personality

A personal view of your own personality is probably not the same as someone else's view but I posted my "photo a day" like this because I pretty much believe everyone knows me for who I am.  An open book.  I don't hide my feelings well, don't lie well, am empathetic, observant, love to find the humor in everything and I hate to admit it in black and white, but a bit OCD.

Good bug or bad bug?

I searched the Internet for quite a while looking for this bug.  My daughter in law was gardening and texted the photo to me to find out if it is a good bug or bad bug and how to get it away from her house and vegetable garden.  We wanted to believe it was a lady bug, but the back was solid and not separated like lady bugs.  We then thought it was a type of beetle, but just didn't know.

I didn't recognize it as any bug I knew, so sent the photo to a science teacher where I work.  Meanwhile she and I decided the removal could take place by using a clean shop vac and nylon hose (panty hose).  They can be vacuumed up into the nylon and set free someplace else.

As it turns out they are a true bug, possibly a stink bug nymph.  My science teacher friend found them on the Internet and sent this link.
http://www.google.com/search?q=harlequin+bug+nymph&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cczET6zhGqnq2QXX1eBr&ved=0CF4QsAQ&biw=1382&bih=696

Memorial Day

A beautiful Memorial Day here deep in the heart of Texas.  A few scattered clouds dotted the sky and a good breeze kept us cooled off in this 92 F. heat.  My drive around town lent itself to hearing laughing children as they played on bikes and ran through sprinklers.  Barbecue grills scented the air like perfume and the voices of the older crowd enjoying each others company made my heart warm.

I spent a little while looking at old photo's of my Dad while he was in the Navy during WWII and remembered the stories told by him and my Uncle.  I lingered at the youthful face of a man gone now and thought about those boys and men who have died in service to our country.  It's what the day was meant to do.  Honor.

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific - It is in this cemetery that the remains of the first casualties on the attack of Pearl Harbor were interred. The Honolulu Memorial on the north west end was constructed to honor the service, achievements, and sacrifices of the men and women who served in the Pacific during World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. Dad & Mom read the names of some of Dad's friends who died here. He wept.

Cherry Tart

I read on FB tomorrow is National Cherry Day.  Wha ho!  Have to celebrate such a scrumptious day so I threw together what I call a country tart.  It's major easy.  Roll out a pie crust, open a can of cherry pie filling and dump it in the middle of the crust.  Fold about 1" of the crust up all the way around the pie filling.  Optional: apply a little "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter: spray on the crust.   Bake 375 F for 30 minutes (take a peek after 20 minutes to see if the crust is golden brown)  Let it completely cool and dust with powdered sugar.


Country Cherry  Tart

Something unusual

I love this building in Decatur, Texas. It is completely covered in petrified wood, and so are the buildings next to it. In my bucket list is to eat in the little restaurant next door. It is near the area where my dad's family was raised and where I played with a multitude of cousins in the washed out canyons ladened with petrified wood pieces. I cherished the moments when we found a piece and kept several in the flower beds by my front door for many years. The pieces slowly disappeared, but I didn't grieve for them because I'm sure the children in my neighborhood are as intrigued as I was with wood turned to rock.

Home is where my childhood is.

My favorite place is home.  The home where my childhood is.  It is a farm in the lower portion of the Texas panhandle where wheat ruffles in waves late spring, cotton spills along the roads in late fall and the wind blows all the time! 

It is a place I love sharing with my children, grandchildren and great grandchild.  We feed the animals, marvel at horny toads, collect rocks, watch for night owls, see bats darting for insects, and learn to beware of rattle snakes.   It's where I learned where food comes from, to respect my elders, be kind to others, and cherish my family.  It is where my siblings and our families gather for holidays, birthdays, rodeos and for no reason other than we just like being there.  Is is my favorite place.

Storage container for crackers

I discovered today a sleeve of crackers (-2) fits nicely in an empty Pringles can!  Now I can carry them for my lunch and snacks to work without crushing them and they will stay fresh longer too!

club crackers too!

One day 5/15/12

Saw a little challenge to record in photo's one day in particular.  5/15/12.  Though I wasn't interested in entering my day in the challenge, I did think I'd like to have a "before retirement"  collage and perhaps in a few months record a "retired" day. 

