGf30kgcezeTcW9Xo6qxhmpUk4SlHAZZZ8qy-o4oc6Royv-7nESlj6Wcno1WXV-w2dBvSIrDTqkIXLIlHMBv2YojTgCfDc8PWJ-lQPg/s320/RangerNowIAskYou+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Hey - the case is black and merged into the refrigerator - what can I say?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQ3Cylv9Gm1UQZhfOXG4YVGBYkSXeJng_DuYsRKbuOMjZafi5hC-RH1BkLEhNiX0bL4ogu6NvoXzp1jTvSTl3X_rC4pLTKyHTEfnEN16FgRZR3f6XupVejrK_9HHXFpjssPl-Gx1UHadJ/s1600/Knives2+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQ3Cylv9Gm1UQZhfOXG4YVGBYkSXeJng_DuYsRKbuOMjZafi5hC-RH1BkLEhNiX0bL4ogu6NvoXzp1jTvSTl3X_rC4pLTKyHTEfnEN16FgRZR3f6XupVejrK_9HHXFpjssPl-Gx1UHadJ/s320/Knives2+%2528640x480%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">I must say it was much easier preparing Saturday dinner without using the vegetable peeler and butter knife!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">So here are some pictures of the cabin - it really is lovely. You can find more information about <a href="http://www.scrappincabin.com/Home_Page.php" target="_blank">Sweetbriar Ridge here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Lois, I'm telling you this scarf is long enough!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Unfortunately I was too busy trying to find a knife to take any pictures of the crafting bwahahahahahaha. But the ladies each made an appliqued wool piece and started a memory spool. Kristen worked on her quilts and she and Teresa made angels out of books - really cool. Erma was crocheting and Lois was working on paper flowers. When Melanie came on Sunday, she was also able to get the wool applique started and her memory spool mostly done. And me - well it was a very successful weekend for crafting - I was able to make two stockings for my grandkids and get most of the work done on seven different Flat Bettys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Oh and if you'd like the recipe for the crack rolls that we had for breakfast on Saturday morning, just let me know and I'll be glad to send you the recipe. They were sooooooo good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">And now on a somber note - the week following, we had to have our Kitty Boy put down. He was a feral cat who adopted us several years ago and became fairly tame. He was a real character and although I'm sad, I know that we gave him a very nice life the past few years. We put a cat door into our garage door and he had a heated dog bed in the garage. The rocking chair on the front porch was one of his favorite sleeping spots. He was well loved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Rest in peace Kitty Boy.</span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-82933880056803860542013-10-25T19:02:00.002-04:002013-10-25T19:02:17.744-04:00Catching Up - Maybe<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted - you'd think I had won the lottery and was away on a world vacation or something LOL NOT!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK some catching up to do. September just passed by in a blur. October is almost there. Mr. Whimsey and I had some visitors to get ready for this month and they've already been and gone. Ro and Jimmy from Ireland are on a long visit to the US and graced us with their presence weekend before this. Let's see, they arrived on Thursday and on Friday we went to </span><a href="http://www.historicaljonesboro.org/indexhome.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stately Oaks</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> in Jonesboro, GA for a little history (since history is what they came to see). That was really fun - I've been before but it's always interesting to hear what the guides have to say. On Saturday we went to </span><a href="http://www.oaklandcemetery.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oakland Cemetery</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> (now I've lived here since 1969 and would you believe have never made that visit?). It is absolutely lovely and Mr. Whimsey and I want to go back and walk around some more - it's a beautiful place to visit - Margaret Mitchell, Bobby Jones, and many other famous and not-so-famous people are buried there. You could spend the whole day! Before that visit we ate lunch at </span><a href="http://sixfeetunderatlanta.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Six Feet Under</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> which is directly across the street. Yes, it's really called that and has fabulous food! And being a pub - Jimmy and Mr. Whimsey were in their element! Then on Sunday we went to the </span><a href="http://www.grantparkmarket.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grant Park Farmer's Market</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> which I dearly love. There are wonderful veggies, breads, home-made sausages, you name it, they have it. My daughter and son-in-law who are organic farmers have a booth there so Ro and Jimmy were able to meet them. On Monday they left for the remainder of their trip - down through Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Right now they are in New Orleans and are just loving it. We expect them back around next weekend and they will fly home from Atlanta.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And speaking of Mr. Whimsey - helping find the route in the atlas for their trip south - wait, wait, is HE LOOKING AT HIS NOSE???</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An update on Kitty Boy - this was a month or so ago when he was snoozing up on the dead ornamental grass - so funny - all stretched out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">About two weeks ago he got into a whale of a fight and came home completely battered - ripped ears, eye bleeding, nose scratched badly. He looked like a prize fighter! Somehow it seems to have healed pretty well without a vet trip. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And this one I just label "None for me??? Not even a mouthful??? Not a crumb??? Oh PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE???" That's Buddy on the left, Shadow in the middle, and Lucy in a comfortable begging position LOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So this weekend is the annual </span><a href="http://www.stonemountainpark.com/events/Country-Living-Fair.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Country Living Fair</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> at Stone Mountain Park, GA and Mr. Whimsey and I went bright and early. Understand that the cold and I don't get along - heck I get hives when I walk down the frozen food aisle at the grocery store. So leggings under my heaviest jeans, a thick long sleeved cotton top, socks and sneakers, my longest heaviest winter coat, gloves, and a very thick scarf kept me from totally shivering - yeah you guys up North laugh but it was under 40 last night and under 60 and I'm cold! Anyway, once we got through the gate and started walking around it wasn't bad - still cold but at least the wind wasn't blowing. Trust me, if you go to the site I've marked - these people weren't walking around today - LOL - they were at one of the other fairs during the summer in other states!