Sunday, January 28, 2018

Week 110, 1-28-2018

Thoughts and QuotesIt’s not that people want too much, it’s that they want too little.  Your future emanates totally and absolutely from your present mental attitude, and you have 18 billion brain cells waiting to be activated by a big goal.  When you know clearly what you want, you’ll wake up every morning excited about life.  
                                                                                                Mark Victor Hansen

So how are you doing with your 2018 goals? Moving right along or have you lost interest? If  so, maybe Mark is correct and the goals aren't exciting enough. Hmmmmmm.......might want to revise your goal list.

Tidying: Thanks to help from Nancy, my cleaning goal is ahead of schedule. The living room is finished and feels so fresh. The dining room is finished except for washing the outside of the window.

Tip: One of my goals is to take photos of everything for insurance purposes. I couldn't possibly remember everything if it all blew away in a tornado. It occurred to me that this would be a perfect time to work on that goal. Each time I finish a room, I'll take photos. I don't intend to photograph every single item, but at least a group photo of drawers and shelves.

Of course my bookkeeping mind kicked in and devised a logical plan. North - East - South - West - Top - Bottom.

Here's the living room:
North



East


South



West



Thomas Kinkade's Blessings of Autumn

Up


Down



Tasting: My soup for the week. You've seen it before. If you haven't tried it, you really should.
LIBRARY SOUP
(Dana from the Children’s Section at the Ozark library)

1 can each:
Whole kernel corn, drained
Kidney beans, drained
Seasoned black beans, drained
Rotel with lime and cilantro
Chicken broth
2 chicken breasts, cubed

Mix together in Crockpot and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high/regular for 4-5 hours.

Serve with tortilla chips and grated Monterey Jack cheese.

Note:  I used 2 cans of broth for more liquid, and used pinto beans instead of kidney beans.  I love this soup and will make it often.


Remember the raspberry vinegar I made? 


I promised you a vinaigrette and here are two easy samples. I'm going to try a creamy one soon.

ANOTHER WINTER SALAD

Salad:
1 bunch of green leaf lettuce
1 11-oz can mandarin oranges
1 large red apple, cubed (don’t peel)
3/4 cup pecan halves
3/4 cup dried cranberries
Raspberry Vinaigrette of your choice or a bottle from the store

Vinaigrette 1:
1/2 cup raspberry vinegar
1/2 cup light honey (clover honey is rather overwhelming)
1/2 cup salad oil
1/4 cup water
Mix in a shaker or blender

Vinaigrette 2:
1/2 cup raspberry vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup salad oil
Mix in a shaker or blender

Mix salad ingredients in a large bowl and dress, or put salads on individual salad plates and serve the vinaigrette on the side.

Note: To make raspberry vinegar, mix 1-1/2 cups white vinegar and 1/2 cup sugar and heat to dissolve sugar. While still hot, add 1 cup fresh raspberries and put in a covered jar. Leave at room temperature for about three weeks. Strain and it’s ready to use.


Muffin Tin Monday


BREAKFAST CUPS

1 cup diced ham
1 cup cooked and chopped broccoli
1 cup shredded Cheddar
12 eggs
Salt and Pepper

Heat oven to 350°.

Grease a 12-cup muffin tin.

Divide ham, broccoli and Cheddar evenly between the cups.

Beat eggs with salt and pepper and spoon over the mixture.  First, about half so it can settle in, then the balance.

Bake 20-25 minutes.

Note: Use any combinations you like, choosing from:
            Bacon, cooked and crumbled
            Sausage links, cooked and thinly sliced
            Bulk sausage, cooked and crumbled
            Spinach, cooked, squeezed dry
            Asparagus spears, cooked and thinly sliced
           Swiss, Parmesan, or Pepper Jack cheese


Tissue Cards: This week's card made from a tissue box. There's not much you can do when the box is a picture.




Tidying: My seven discards for the week - can you believe that I actually turned loose of two teapots? What a good girl!




Then Joey gave me one of those individual teapots we used to buy at the 99 cents only store in California and a magnetic sheet for storing cutting dies for making cards.