This day began with the alarm at 6:14 AM.  I don't know why it's at 6:14.  I know it's odd, I think I just got lazy pushing that little button so many times!  After my morning shower & dressing I had coffee and toast with jam.  I love Smucker's apricot jam, it's so good.  After I rolled out the trash bin I noticed my dirty car but got in without spraying it down anyway. Sometimes I pull the water hose out to the drive and give it a quick pressure spray to get rid of the bugs, dust and bird partying evidence.  But not today, guess I was ready to hit the 30 minute commute to work.  I did pay close attention to the gas prices on the way today, I'll need to gas up tomorrow.

As always I clocked in at the school where I work and settled in to my desk area.  I am a school secretary at an alternative campus.   It was a pretty calm day with lots of reports and plenty of paper work to process.

An uneventful drive home and a quick stop by Sonic to pick up a "ready to eat" supper preceded my evening ritual of a little TV while I blog and check in FaceBook.  Attended to some regular household chores too boring to photograph then I decided to drive over to the lake and watch the sunset.  I thought the evening news said there would be a solar eclipse that might be partially visible in my area as the sun set.  Hubs told me when I got back I was wrong about the date, I'll have to check out the sunset again on Sunday.  But you know, that's okay, I enjoy a pretty sunset - even without a specific reason to watch it!

Strawberry Pie - sugar free

A wonderful pie that is diabetic friendly and beautiful!  There is some sugar in the vanilla pudding, so check the lable for content if you count carbs.   Of course, if you aren't concerned about the sugar, use a sugar jello instead of the sugar free version. I originally got this recipe from a work buddy about 10-15 years ago.  Thanks Bonnie. We've enjoyed this pie many,  many times!

Start with a pre baked pie crust. (Sometimes I cheat, don't care about a little sugar and use a purchased crust)

• 3/4 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons of buttery flavored Crisco (or lard)
• 1/4 Cup boiling water
• 1 Tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 packets of Sweet n Low (not Equal)

Mix ingredients  thoroughly with a fork or mixer.  Add 2 1/4 Cups flour gradually while continuing to mix at low speed until all is incorporated.  Dough should easily form into a firm moist, but not sticky, ball.  Divide into 2 balls.  Roll out one ball on wax paper to fit pie pan. Crust is fragile, make repairs as needed pressing torn edges together in pie pan. Bake 400 F. 10 minutes.

Sugar Free Strawberry Pie Filling

Wash, stem and slice

• 4 Cups strawberries and arrange in the bottom of pre baked crust.

In a medium sauce pan stir together:

• 1 4 oz. box sugar free strawberry jello
• 1 4 oz box sugar free "cook & serve" vanilla pudding
• 2 1/2 cups water

Stir constantly over medium-high heat until mixture comes to boil.  Continue to stir over heat at a rolling boil one minute.  Remove from heat, cover and cool in refrigerator until slightly thickened. 

Pour cooled mixture over strawberries.  Chill until set.

Sugar free whipped cream

• 2 Cups heavy whipping cream.
• 8 packets of Sweet N Low
• 8 packets of Equal

Beat on high with an electric mixer in a chilled bowl until peaks form.

You know, with a few blue berries sprinkled on top, this would look like an American holiday.

Mashers

I was slow to be inspired for today's Fat Mum Slim's photo a day challenge.  The challenge was kitchen.  My kitchen itself is nothing special being a tract home where almost every other house is the same.  I thought about it all day, when suddenly my favorite collections caught my eye.  The potato mashers.  For such a simple tool they are lovely works of art used in almost every kitchen. 

I like the wide variety of potato mashers around.  I like the different patterns in the wire and shapes of handles.  I have some favorites though.  The ones that came from the kitchens of people special to me.  They stand together displayed in a special spot in my kitchen. My mom's with all the paint worn off and her name written on it herself.  Her mother's that I watched as she made creamy mashed potatoes.  The one with a warped handle that I took from my uncle Lynn's few days after he passed away.  My Aunt June's, she brought it to me one Christmas because she knew I was collecting them.  Several elaborately twisted wire ones and an all metal one that hubs found at antique stores and bought for me.  I love them all.  When I hold the tools of the people I knew and even the people I didn't know in my hand, I feel a strange closeness to them.  Their aura lingers and I marvel at the meals they must have prepared with these tools.

 

http://forwhatitsworth-jeannie.blogspot.com/p/photoadayapril.html

DIY Paper Stars

Paper Stars by my work buddy Brenda.  She made these for our Cinco De Mayo luncheon, but they will work for Memorial Day and July 4th Stars too!
Tools: paper, scissors, tape, stapler.