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think this year's was the absolute best so far. The booths were decorated and inviting and I saw many many things I would have loved had I really won that lottery LOL. Usually I try to save and buy one real treasure (and of course a few small things which I can't mention because they are Christmas gifts). But Mr. Whimsey spotted this one and we just had to have it. An old wagon unlike any other I've seen - I'm thinking possibly hand made or rebuilt at some point in it's life. The only thing wood is the platform - all of the rest (except the wheels of course) is wonderfully rusted metal. Isn't it a gem?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The wood was plain but of course I had to add my little touch to it and stain/paint the top, then sand it down. I just love it and it will hold something or other - not sure what yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK so that sort of catches you up on my life. Hope you've been having a wonderful autumn - trees are just starting to turn and drop leaves here but I'm hoping on my trip up to NC to see my step-father tomorrow we'll see some beautiful trees! Blessings to you!</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-59641031805231114442013-08-27T20:28:00.000-04:002013-08-27T20:28:54.476-04:00A Murder of Halloween Crows<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is a group of crows called? The most widely used term is "murder." A group of crows can also be called a flock, muster or storytelling of crows. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is based on the folk tale that crows form tribunals to judge and punish the bad behavior of a member of the flock. If the verdict goes against the defendant, that bird is killed (murdered) by the flock. The basis in fact is probably that occasionally crows will kill a dying crow who doesn't belong in their territory or much more commonly feed on carcasses of dead crows. Also, both crows and ravens are associated with battlefields, medieval hospitals, execution sites and cemeteries (because they scavenged on human remains). In England, a tombstone is sometimes called a ravenstone. However, if crows weren't around, our highways, medians, and country sides would be littered with remains. So they do have a good purpose in life.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, the murder of Halloween crows that I'm speaking of wouldn't think of cleaning up the countryside - they are much too posh for that. I went to a very fun crafting retreat this past weekend and these were little Halloween gifties for the gals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Twyla Twa was born in 1941 </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and is an American crow </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">dancer and choreographer </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">who lives and works in New </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">York City.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a young crow<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">she spent a few months each </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">year living with her Quaker </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">grandcrows in Indiana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the time she was 8, she performed with her
family at a drive-in movie theater on Route 66 in Rialto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
would be the opening act before the movie. Lining up in a row across the top of the screen, she and her younger sister Twanette and her twin brothers Stanley and Stanford, would kick up their legs and fly in perfect circles to entertain the movie-goers. In 1965 she formed her own dance murder of crows called Twyla Twa Dancers and has been a flying success ever since. As she so famously said, "Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."</b></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Edith Piaf was born Edith Giovanna Gassion and
was one of the most celebrated French singers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She became widely regarded as France’s national diva, her specialty
being ballads of love, loss and sorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her most famous song was “La Vie en rose”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Piaf, an argot colloquialism for “crow” was a
nickname she received 20 years after she was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Edith’s mother abandoned her at birth, and
she lived for </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">a short time with her maternal </span></span></strong></div>
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<strong>crowmother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before he </strong><span style="font-family: Harrington;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">enlisted with the French Army in 1916 to fight
World War I (by carrying secret messages in his beak), her father took her to
his mother who ran a brothel in Normandy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There, prostitutes helped look after Piaf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a teenager, she not only sang but was a
part-time acrobat, flying circles around all of the other crows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Edith had a brilliant career, her
personal life was very hard and her last words were “Every damn fool thing you
do in this life, you pay for.”</span></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Juanita Growing Thunder Crow, born in 1969, is
an award-winning Assinigoine-Sioux bead crow and porcupine quill worker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Juanita learned her skills from her mother
and has been beading since the age of three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She gathers her own quills from freshly killed porcupines, then washes
and dyes them, using natural dyes such as bloodroot, blackberries, and wolf
moss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorting the quills by color and
size is the</span> </strong><span style="font-family: Harrington;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">lengthiest step in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The quills are then softened in a bath of
warm water, and Juanita flattens them with her own beak before creating
intricate patterns on moose or deer hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She is especially expert at this because of her long luxurious pointed
beak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition she is adept at
rolling beads of clay and using nature’s dyes with which to color them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has made a very good living for herself
and her family by selling beaded items at market.</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Queen Crow of Samhain - </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic
festival known as Samhain (pronounced "sah-win").