So I'm giving these to my niece. Remember the movie about The Bird Man of Alcatraz? My niece is the Bird Woman of Spingfield.



The Pepper and Pals Report: Pepper's eye continues to improve, with his hair slowly filling in the wound spot.



Midnight's babies are as big as their mommy now. They slept in the carriers while it was cold, but now have moved back outside. They do, however, like to use them as playground equipment sometimes. And sometimes they come in to use the potty box instead of going outside.




Stormy and Ginger getting acquainted.


Tidbits: If you're thinking of running for Congress, you might want to reconsider. I watched this woman in the background through Chuck Shumer's entire speech, and she looked this unhappy the entire time. 



Teaching and Learning: Okay - I've done a little research on hygge and here's what I learned. Hygge is pronounced hoo-ga and it's a Danish term which means taking pleasure in the simple things in life and enjoying them with your friends. You can find lists on Pinterest, but you know what makes you feel cozy and happy already, so make up your own list. If I weren't involved in this cleaning frenzy, my hygge list would look like this:

Monday: Stay in bed and read until 9:00. Coffee and a nice warm shower. Grubbies and no makeup and read some more. Soup and salad for lunch and read some more. 

Tuesday: Go buy flowers and food. Make a pretty table, invite friends over for dinner, nice long conversation after.

Wednesday: A walk around the neighborhood to see what's new. Watch some recorded episodes of Aerial America and have afternoon tea.

Thursday: Work a jigsaw puzzle and make some greeting cards. Comfort food dinner of chicken and noodles.

Friday: Crochet a new doily and plan my next theme dinner.

Saturday: Get lost in the internet; listen to music on YouTube, and call friends to chat.

You get the idea. You can find lists on Pinterest by just searching hygge. Another explanation of what it means is HERE.  Another, along with a list, is HERE. And a 7-day hygge challenge HERE. And I'm all for it 100%.

Tidbits: Well, here it is. Our new Lucky's Market in Springfield, MO.


Good loss leaders - apples 50 cents lb.




Not just run-of-the mill produce

Yellow beets


Finally, watercress


Multi-colored carrots


By the pound - ready to use or cook


Mexican herbs and spices


Fresh herbs and herbs in tubes


Great poultry



A good variety of canned foods - all of these are soups



Lots of spices and herbs


Rows of bulk foods


A lot of ready-to-eat food










Great seafood


If I lived next door, I'd never cook.

The Aquarium Side of Wonders of Wildlife: On my first visit, my camera battery pooped out before I could get photos. Here are a few.













Kids can color a sea creature; it's scanned in, and appears to swim in the faux aquarium.


TRY A LITTLE HYGGE THIS WEEK

OR PLAN A TRIP TO THE CARIBBEAN

OR A MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE

OR JUST GET A LITTLE SUN

AND PRETEND SPRING IS COMING SOON

EAT YOUR APPLES

THANK YOU FOR SHARING MY LIFE





3 comments:

  1. Wow Patsy, the new market looked amazing, so much choice and variety I would be in their for hours just trying to make up my mind. Loved what you did with the tissue box this week, you are one talented lady.

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  2. As always, enjoyed reading your post! That soup sounds amazing. If you are interested in Hygge and haven't read The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell, I think you'd really enjoy it. Hope you have a great week!

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  3. Happy Monday my Dear! I'm actually being timely with a visit. ;) Smart Gal about the insurance pics. Your home is so bright and pretty!! And wonderful recipes and card, as per usual.
    Also smart Gal getting rid of goodies to make room for more goodies. Lol! And Pepper and all of the kitties are looking awesome!! You are such a wonderful caretaker, also as per usual.
    Your new market looks great! True one stop shopping perfection. And the congress lady thing was hilarious! I'm so happy that was never my career path. :P Especially these days.
    I have a book about hygge that I kind of speed read once, but will dig into deeper one of these days. Comfort is comfort though plain and simple - I agree.
    Have a blessed week ahead my Patsy-girl! xoxo

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