Step

1.       Cut 6 equal squares of paper.  In this demo we are using color copy paper. 

2.       Fold into triangle and trim off excess

3.       Fold into smaller triangle

4.       Make 3 cuts from 1^st fold ALMOST to 2^nd fold.  This was the trickiest part.  It was easier for me to cut the first slit paralell to the unfolded edges.

5.       Open square out flat.

6.       Tape opposite corners of smallest cuts (now looks like a small square in center) together

7.       Flip paper over and tape next set of corners together

8.       Flip and tape next set till all are done.  They look like spirals.

9.       Do this to all 6 original squares of paper.

10.   Staple outside taped pieces together to form a garland of spirals.

11.  Staple the end of the garland spirals together to form a circle of spirals.

12.   Lay it on table with center points together.  You can see the star now.

12.   Staple the center points together with one staple.

13.   Done!

Habitual Organizer

Admittedly, I like to organize and sort things.  Even as I wake up in the morning I start planning "whatever it is I need to do", I will surely see a better way to do "whatever it is I need to do" and change it around.   I have a lot of lists and I keep them up to date.  The virtual lists on my computer screens are the best.  No paper waste and easy to update.  There is a virtual list of seasonal, monthly, weekly, daily cleaning chores, shopping lists, reminders specific to the day, menus, calorie counting chart, home improvement needs, long range goals, photo challenges, and I'm sure a few others.  My Pinterest boards- they are really a way for me to feed my addiction to organizing.

When I read that paragraph, I thought, whew- I'll probably be one of those old people that starts leaving notes in hidden places as my memory fades and when I find the note, I will probably think - I need to move that to an easier place to see.  Ha. 

The funny thing about this post is that I feel an urgent need to leave a list for you to see.  Today's list and sticky notes look like this:

Wednesday

• Make the bed
• Spray bleach in shower.
• Clean toilet.
• Pack lunch & snacks for day.
• Water outside pot plants.

 Go to work. New lists at work...return home  (this isn't on the home list, just felt compelled to tell you this)

• Call Mom
• wash a load of laundry
• Sweep kitchen & den
• Sanitize kitchen counter, sink, stove, fridge front
• Empty trash cans.
• Cut back roses by the gate

post script... I went back and reordered the list and changed the font.  I may need counseling...
http://forwhatitsworth-jeannie.blogspot.com/p/photoadayapril.html

Inspiration

Be Inspiring

By The

Life

You

Live

Putting inspiration label on anyone is pressure.  To be inspired by anyone means to desire to be like them or to be better than you are or to reach for higher goals because that person makes you want more.  I believe everyone I come in contact inspires me in one way or another.  A casual meeting with a total stranger has inspired me by the simple grace in their walk or friendly smile in their greeting.  I get inspired by a fleeting reminder of people passed on or simply out of sight,  a "not so inspiring" scene or personal action. I guess it's the "pay it forward" theory.

My "better than I am": inspiration list for today only starts something like this:  Jehovah God, Jesus, hubs, Christi, Hailee, Frances, Allen who expected the most from me, Chantell (what a patient advisor), Donna, Mike, Marcie who can make me smile just thinking about the light side of things, talented Colleen, sweet Kaitlin, Brenda, Fat Mum Slim, Oprah, that pleasant man who opened the door at lunch, the payroll clerk who did not make me feel dumb & make a correction, the student who told me he couldn't stay awake in class because he worked his second job until 6:00 AM and came to school on time anyway today, my son who loves people, my single parent grandson, Wynell because I see her in the mirror in the morning,  Billye (love my new painting), Barry who can make something from nothing, JoAnn is brilliant, Karla, Pam and many many others.
http://forwhatitsworth-jeannie.blogspot.com/p/photoadayapril.html

Laundry Soap, round 2

The first time I made home made liquid laundry soap, I learned a LOT.  The first attempt and "pintrosity" story here.

Biggest lesson - don't think baking soda labeled safe for washing is a good substitute.  It works, yes, but you get bubbles all over your stove, counter top and floor when you add it to boiling water! 