The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in
Gaelic culture. Samhain was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of
supplies and prepare for winter. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31,
the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the
deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops. For the pagan Celt, the essence of the universe and all its creativity was female, women were the spiritual and moral pivot. The mother goddess and all her personifications of fertility, love and healing was an essential basis of their very role in the world. Women feature prominently in Celtic myth and their goddesses occupied positions that represented women of practical, everyday Celtic life. they were free to bear arms, become Druids and engage in war. Queen Crow is carrying her friend Sunshine who will weave a web of jewels at the Samhain festival.</span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Poor Lady Crowdiva - I've lost her tale. But it is told (although the story is said to be implausible by modern historians) she did ride through the streets with her very long ribbon hair covering her naked body. Supposedly Lady Crowdiva took pity on the people of Coventry who were suffering terribly under her husband's oppressive taxation. Weary of her entreaties to change the taxes, he said he would grant her request if she would strip naked and rider through the streets of the town. She did so after issuing<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">a proclamation that all persons should stay indoors and shut their windows. Just one person in the town, a tailor ever afterwards known as <i>Peeping Tom</i>, disobeyed her proclamation.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> In the story, Tom bores a hole in his shutters</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-40538009170378539462013-08-26T13:50:00.000-04:002013-08-26T13:50:00.394-04:00Raleigh - One More Example of ...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I usually don't discuss politics or religion in this blog but in reading the headlines today, this just has to be said. Where in the heck have the morals and the compassion gone in this country? This is just ridiculous and another example of a city trying to hide their homeless. I can see, maybe, if they gave the church a week to find another place, but ... well just read the </span><a href="http://gma.yahoo.com/church-group-members-threatened-arrest-handing-biscuits-coffee-041141792--abc-news-topstories.html" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">story</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>.</strong> What a sad situation Raleigh, NC!</span></span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-28976316962477512652013-07-29T16:53:00.000-04:002013-07-29T16:54:53.787-04:00Fall, it is a coming!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not that I don't like summer - although this has been a really soggy Georgia summer - my veggies have nearly all drank themselves to death...but today was just beautiful. When I left work today it was warm but not unbearably so, the sky was blue blue blue, and a nice breeze was blowing. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All things that remind me that fall isn't far away and fall is my absolute favorite time of year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So many fun things to see and do beginning with <a href="http://www.slotinfolkart.com/" target="_blank">Folk Fest</a> the weekend of August 17th (which I KNOW is still summer but it kind of kicks off the season). It's so inspirational to see the fabulous creations and wish I had just won the lottery LOL </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next (still in August - yes I know it's still summer but...) a fun retreat sponsored by Miz Gloria Primbody up in the north Georgia mountains at a beautiful cabin made just for crafting. Great food, fun people, and lots more inspiration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then a two week vacation from work - I don't think I've ever taken two full weeks off work in my whole life. Not going anywhere but hope to get some things done at home that I've put off forever as well as a little studio re-do. Oh and helping a friend organize her basement crafting area and organizing is right down my alley!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then the beginning of October working a day or two at a local Habitat for Humanity build. Sure it's work but it's really fun too - I've done many of them and enjoyed every one (except maybe for the one with the million gnats in south Georgia LOL).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And then the last weekend of October (26th) there is my favorite festival of all time - the <a href="http://www.countryliving.com/cl-fair/country-living-fair-atlanta" target="_blank">Country Living Fair</a> at Stone Mountain. You can find amazing creations as well as the necessities you need to craft with - love that place!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And going into November - another craft retreat (held by moi) at the crafting cabin up in the north Georgia mountains. It should still be beautiful up there in early November. Can't wait to see it in the fall!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So lots to look forward to in the next few months. Now if I could only win that lottery! Oh wait, to win you have to play. Oh well...</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-18810023984611472802013-07-14T11:59:00.000-04:002013-07-14T11:59:02.499-04:00Pineapple Sage - YUM!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What a difference four months makes! See the tiny little plant on the left side of the picture below?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsD5fmID4N8k2EdPedSzP-Gctbb9_Jr8NAjFg4frPl7iKxxeuakiVlSRDYOWALObTbCGQBEQ8YWwEGxCEvOLIB9ar2857ynLZtSY89Nv5jdl7yDEdFrk7oKusvCMmJgpA3R8-Eyu97D3Zp/s1600/HerbGardenCorner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsD5fmID4N8k2EdPedSzP-Gctbb9_Jr8NAjFg4frPl7iKxxeuakiVlSRDYOWALObTbCGQBEQ8YWwEGxCEvOLIB9ar2857ynLZtSY89Nv5jdl7yDEdFrk7oKusvCMmJgpA3R8-Eyu97D3Zp/s320/HerbGardenCorner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That is one small pineapple sage plant. All I can say is pineapple sage must love soggy, humid, steamy weather like we've been having since spring sprung here in Georgia! Because look at it now!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, that is still only one plant LOL Since I can't possibly use that much fresh sage for cooking, I'm going to have to get out there and cut it back and dry the leaves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pineapple sage makes a wonderful tea but even better - get some really great pasta (I'm partial to the fig ravioli from Antonio's pasta stand at the Grant Park Farmer's Market in Atlanta). Slowly brown some butter and when all the milk solids have burned off and it's turning a nice golden shade, roll up some pineapple sage leaves tightly and slice them across so that you have shreds. Toss them into that browned butter and they will crisp up in seconds. Then pour that over the pasta and add some parmesan. Oh boy - can you say heaven?</span> </div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-65832606691632910172013-06-09T12:50:00.000-04:002013-06-09T12:52:05.868-04:00The Bench That Almost Wasn't<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Vacation week at home – what better time than to do a
project that has been on the back burner forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m determined to make a bench for my
entryway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a bench that belonged
to my step-father but it’s 44 inches long and I can’t have anything over 38 inches
in that space (and that is pushing it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I’ve always loved the keyhole legs on that bench.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So off to Lowes I go and get wood, pegs, feet – all the
little things I need to make this very simple box bench happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sit down and actually draw a picture figuring
if I plan it, I’ll have to measure correctly without just doing that as I go
which is my usual mode for creating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
After carefully m</span>easureing each piece exactly as planned before cutting, I figured out where the holes should be drilled
for the pegs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All ready to go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5A4_N926hIT-dooLwVo0i9P6m9-KZIvbod09x1AYxfq7B8PYoLSbNIs6oDw0uOqvb3lo_89pd-cv-oC_7p0-KtbGFI-_gBooBSrRrBMk089JdNHf4Yj9xoH2FJm0kNnlLleiBQdBQFV9/s1600/WeHaveWood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5A4_N926hIT-dooLwVo0i9P6m9-KZIvbod09x1AYxfq7B8PYoLSbNIs6oDw0uOqvb3lo_89pd-cv-oC_7p0-KtbGFI-_gBooBSrRrBMk089JdNHf4Yj9xoH2FJm0kNnlLleiBQdBQFV9/s320/WeHaveWood.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Mr. Whimsey decided I needed help and he would drill the
holes – oh my.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a total of 24
holes/pegs planned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can Mr. Whimsey
hold the drill straight while he’s drilling?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you look at the second to the last picture in the post – you’ll find the answer to
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we had holes and we had
pegs.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">OK, next idea?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I
wish we could just cut some inches out of the bench we already have,” said
I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh sure,” said Mr. Whimsey, “we can
do that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“OK, I’ll get the circular saw
out and get the bench marked,” said I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh
no,” said Mr. Whimsey, “I have this perfectly good table saw that is much
easier to use.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ah but…..,” said
I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It will work – we’ll make it work!”
