Stuck!!!

My last few blogs have been on food, and it seems that I am still stuck on that topic. I am not being very eclectic am I Mr. Loyd? When I get on one topic and can't seem to get off of it. I could tell you how I am over run by seeds right now, but food is better. I was looking through some old magazines at my in laws house(that is not hard to do....magazines everywhere), and I found several neat recipes that I wanted to share with whoever reads this blog.





Baked Green Tomatoes

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon dried dill weed
• salt and pepper to taste
• 5 medium green tomatoes,thinly sliced
  

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking sheet.
In a small bowl, mix the cornmeal, dill, salt, and pepper. Dip tomato slices into the mixture, coating both sides. Arrange coated slices in a single layer on a medium baking sheet.
Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until crisp and golden brown. You can add Parmesan cheese to these right at the end of baking.

Taco Burgers

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 envelope taco seasoning mix
• 1 cup salsa, divided
• 1 cup re fried beans
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 cup shredded lettuce
• 1 small purple onion, sliced
• 1 cup shredded Mexican Cheese
• 4 hamburger buns, split

Directions:

Mix beef and taco seasoning mix. Shape mixture into 4 patties, each about 3/4 in. thick. Cook until done. Combine 1/4 c. salsa, re fried beans and cilantro, if you like it. Spread on cut sides of buns. Stir together remaining salsa and tomato. Serve patties on buns with salsa, mixture, lettuce, onion and cheese.

I am sure that you can make this burger look a little neater when you fix it. But getting messy is part of a good burger. I thought if you loved tacos you might like this creation.

Campfire Brownie S'Mores

Ingredients:

• 1 (19.8 oz) box dark chocolate fudge brownie mix
• 1 (1.7 oz) jar marshmallow creme
• 15 graham crackers
• 71/2 (1.55 oz) milk chocolate bars
• 1 (16 oz) bag large marshmallows
• 1 (12 1/4 oz) jar chocolate fudge ice cream topping, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to temperature on brownie mix box. Line a 13x9 inch baking pan with foil, leaving a 1 inch overhang for easier removal of brownies after baking; grease. Bake brownies according to package instructions for either fudgy or cake like brownies. Spread a layer of marshmallow creme on the brownie layer while still warm. Arrange half of the graham crackers in a single layer over the marshmallow creme. Layer the chocolate bars over the crackers. Place 1 large marshmallow on top of each graham cracker/candy bar; cover with remaining graham crackers. Return to the over 5 minutes to slightly melt chocolate and marshmallows. Using foil, gently remove and cut using whole marshmallow as a portion guide. Zigzag chocolate fudge topping across grahams, if desired.

These 3 recipes came from "Looking Back" Magazine. It is a pretty good magazine to check out. Hopefully, the pig-feast of blogs are over. I am itching to write about a new topic now.

Weekend!!!

This weekend has been so busy. We started out Friday afternoon getting estimates for our house. We are planning on having new windows and doors installed. Then it was off to Bdobo's for supper and then over to movie stop. Found the 3rd season of Designing Women. I was so excited. Saturday morning found us at the Milling and then to get some breakfast at McDonald's. Then we went to price doors and I bought a new Easter outfit (which is going back). Off to mom's for some fried grits. We spent the rest of the day there. Then we grilled steaks and chicken for supper. Mark and I finally came home around 9 pm. Off to church on Sunday. Got almost to mom and dad's road and the van made a horrible sound. Got to their house and a belt is breaking off. Took their car to church. Then came back to their house to swap vehicles. Found ourselves at Bdobo's for lunch. Man, they have the best food. Then went to Harris Teeter to triple coupons. Saved $25.65 with my coupons. Finally got home around 6 pm and relaxed the rest of the night. Over all a great weekend, but a busy one.

FRIED GRITS!!!

In my last blog, I wrote about foods of the South. Well, today we experienced one of those foods thanks to my mom. She cooked us some fried grits. Boy were they good. I learned several things about making this dish. First, never use instant grits (and what self-respecting Southern would...a reference to the movie My Cousin Vinny) also make your grits the night before and let them set in the refrigerator...make sure to cover them. We always used left over grits from breakfast the day before. She fixed them 2 ways. One in squares and dipped in a beaten egg then fried (the most traditional way). The other way she mixed a beaten egg in with the grits and then fried it (this made like a pancake shape). They were both good. Make sure that you use lots of butter when you make your grits, and also fry in butter. Next time she is going to let Mark sample the Sunday School potatoes and chocolate gravy with a hoe cake...YUM!!! I can't wait for that time. Mark loved this family tradition of ours. I can't believe that we have been married for almost 18 years and we had never fixed this wonderful dish for him before now....UMMMM!!!

One of the squares of fried grits that mom made. They were super yummy!! You have to give this a try.

Frying a pan of grits up in the pancake style...notice the cast iron skillet. They cook things up so good.

Come And Get It!!!