Doing laundry for only two, it has taken a while to use up the first batch, even though I cut the recipe in 1/2 the first time to test whether or not I wanted to do it again.  I'm doing it again.  8-) This time I made a full recipe that filled 2 gallon containers plus a juice bottle.  And the juice bottle is undiluted.  Here's what I learned this time:

• Using a much bigger pot than I thought necessary was a good decision.  We have a set of 3 stainless steel stew pots, I used the biggest one which I think holds about 4 gallons liquid.
• The Felz Naptha was soft and easy to grate manually, but I'll probably take an easier way next time using the grater in my food processor.
• You don't have to boil the mixture, but it helps melt the Felz Naptha.
• I purchased a little bottle of lavender essential oil at a craft store to add this time.  It only took about 10 drops to make a very mild and pleasant smell.  Hubs liked the unscented smell, but I like sleeping on sheets and pillow cases with that light lavender scent.
• Have 3 gallon containers.  Recycle old laundry soap bottles or milk jugs.  I'll probably use containers I can see through easier next time.  Heck, I might even purchase one of those cool containers with a dispenser nozzle.
• Cut the bottom half off a plastic 2 liter drink bottle.  Flip it over and use it to funnel the soap into your storage containers. I use  an extra large liquid measuring cup with a lip to scoop up the soap and poor into the funnel.
• Let it cool over night before bottling.  I didn't wait long enough last time and the mixture thickened up after I bottled it. 
• Shake, shake, shake before using.  There's a neat little spiral looking, ball shaped product on the market that guys use to mix protein drinks from health food stores that dropped into the soap bottle would work wonderfully in the shake, shake, shake moment before measuring 1/2 cup into the wash.
• Use a permanent marker to write on the container lid:  LAUNDRY SOAP, SHAKE
• If you are using fabric softener in similar looking containers like I do, mark the fabric softer lid too.  "SOFTENER"
• This time, with the proper cooling time, I used an immersion blender I found way back in my bottom cabinet to stir it up several times while it cooled.  It made a much smoother end product that pours better.
• When all was said and done, I cleaned the big pot and utensils.  What I found is it made an excellent dish soap and sink cleaner too!

That juice bottle would make a nice container to share some soap. 

Home Made Liquid Soap:
Tools:  BIG pot, grater, long handle spoon, large measuring cup,  funnel, 3 empty gallon containers
Bring to a boil, stirring often

• 1 bar Felz Naptha soap (or actually I believe you can use any bar soap), grated
• 1 gallon water
• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup washing soda
• optional:  essential oil for scent.  I used 10 drops for a very light scent.

Turn off heat and add 1 more gallon cool water.  Stir well.  This is where I discovered my immersion blender usefulness.
Cool over night.  It will thicken considerably.  It is okay to stir during this process.
After you let it cool overnight, use a mixer or blender to stir really well so that it has a nice smooth consistency.  Use a funnel and scoop the liquid into 3 gallon containers equally.  Or close to equal, eyeball it, precise measurement isn't necessary.  Top off the containers with more water, but leave about 3" at the top for shaking before use. 
Use 1/2 cup per load.

Moon shots

It's been quite some time since I've been "parking".  Ha!  Hubs & I drove out of the city to a small community with a whole lot less artificial lighting to have dinner and then watch this historic moon rise.  It is suppose to be closer to the earth than it has been in like 200 years.  We found a country road, parked the vehicle and after watching a nice orange glowing sunset, watched a nice orange moon rise!  That was cool.  I was a little disappointed that it didn't appear larger, but really did enjoy the time we spent together reminiscing and giggling that we went parking after 42 years of marriage!

We ate a good dinner at this little diner before moon watching.



There it is, the moon!

Back in the city, still pretty.

As it got higher in the sky, the moisture and thin cloud cover gave it some eerie halo's

Last look through the trees in my back yard.  Looks a little like an eyeball.

Fun Cinco de Mayo

Our faculty luncheon this month centered the decoration theme around Cinco de Mayo which isn't typically a big celebration in Mexico, but in the US, especially Texas, it is.  There are celebrations, parades and cultural exhibits honoring the Mexican heritage.

There is a very talented lady at the campus where I work.  Brenda is our librarian and her talents at decorating are phenomenal!  I felt a wave of happiness and full expectations of a fun day when I walked into our lunch rooms.  Here are some photo's I took of her amazing decorations.

I love the fun twig trees spray painted white with color lights and tissue flowers.

She pleated large fan shaped flowers on the wall

The center vase is filled with pinto beans the two on either side are wrapped with color yarn



The burlap runner is died hot pink

My contribution.
Purchased cookies with purchased icing piped around the edges & dipped in sprinkles.
The sombrero hat crowns are gum drops attached with more icing.

These colorful paper stars are a craft Brenda is going to show me later.
Click here for step by step directions & pictures.

Bulletin board paper strips pleated, folded in half and stapled together