exclaimed Mr. Whimsey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh well I can
always cover it up with paint and a cushion and maybe not let anyone sit on it
went through my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So after a test sit (yes it is sturdy enough to sit on as
long as you aren’t jumping up and down on it), I sanded it, gave it two coats
of white primer, and a coat of crackle.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyueqkX_GImEM1kp6Rie1xOI75J1bYtA36RxuK8YtL5YoLPwK-vd8UJm_IbjTN6tog-Gfh8SkzU3MQ7k9usyeZHfwDN0z2eoFFW_J0WUmKplLKR7rC3PCxopNVJW_054qBgjgJsN6WW3n8/s1600/PrimedToGo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyueqkX_GImEM1kp6Rie1xOI75J1bYtA36RxuK8YtL5YoLPwK-vd8UJm_IbjTN6tog-Gfh8SkzU3MQ7k9usyeZHfwDN0z2eoFFW_J0WUmKplLKR7rC3PCxopNVJW_054qBgjgJsN6WW3n8/s320/PrimedToGo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then because I knew it wouldn’t take much paint and didn’t
want to spend any more money on the bench project – I mixed my own paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had some paint left over from my bathroom
<a href="http://untieribbons.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-blue-bath-re-do.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>project<o:p></o:p></strong></span></a> , s</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">ome paint leftover from a small sample jar that I didn’t
use in my bathroom because it was too green, and a jar of bright turquoise
craft paint that I put in just a little at a time to get a beautiful robin’s
egg blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That went on over the crackle
and after letting it cure for 24 hours, I used Briwax in Rustic Pine (which is
a really earthy dark brown) to polish and antique it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I covet one of those old fashioned looking
rectangular pillows with the piping all around and tufting that are cotton
stuffed…something like this only not in that color (I’m dreaming maybe a really
faded cream and blue ticking)…but for now a folded king-sized cotton quilt is
the perfect size and will have to do.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So here is the moral of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you have can be used in many different
ways…shop from your house to find what you need…and know that whatever comes
out IS good enough – after all YOU created it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-40693596635933092662013-05-27T20:16:00.000-04:002013-05-27T20:16:59.007-04:00A Two Salute Sandwich<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">What a lovely long weekend – Friday grandparents breakfast
at our granddaughter’s school and then graduation that evening,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saturday graduation party, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunday Grant Park Farmer’s Market goodies, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and Monday catching up around the house and
yard.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Congratulations sweet girl, you are beautiful and smart and
I know you have a bright future ahead of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>T and C and Red, you outdid yourselves on the party – the food was
absolutely wonderful and we had such a good time visiting.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now it’s been said that you should talk to your plants and
that will make them grow better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well I’ve
talked and talked….and talked….to my ‘maters and I think Mother Nature has been
talking louder than I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although my
squash is coming along nicely</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8ZpuUGoiWZ8ektoynahhggs0lujIpBEhhUjLh4BOdMeAqOim-Wz_JNMwUwgJdKqriWhCg-yFwSk7ChgBipoPb56KuHE40xQmwkST73XW31pBzj7YUb3hJRCD1sOrDxgTtAYRSwHvTDtf/s1600/Squash53113+(640x277).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8ZpuUGoiWZ8ektoynahhggs0lujIpBEhhUjLh4BOdMeAqOim-Wz_JNMwUwgJdKqriWhCg-yFwSk7ChgBipoPb56KuHE40xQmwkST73XW31pBzj7YUb3hJRCD1sOrDxgTtAYRSwHvTDtf/s320/Squash53113+(640x277).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>tomatoes are still
the same size they were a couple of weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The mini’s have a few tomatoes but the big one continues to bloom with
no tomatoes to show from them.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyblZfLGUEY5eDN7EXjoBA0NWL6GYb94W8vfefYb3rfJVv6mJVWbFp_u_8448MVpvCWyOlsQL75rc-63D32WYSJgyfwMQI_4eOH65uTR9NqYQGI7bERcJ-5sBe_XMVZvwVsHVvvQZewZXG/s1600/Tomatoes53113+%2528572x640%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyblZfLGUEY5eDN7EXjoBA0NWL6GYb94W8vfefYb3rfJVv6mJVWbFp_u_8448MVpvCWyOlsQL75rc-63D32WYSJgyfwMQI_4eOH65uTR9NqYQGI7bERcJ-5sBe_XMVZvwVsHVvvQZewZXG/s320/Tomatoes53113+%2528572x640%2529.jpg" width="286" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">but I have high hopes that in a couple of months I will see
this<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW27ym1SC2uUkpqzvgHI15JQ6i8tQFbJbXiwPqSwcMe5NysIA6celvUBFKRKTx_w11EyEYrgAVQEwTvW5Qc0IQooLxM6dEZH8xKhy8e0XvL_p_KNXoBHkOk5rvivOdm1FR5_dvffdI88iI/s1600/tomato+plant+%2528300x300%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW27ym1SC2uUkpqzvgHI15JQ6i8tQFbJbXiwPqSwcMe5NysIA6celvUBFKRKTx_w11EyEYrgAVQEwTvW5Qc0IQooLxM6dEZH8xKhy8e0XvL_p_KNXoBHkOk5rvivOdm1FR5_dvffdI88iI/s1600/tomato+plant+%2528300x300%2529.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On this Memorial Day
I’d like to thank all of our men and women who have served and continue serving
