Nurturing...

as a gardener and a mother.
Mistakes of the last 24 hours:
left the mint and the thyme out on the back deck and they are black and mushy today.
screamed at my 12 year old daughter during a basketball game.
So, I cut the herbs down to the green and put them back in the window. As I held the dead cuttings in my hand, I thought, that's exactly what I feel like, inside.
Why did I do it? It was their first game and everyone was so nervous. She took that ball over her head and whipped it across the court in such a way that a grown man couldn't catch it...
What are you doing??? I screamed at her.
She turned and looked at me and in that moment, I let her down.
I want her to know that I will let her down, again, in our lifetimes. I am sorry, Lou, but I am not perfect. I have a big mouth, sweetie.
You are my wonderful gift from God. I want you to know that you can count on me to be on your side.
The voice that came out of my mouth sounded like that parent we've all heard at games. That shrill sarcastic know-it-all.
They lost the game by 30 points.
The 35 minute ride home was tense and made worse by the driving rain storm. My mouth was dry as Jeff drove home, I tried to make small talk, but nobody was interested.
I had that parent that pointed out all my mistakes. She never praised my attempt at art, none of our graded papers went on the fridge. She was cold and drunk and emotionally absent, but physically abusive. I would cry myself to sleep and promise God I would do better for my kids, if I ever had them.
He gave me not one, but 2 bright and beautiful children. I have dedicated my life to them, really. I am a fairly strict parent, but they know I will be there for them. I have gone on every field trip and several camping trips. I am the parent that drives the friends, too.
So, I lean on my record for redemption. I promise to do better tomorrow, and all the tomorrows.
It's little consolation as I hear her cry herself to sleep while the thyme and mint slowly die on the deck.

I ordered seeds already....

Haven't purchased one present yet, but I found a great deal for the Castor Bean plant I wanted.
Diane's Flower Seeds.
They have both the New Zealand


And the Carmencita!! I got 6 seeds of each for $4.00... I wish I would have gotten the green species, too. That one is supposed to get huge!!

I am sure the FBI is wondering why I would be doing searches for Ricin. I know it must be weird, the seeds are the source for the terrible poison, Ricin. I am not out to poison anyone, OK, Big Brother? I just want a pretty yard, OK???

So, I have been given the heads up about the baking parafin. I am excited about making Pea's Turtles!! I cannot get over how talented these bloggers are. Really, I don't knit or sew, I don't have a flair for Christmas trees, (we don't have ours, yet!) and I have never been known to keep two socks together to make a pair, much less collect snowglobes or candlesticks!!

Our second winner from the AAS winners is Diascia. I have never even seen this one, much less planted it. From the website: "Diamonte Coral Rose' flowers are tubular with backward pointing spurs. The five-lobed blooms have broad lower lobes. 'Diamonte Coral Rose' plants have a spreading habit and are perfectly designed for any container. Planting them close to the lip will encourage the plant to cascade over the side. Needing a full sun growing location, 'Diamonte Coral Rose' combines well with other cool tolerant annuals, such as snapdragons or dianthus. Exceptional garden performance can be expected from 'Diamonte Coral Rose.'"
Sounds like another good one to plant with pansy and snapdragons! The snapdragons did not do well for me, in Memphis, but I have seen them here, this year, in the middle of summer, blooming like crazy!!! Anyone know this one??

Do you plant AAS winners?

I never really paid attention to the All America Selection Winners until the Tidal Wave hit. 2002 was the Silver Tidal Wave and the healthiest mounding petunias, even in the south, even into September!! I looked carefully at the tags left in the ground in front of the restaurant and it said simply, "AAS Winner". I had to find out what that meant!
Since then, I have familiarized myself with the website: AAS.
Every year, I look to see which plants won from this growing season. The list is out!
Dianthus 'Supra Purple'
I love love love Dianthus. It's the kindest groundcover, really. It is evergreen, with it's bluish grasslike foilage and the flowers keep coming if you shave them off when they are spent. What more could you want from a plant?
"The 'Supra Purple' single flowers have highly fringed petal edges which are perfect for decorations. Add them to salads, bouquets, or float some on water for an eye-catching centerpiece." AAS website

I have already been on the supplier's website for the seeds to this fabulous plant. Anyone ever order from Jungs or Harris or Vesey's?

Country Fried Turkey and Tetrazzini

with Turkey!! People always seem to complain about the holiday leftovers, but I love them!