for our freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkraIBpQZ-ORd74Mdj1I5GiqqnA-WBETIAIJGEYGvaSLhXv3XaXhyPmfRLjxP5zLs_NVJTMmqKKY35WhWrjQSjhBwyd_pE97sSdfp7yuRy6RZvRJDx5P7Ge_f_UMtLJrE9937SnAjvZ67-/s1600/Flag53113+(640x608).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkraIBpQZ-ORd74Mdj1I5GiqqnA-WBETIAIJGEYGvaSLhXv3XaXhyPmfRLjxP5zLs_NVJTMmqKKY35WhWrjQSjhBwyd_pE97sSdfp7yuRy6RZvRJDx5P7Ge_f_UMtLJrE9937SnAjvZ67-/s320/Flag53113+(640x608).jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">You are always in our prayers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-78540339049507584922013-04-19T12:16:00.002-04:002013-04-19T12:16:40.916-04:00Poor Man's Crack - A Collaboration<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Georgia in the spring – ahhhhhhhh – mounds of free yellow powder line every crack and crevasse of the cars, driveways, windowsills, streets, and buildings. Hey, if you keep your windows open in the spring you can redecorate for free! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Poor man’s crack. You don’t need a straw. Just walk outside any door and inhale – even a little. You are guaranteed to be on a permanent <strike>high</strike> low for at least a week. Everyone sounds like Louis Armstrong when they talk. You have to walk around with a bucket under your nose to catch the drips. Coughing in tandem – well actually there is a whole chorus of coughs going on frequently – we have surround sound!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If it is already going to be in our lungs we may as well put it there for good reasons since the street value on it is so low. Here are a few possible uses: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">• Tired of dusting around the house… open up all the windows and let a breeze in… if you don’t move any of your knickknacks the dust will become nice and even for a wonderfully uniform look.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">• It already proves to be an excellent expectorant if you currently are unable to cough something up. Put that stuff in bottles and on the shelves! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">• Why throw away t-shirts when they get that yellowy stain around the collar – one cup of it in the wash will even out that yellow stain all over! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">• Extra spices in the kitchen to give your chicken or roast an all natural nutty flavor!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">• Do your kids love lemonade? How about Pollinade? Nothing says fun to today’s kids like a drink the color of mucus!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">• Magicians can use it in place of expensive magic smoke… one puff to the eyes and no one will see where the rabbit came from!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">• Your local CSI team no longer needs to dust to find fingerprints on your car if it gets stolen! Oh wait – more pollen will cover them up before the car is found – scratch that one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">• Let your housecat out for the day and before you know it… no more hairballs… they’ve hacked them all up!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">• Ladies… need a new look? Today’s craze is adding it to your makeup routine for that stunning new jaundice look that is taking Hollywood by storm!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The uses are endless! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ahhhhh – only two and a half (or so) more months left to enjoy this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Thanks to K and A for the collaboration!</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-73713392232992308502013-04-15T14:35:00.000-04:002013-04-15T14:35:22.496-04:00Spring Tonic<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spring Tonic – something we all need to renew our bodies and
spirits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a gorgeous day in Atlanta
on Saturday, Sunday’s forecast had a chance of rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with the Spring Tonic Dinner (which was
also a fund-raiser) planned at Isia (my daughter) and her husband Chris’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crack-in-the-Sidewalk-Farmlet/188265451207398" target="_blank">Crack In The Sidewalk Farmlet</a>, we just knew that Mother Nature would cooperate and
the rain would hold off until afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was to be a true “dinner at the farm” with a long table beautifully
set as well as picnic blankets for others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And then, during setup, it started to rain – just a light sprinkle at
first – next a true downpour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
farmers are ever resourceful and help came in the form of EZ-Up tents from lots
of fellow friends and farmers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
arrived it was raining but the tents were up and the tables were beautifully
set with blue-checked tablecloths, china and silverware, cloth napkins, wine
glasses, and beautiful centerpieces of candles in jars wrapped with pretty
purple wisteria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On each table was a jar
of pickled dandelion roots made by Isia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have to say I wasn’t sure about that one but tonight was an evening of
tasting many new things, and much to my surprise, pickled dandelion roots taste
a lot like Greek kalamata olives!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Actually, when I think about it – just about everything I tasted tonight
was a new experience.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzvVQfuAmgzjMiT1l7FoMsadYGLWsbp4ZPBybFtTKAmQepnAzQryqA3wlbmFErDkyTBcULFuA6XcNIFyNRsG7Xi2TjqbMME9FMPx1Lvo8C2N-FKg5v1tZLoE41KnLNczytZE1EOTQ1llp/s1600/SpringTonic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzvVQfuAmgzjMiT1l7FoMsadYGLWsbp4ZPBybFtTKAmQepnAzQryqA3wlbmFErDkyTBcULFuA6XcNIFyNRsG7Xi2TjqbMME9FMPx1Lvo8C2N-FKg5v1tZLoE41KnLNczytZE1EOTQ1llp/s1600/SpringTonic1.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now let me just say, once again I forgot to take my
camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And forgot that I had a phone
that would take pictures until we were on the last course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I only have a couple of pictures and will
have to let you imagine the rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything was out of this world delicious and so beautifully
presented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chef was Ryan Smith and
his food is just amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Whimsey
and I are planning on going to his restaurant in Atlanta on our 30<span style="font-size: large;"><sup>th</sup>
anniversary in October.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mixologist
was Kellie Thorn and she concocted two different drinks that were so unique and
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, we had a different wine
presented with each course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kellie’s
four year old son was there and was our entertainment for the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was just adorable!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isia and Chris grew or foraged the vegetables
and herbs used in the different dishes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here we go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first mixed drink was a homemade vermouth made of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pycnanthemum" target="_blank">mountain mint</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_basil" target="_blank">holy basil</a>,
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ale-hoof" target="_blank">ale hoof</a>, <a href="http://www.mountainvalleygrowers.com/heltalicum.htm" target="_blank">curry plant</a> (<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Helichrysum)</span>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemon_balm" target="_blank">lemon balm</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamomile" target="_blank">chamomile</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wormwood" target="_blank">wormwood</a> made into
a tincture in white wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was
served over ice with lemon and tonic water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was so refreshing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the
first course came out – all the courses except dessert were presented on wood
planks and the table shared the food – six at each table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had wild mussels with spring onions and
leeks, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_sorrel" target="_blank">wood sorrel</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickweed" target="_blank">chickweed</a>, <a href="http://www.eattheweeds.com/descurainia-pinnata-abandoned-seed-2/" target="_blank">tansy mustard</a>, onion juices, and a whipped
mussel juice (which looked like foam and tasted really great).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The second course was a wild duck terrine (amazing – I could
have eaten more than one slice!) with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassafras" target="_blank">sassafras </a>glaze, curry plant, pickled
duck egg, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella" target="_blank">morels</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viola_(plant)" target="_blank">violet leaves</a>, <a href="http://gardenpharmacynj.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=386" target="_blank">preserved pine buds</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinging_nettle" target="_blank">nettles</a>, and
turnips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh my gosh – this was my
favorite course I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The duck
terrine was not only wonderful but beautiful too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The duck eggs were poached and then pickled,
then cut so the yolks showed and the outside of the egg was a bright
yellow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The turnips were tiny and so
good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m drooling right now just
thinking about this course and so wish I had gotten a picture of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then came the second special drink made with pine, herbs,
and gin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not a gin drinker so I
didn’t taste it but everyone was raving about how good it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third course was a venison sausage that had
been boiled and then grilled and sliced with fermented carrots, pickled radish,
<a href="http://www.food.com/library/ramp-800" target="_blank">oak roasted ramps</a>, malted rye, spring herbs and flowers, and then an acorn miso
pate and a mulberry pate.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeP3xbCJvzEU7_L5c0PwQ3271CKc1aQeSx-dG5a4BglqSGbhLB48HqziGyFVmfAQSrCxTBM8GsOaTrBAAWNahyphenhyphenJ814Cbfxy1ZP-mKXMxZHd_CYlg4wc8gyr0R_6OEAltGVy4uDu8XMJwm/s1600/SpringTonic3..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeP3xbCJvzEU7_L5c0PwQ3271CKc1aQeSx-dG5a4BglqSGbhLB48HqziGyFVmfAQSrCxTBM8GsOaTrBAAWNahyphenhyphenJ814Cbfxy1ZP-mKXMxZHd_CYlg4wc8gyr0R_6OEAltGVy4uDu8XMJwm/s320/SpringTonic3..jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh I’m not done yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After all that came dessert – a lemon ice cream with a lavender and
lemon shortbread cookie.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Katie Hayes, who is the Director of the
non-profit organization called </span><a href="http://www.grantparkmarket.org/about/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Community Farmers Markets</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and the Manager of the
East Atlanta Village Farmers Market coordinated the dinner with the help of
many </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">volunteers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All of the volunteers who served at the dinner, going back and forth in
the rain and getting very wet were fantastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m already looking forward to next year’s dinner – it was just so much