1. 12 ounces spaghetti
2. 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
3. 1/2 teaspoon salt
4. 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
5. 1/4 cup chopped onion
6. 1 clove garlic, minced
7. 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
8. 1 cup chicken broth
9. 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
10. 2 cups shredded American cheese
11. 4 cups cooked and cubed chicken
12. 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
13. 2 tablespoons diced red bell pepper
14. 1 cup shredded parmesan or romano
    
15. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
16. Cook spaghetti according to package directions, add oil and salt to cooking water. Drain.
17. In large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Add soup, broth, seasoned salt and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese. Cook and stir until cheese melts and mixture is smooth. Add spaghetti and chicken or turkey. Mix well. Transfer to 2-quart baking dish. Cover with foil.
18. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
19. Remove foil. Sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 cups.american cheese and parmesan or romano Continue baking 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with parsley and bell pepper.

This recipe takes me back to Mrs. Nancy. We worked together in the kitchen at Immanuel Lutheran School. I never saw someone make such fabulous casseroles-with never a recipe!
We were understaffed and undervalued, but we had a lot of fun and we would walk off the stress in the 96* heat of a Memphis morning. Mrs. Nancy is still there and she tells me she sometimes reads this....I miss you, Nanc!!

Prepping a turkey for Deep frying. I rinse and dry the bird, inject all the secret recipe marinade that it will hold, and rub the outside with a cajun rub!

Down he goes, into the 350* peanut oil. Far away from the house!!

It takes 31/2 minutes per pound to fry a turkey, so while he was a cookin', I fried me up some fresh spinach leaves!!!

Just drop in the very dry fresh spinach and fry for about a minute.

I don't like a lot of salt on my food, but this is one item we salt pretty good!! Fried Spinach tastes more like potato chips than it does spinach! YUM!

The finished product. It's really important to leave a fried turkey sit for 20 minutes, I leave him on the stand, over the sink and let any grease drip off, and let the turkey rest for a minute!



Geez, it's thundering outside! I don't know, this Northern weather isn't too bad, ya'll! It's been over 60 this whole week! Now I am off to see what Pea has baked today. It has come to my attention that bloggers are the most ambitious folks! I really want to try Pea's recipe for Turtles, but I have no idea what baking parafin is....

Turkey Time

This was our turkey, posing with Uncle Roger. Grama bought it at Honeybaked Ham. It cost her well over $50.00 and I thought it was dry and salty. I can go with dry, but salty will get me every time!!

We told Grama we wanted to go with every day wear. Normally, we bring out the good stuff on Thanksgiving and really have a nice table with crystal and silver and china. Why did we do the paper napkins and everyday wear?

Kevin

Brian

It turned out to be a good thing, the plates went right into the dishwasher and the flatwear did, too! I was glad.

So, that was the turkey and the dinner on Thanksgiving....but it brings me to something that is bothering me to no end. It is something that has happened year after year....
My sister-in-law is a slacker. Her kids run the house, tearing stuff up while she sits and drinks her wine. Grama finally has to yell at one of the boys and then SIL will get up or ask the boys to stop. After dinner, (a dinner she did NOT help cook), she gets up and goes to sit on the couch.
GRRR!!!
I cannot tolerate this, year after year!! I have spoken to her husband, my husband, Grama, and everyone else who would listen!! So, I found the perfect present for her:

You know what she would do? She would put it on and proudly parade it around, laughing like she was so cute...
Oh, this is getting ugly.

Garden Wandering Sandra, Thank you for the card!!! You are very thoughtful. You make me wish I were still in the mid-south!!

I am back!!

Well, I am sorry to be gone so long. I did have some people email me and ask me if I was ok, and now I am...
I thought I had a stiff neck, or something, until I couldn't raise my head to look at myself in the mirror. I went to the hospital, finally, and they ran a bunch of tests, but I went home with painkillers and a heating pad.
The next day, I saw my Dr. and she diagnosed me with Spasmodic Torticollis. After five days on an anti-spasm drug and viocodin, I feel pretty good, today!
I also discovered I had an infection in my heart, a result of having my teeth cleaned and not taking anti-biotics before the cleaning. I have a large murmur and the bacteria sits in the bottom of the heart chamber, infecting it!!
I have had more shots and pokes than I did when I had my babies!
Thank you all for the nice notes and emails!! I am blessed with a wonderful family and some terrific friends!!
More later, I have to vacuum this place!!

Happy Thanksgiving, Blog Buddies!

I have been out of commission, literally. Something is wrong with my neck and I can barely swallow and cannot lie on my back without suffocating....I was at the hospital for tests and they haven't found anything, but back to the DR. today.
We are going to Racine, to spend the holiday with Jeff's brother and his mother. We are all bringing the sides, and Grama, who suffers from emphysema, purchased a honey-baked turkey!
I pray I have patience with my little nephews, they aren't taught manners or anything like restraint and have the run of the house.
(Not the way I have raised my kids, by the way!)

For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

For my friend Pea.

May she find PEAS of mind.

This is what I found for Zoey. Are you a trip, Zoey?