fun!</span></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-19678040371435350412013-04-07T17:14:00.000-04:002013-04-07T17:17:40.799-04:00Pallet Planter Plus<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remember this?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBQOV3X2uPVGHC94dvywB3ERiEgsHeCN9-VGf1twO2TddcK8eZS12ZiuE9lmyLKbnI7kG3TPqkgV-XYESnRkPlG-1eZRoxEGCu0BMLpCXRRcBUI7C1gNF9Q0TJpgJkpngnD0_mI9KQC2M/s1600/Pallet1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBQOV3X2uPVGHC94dvywB3ERiEgsHeCN9-VGf1twO2TddcK8eZS12ZiuE9lmyLKbnI7kG3TPqkgV-XYESnRkPlG-1eZRoxEGCu0BMLpCXRRcBUI7C1gNF9Q0TJpgJkpngnD0_mI9KQC2M/s320/Pallet1.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, now it's this!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Free pallet, had nails, had paint and Gesso - just needed a couple of very thin pieces of wood for pictures, two posts, and some QuikCrete. Pretty cool what you can do with pallets!</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-36716071200915701072013-04-01T19:37:00.001-04:002013-04-01T19:37:15.948-04:00This and That Soup<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was one of those nights where I needed to fix a quick dinner because I had been painting since I got home from work this afternoon. For dinner last night I had crockpotted (is that a word? LOL) some beef stew meat cubes with a couple of cans of soup (golden mushroom and french onion which makes a great gravy). I had just a little leftover but not enough for Mr. Whimsey and I both. So I made a pot o' soup tonight, it was really good, and I wanted to share the recipe. It's one of those soups where you can pretty much put anything you like into it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Into a pot I put a tablespoon of olive oil and then minced onion (1 small), celery (3 ribs), carrots, (2 small) and garlic (about a teaspoon). Sauteed them until they were translucent. Then in went a tablespoon of Dijon mustard (it would have been a splash of white wine if I'd had any LOL), salt and pepper, about 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary and about 1/2 teaspoon dried basil. One cup of vegetable broth, a regular sized can of fire-roasted diced tomatoes, the leftover meat and gravy, about 3 cups of water, a handful of mini-farfelle pasta, and a drained can of cannellini beans. So there you go - this and that soup.</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-31746863955506196562013-03-25T17:55:00.001-04:002013-03-25T17:56:20.945-04:00Shams and a Mystery<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">OK, this has to be some sort of record - my energy this week overfloweth - more than one post in a week??? When I get going on one project it just multiplies! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">For weeks I've been looking for pillow shams to go with my new quilt. Oh yes, I probably could have found matching ones - Tar-jay had one here and one there. But I didn't really want to go matchy matchy. So hunting for shams, looking at cloth, trying to figure out if I had something in my studio that would do. Then I happened to remember a very soft cotton flannel blanket that was my mothers. It was blanket stitched along the edges. When I folded it and cut it in half, I only had to trim a few inches off one side and it was perfect for two shams. AND matched the cream color in the quilt. Seamed two sides and they were done. Not quite staying closed at the ends like I wanted though so I just stitched up three pennies for each sham and sewed through both sides. Worked like a charm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now for the mystery. Of course you know what these are. Or I should say, were.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">But what in the world will they turn into? Stay tuned. The first one should be done by the end of next weekend.</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-68001820346371756502013-03-23T10:13:00.001-04:002013-03-23T10:13:22.249-04:00Before The Rain<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Well spring may be here but it's wet and rainy today and at night will still be in the 30s. Could be worse - it could be snowing LOL. Here is more of the "yard art" that was put in this week at the front corner of the house.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My handsome and handy grandson, Andrew, built me a bird condo - well a triplex - for Christmas this year. It's made of old barn wood with metal roofing and is very cool looking. But of course I had to gussy it up with some bird bling - old faucet handles, pieces of copper flowers from an old hummingbird feeder, an old bent silver spoon - you name it - it's on there LOL.</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoc6n7BD2FmR1Yx53BpCYe4yJEFJ8MBHjZehdwibEXOOmN2Ei3G-YYI0yHaFc81YBzV1TJVNO03ffXEfF5876pXnIF_vYXGQcAd-XV9tmwGodEXRRbJ-Hycle27XXlv61ArQ8E0Dj3Aa8/s1600/Birdhouse2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoc6n7BD2FmR1Yx53BpCYe4yJEFJ8MBHjZehdwibEXOOmN2Ei3G-YYI0yHaFc81YBzV1TJVNO03ffXEfF5876pXnIF_vYXGQcAd-XV9tmwGodEXRRbJ-Hycle27XXlv61ArQ8E0Dj3Aa8/s320/Birdhouse2.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Mr. Whimsey screwed the condo onto a piece of wood and mounted it on a garden post with black wrought iron hinges. Then dug a two foot hole (not a small feat in our red Georgia clay) and secured the post with concrete. So the birdies should have a nice home for many years to come. We also planted sunflowers around the bottom so we'll see how those do (if this rain doesn't wash them away this weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hope the sun is shining where you are. Have a great weekend!</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-7065109052678008442013-03-17T18:28:00.002-04:002013-03-17T18:28:37.894-04:00Gardening Isn't For Sissies!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And right now I'm a sissy! I couldn't figure out whether to call this post "gardening isn't for old people", "oh my aching back", "I need a massage", or "thank you God I got it done for today" LOLOLOL</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last year we made our own raised bed planters out of (dare I say cheap) fiberboard built around pallets that I knew wouldn't hold up too long. As of this spring they were totally rotted and it was time for something that would last longer.</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6rScU_2_613606PITqSmYSKyoWLmod-lQx3CmzCLE9JH9ecW9n9RaOrldJ1oXperbsCVv0zl1OEXqQc2eUAXEfdH5J-Lp2HaSRzceY4MhHs908gab-e4FQxDXiRKUoxcvC3kRXSlV1Qi/s1600/Bed1040412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6rScU_2_613606PITqSmYSKyoWLmod-lQx3CmzCLE9JH9ecW9n9RaOrldJ1oXperbsCVv0zl1OEXqQc2eUAXEfdH5J-Lp2HaSRzceY4MhHs908gab-e4FQxDXiRKUoxcvC3kRXSlV1Qi/s320/Bed1040412.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So we found some food grade non-rotting (supposedly) cedar put-it-together-yourself-easily raised bed kits at Home Depot and decided that we wanted them a little deeper than the seven inches tall that they were. These you could stack one on another and put them into many configurations. So we now have one four by eight and one four by four that are fourteen inches tall. I'm sure the neighbors are very relieved!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4XGgJ489o2mAplgmVk4VDMClSM05_gniOhYLfeaRt2u0k_DgbW26-BIUqbFpFnQ-w6ba6xeLUL1jolhChxfAnuc1teT1YzMHXrkfExurhePZDKRiux5ig9pJ8DYN-6G4H3T2KuYP4mAL/s1600/BoxesBefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4XGgJ489o2mAplgmVk4VDMClSM05_gniOhYLfeaRt2u0k_DgbW26-BIUqbFpFnQ-w6ba6xeLUL1jolhChxfAnuc1teT1YzMHXrkfExurhePZDKRiux5ig9pJ8DYN-6G4H3T2KuYP4mAL/s320/BoxesBefore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I will say it wasn't rocket science putting the kits together and you didn't need any tools except maybe a rubber mallet and then a screwdriver for the caps. So that was a plus. But the bending over putting them together for several hours when your back isn't wonderful in the first place was the minus. And the shoveling - oh the shoveling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">First shovel the dirt from one of the old planting beds into the other old planting bed, tear the first planting bed apart. Put together two of the kits making the four by four. And then shovel ALL of the dirt from the other old planting bed into the new one. Add one bag of potting mix and one half bag of mushroom compost. And rake it all smooth. After all, last year with all of the dirt and amendments we put into the original beds - we couldn't waste a morsel of dirt - too expensive and too much good dirt LOL Then tear down the second old planting bed, put three more kits together making the four by eight. And then dump thirteen bags of potting mix and three and a half bags of mushroom compost into it and rake that smooth. I think about six more bags of potting mix ought to do it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By now you're probably saying - and what is wrong with the dirt in the ground where you live (and where the heck are your shutters)? Well, we have solid rock-hard red Georgia clay - need I say more? And the shutters are in the process of being painted a new color - will post those when they go back up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To be perfectly honest here...Mr. Whimsey tore the old planting beds apart (he wanted to save the L brackets - can you say thrifty?) and he picked up most of the bags of potting soil and dumped them into the new bed once I (and my friend Teresa) unloaded them from the truck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Even though my back is screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MORE!!!", I'm still glad it's finally really spring here - or seems to be from the yellow pollen I started seeing on the car today. Our tiny little fig tree has three branches and one full leaf as well as some buds.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The ornamental peach is bursting into bloom and is full of buds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have pineapple sage and Greek oregano planted in my herb garden, black hens and chicks in my old typewriter, and johnny-jump-ups in an old wood tray and three little pots. The Carolina jessamine is gorgeous and smells wonderful too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bright orange cone flowers and lime green Euphorbia are planted by the yard bench. I love Euphorbia - it looks like tiny bells.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thank you God and Mother Earth for your blessings!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">PS Can someone <span style="color: blue;">please</span> come and finish weeding my herb garden? LOLOLOL</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084116078682544944.post-43488031676408731032013-03-03T17:51:00.001-05:002013-03-03T17:51:46.108-05:00A Happy Mistake<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">And in conjunction with getting my new bed, the table that I had previously used as a beside table had to be put on the opposite of the bed. Which means the telephone wouldn't quite reach it and I needed something to put the telephone on. I just wanted something very small so began looking for a tiny table or stool or something that would work. I found a small square metal table at Hobby Lobby that would do (and it was on sale so that was a bonus) but I wasn't especially crazy about it - a little too fancy on top. After searching for something to put on the top - a basket or picture or.....whatever...and not finding anything, I decided I'd just paint a canvas with something or other on it and attach it to the top.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now I do lots of crafting and lots of painting but not usually in conjunction with each other LOL So I first covered the canvas in a very light blue. Of course, since my studio was cold, I did that work on my kitchen counter next to the sink LOL In the process of washing my hands I happened to drip a couple of drops of water onto the canvas while it was still wet. Taking my brush I just brushed over them which caused the paint to be mostly removed in those spots. Voila - I realized that if I did that all over the canvas, I could make it look a little time worn. Yea - one of those happy mistakes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next I took a wet sea sponge and daubed the same blue all over the metal table. Simple to do and much better looking than the brown/black it had been originally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Once my canvas was dry, I took a dinner plate and drew around it, then free-handed the pattern on my bed quilt and painted it in similar colors. Once dry, I covered it with a coat of sealant. Shored up the bottom of the canvas with some wooden supports (so the phone wouldn't make it sag). And fastened it to the top of the metal table with mounting putty (so it could be removed later if I needed to re-do anything).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm really thrilled with the way it turned out - just the perfect size for the phone and small enough to fit between the bed and wall. One more project - DONE!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now on to the next project LOL</span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9ANst84ywsOcrNlgMBckb1dELYm1CYY8cCImEU2tu5mOclajsYbopRBJ4NMJWPsvt6r3Zr9pPLMB8Wv2sb_C-QWiG9a1aUOTBBgKOs0v7e_4D3Udlht6Kbixabfkb7YgZMi9kGQWG1S_/s320/SIGNATURE.png" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14698801749067092572noreply@blogger.com7