For my friend Apple.
Sally School Bus

Sally loves kids and she loves her job as a school bus. In her mind, patience is a virtue, because it takes a lot of time to carry dozens of kids to and from school every day. She doesn't mind though, because she knows she's keeping them safe while they ride in her.
It sums up Apple, too!

This is not for Apple, but for Tina! She lives on what used to be an apple orchard.
100 years ago!! It seems to me this little girl spilled out all these apples, looking for the best one!

Here is a sunny, bright day for UK Bob! Look, Bob! Some friends are waiting for you and your dog to go walking thru the hills!!

This is the Cornelian Bush rose. Hybridized in 1925. Perhaps Carol's grandmother,
Ruth Campbell Smith knew this rose.

Red Brug for my pal Sandra!! Sandra, this is a picture of the two I had for years and years!!
isn't it beautiful? I wish I would have known you then, I could have given it to you instead of it going into storage and dying.....

For Pam C, C'mon, JUMP!! It doesn't hurt!!!

;)


I hope all my friends have a wondeful day. I have alot of errands to run and we will have Deep Dish pizza.

Go Bears!!!

Cass loves her lasagna!

Seconds, anyone?

I sneak in chopped spinach into the ricotta layer. Anyway to get this family to eat more greens, I say!!


















Lots of mozz, parm, and don't forget.....
Sausage Marinara!!!

The finished product. Sissy's Spinach Lasagna
Pass the pinot noir, please.

Dinner and a movie...

well, not really. We don't watch movies. But we do watch lots of sports and they look even better on this! It's his Christmas present, a little early, I guess!

Dinner=Spinach Pie and Jello Berry Salad

This recipe is awesome!!

On Tuesday, it will be Lasagna with Meat Sauce.
I had a few extra minutes tonite, waiting for practice to finish and I wandered into the Wal-Mart. I was looking for the Amaryllis that Carol from May Dreams Gardens
was talking about. I really was interested, but they didn't have anything like that. I did see boxes of Anenome corms, but I don't think they are the same ones that flower in the fall, like Kerri photographed at Cornell Gardens...
I was watching Alan Armitage and he talked about it being a great fall flower, but the one in Wally world bloomed in the spring.
You know, I never made that spice cake, either. Maybe tomorrow..

I am a Jelly Donut

So you're a little rounder than most folks - but it's only in the right places! You maintain a clean exterior, even if you're all messy on the inside. You think you're the best, and that's mostly true... But remember, you're just an empty shell without your jelly!

What Donut Are You?

I

Haul Out The Holly?

Forget about it!! WLIT in Chicago has gone to an all Christmas format. ALREADY!

November 3, 2006

BY ROBERT FEDER Sun-Times Columnist

Well, at least they waited until after Halloween. In the earliest jump on the holidays yet, WLIT-FM (93.9) put its adult contemporary format on hold and switched to all-Christmas music at noon Thursday. "The Holiday Lite" will continue airing around the clock through Christmas Day.Although the Clear Channel Radio station had been lining up advertisers and teasing the move in on-air promos for a while, Lite FM bosses kept the date a mystery right up to Thursday morning."When I saw a snowflake this morning, that's when I decided," said Darren Davis, vice president of programming and operations for Clear Channel Chicago. "I hadn't planned on it. It just felt right."Just two days earlier, Davis insisted he had no idea when he'd make the move, adding: "It's a gut call. If it's 80 degrees and sunny, I would be less likely to flip."

Thursday's low temperature was 24 degrees.

A recent dip in the ratings no doubt played as big a part as the weather in prompting the early start to the holiday cheer. (Last year's start date was Nov. 18.)

Lite FM traditionally scores its highest ratings of the year for the weeks of its nonstop Christmas music. The challenge has been to retain those audience levels after normal programming returns.

Well, that figures. It's all about the cash. I am not listening to it. I won't listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving. I like Thanksgiving. Why rush right past it??!!

Thank you, Vets.

The Cube Steaks in Mushroom gravy.

This is what that recipe looked like in my house! It was a very popular one, I had 8 cube steaks and I could have served 12, I think.

I also took a shot of the carrots, I don't want anyone to think we don't eat our veggies!

I never realised how tacky those paper napkins look!

Dinner tonite? Chipotle Mexican Grill. Have you been there? It's wonderful!

We went thinking it was a sit down, but you walk in and see a warehouse type place with huge ceilings and at the other end, it's like a cafeteria style..

I always tell myself I won't order the same thing, but I always order the same thing.
Chicken Tacos. You order and they assemble it in front of you, kinda like Subway. I love, love love the spicy pico de gallo type salsa and the hefty fried corn chips!

Chipotle is designed with Green in mind. They use 85% recycled materials in the contruction and are recycling the consumer product waste in 25% of their restaurants. The steel used in construction is recycled as well!