There is one requirement on being from the South...you have to love to eat and appreciate good down home cooking. Boy, can my momma cook up so good old Southern food. There are several things that comes to my mind when southern cooking is mentioned. I think of fried chicken, fried okra, fried, squash, fried green tomatoes (as you can see we fry everything). Seasoning beans and greens with a big old ham hock (my dr would probably choke if he read this, but my cholesterol is low). Chicken broth is full of sodium, which does you harm so go get a ham hock and go for the gusto. I see sweet potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, crimson red slices of tomatoes and one of my favorites, beans (any kind of beans...butter beans, peas, pintos or navy...love them all) of course seasoned with a ham hock. But then there are foods that my family fix that just scream the South to me, but maybe not to you. There may be some you have never heard of, but there are probably some that is a tradition of your family as well.




One is Sunday School Potatoes. I was amazed by these as a child only to find that they were left over boiled potatoes deep fried (there we go again...fried). We always ate these on Sunday, hence the name Sunday School Potatoes. My favorite part about the potatoes was the chocolate gravy or sauce that my mom and grandma made to go with them. I dipped my potatoes in this sauce. Also, great to eat with biscuits.


CHOCOLATE GRAVY

1 c. sugar
2 tbsp. cocoa
2 tbsp. flour
2 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. butter

Sift sugar, flour, and cocoa together in saucepan, add milk. On medium heat stir until gravy thickens to desired consistency. Remove from heat add butter and vanilla. Great over hot biscuits.



I am causing myself to starve writing this. Then there is flour bread or hoe cake. A giant biscuit made in a cast iron skillet. Mix some molasses and peanut butter or chocolate gravy and sop that bread in it....whew!! That's some good eating. Sop, that is not a word you hear a lot of people use now days, except here in the South. I think that might be more of a rural Southern word.



Another favorite that my great grandma passed down to my mom is Eggs A LA Goldenrod. Strange now I know, and about the fanciest dish we do. You boil lots of eggs, then separate the whites and the yolks. You chop the whites up and make a white sauce to go with them. Then you sieve the yolks to make them fine, or just crumble them. Fix lots of pieces of toast, then pile on the white sauce on the toast and sprinkle with yolks. Man that stuff is good. My daddy especially loves this dish. Mom hates to peel all those boiled eggs, because she makes more than this recipe calls for. Imagine her delight when she found that she could buy boiled eggs at the grocery store.

EGG A LA GOLDENROD

1 stick butter

2 tbsp. flour

2 c. milk

6 eggs

6 slices toast

Melt butter and make paste with flour; add milk little at a time. Cook over medium heat until thick. Boil, peel, and separate eggs. Chop whites and add to sauce. Pour sauce mixture over toast. Press yolks through sieve and sprinkle over sauce.

Egg A LA Goldenrod...not the best looking dish, but it is delish!!!

One dish that we are planning on eating this weekend is fried grits. Yes, you heard right...FRIED GRITS. There we go again frying things. You take left over grits or make some and place them in a casserole dish and smooth them out. Put in refrigerator and let them get cold. Cut in squares and dip in a beaten egg, then fry. So good, and ever so fattening as well. Might I add that you fry them in REAL butter.


Last but not least, my mother in law taught me how to make potato pancakes (or fritters). You use left over mashed potatoes for these. Back in the day, they didn't throw anything away. Mark loves these and proved that one time when we first got married, and ate a whole platter that I made. Sorry to say, that they made him sick.


POTATO PANCAKES

2 c. leftover mashed potatoes
1/4 c. flour
1/4 c. milk
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp. onion


Combine mashed potatoes, flour, milk, egg, onions and green peppers. Salt and pepper as desired. Form into 3 inch round patties and fry in butter or cooking oil. Brown on both sides. Drain and serve.

Potato Pancakes!!! Mark's little cousins, Margaret and Dianna, use to like to eat syrup on their's when they were little. Never tried that but might have to give it try.

The Southern way is to center everything around food. You make a 100 on your test, then momma makes your favorite cake. Have a baby or someone dies...we bring food. Y'all come over and eat with us sometime...how many times have I heard that in my life? It is the Southern way. By the way, I am now going to go a fix a southern country breakfast of eggs, grits, bacon, sausage and biscuits. So listen for the bell and me hollering "Come and get it!!"

It is Robbery!!!

I went to our local grocery store yesterday, you know the one with the big cat as its symbol. I noticed several things while I was shopping. First of all they had cantaloupes on sale for $1.79. I thought...YUM!! Slices of cantaloupe would taste great with our meal tonight. I smell my cantaloupe to see if they are ripe. I picked everyone up and smelled them....there were only about 15 on the bin. You couldn't tell if you were sniffing a cantaloupe or a box of rice. Then I noticed the sticker...they aren't even from our country. I am trying hard to buy only NC grown vegetables this year, but this time of year that is impossible; I do support the farmers of our country and buy things grown from California or Florida. As bad as our economy is right now, I want to support people in our country. The other thing I noticed was apples were on sale for $1.99 a pound. It looked good because they are regularly $2.49 a pound. Then you move down the produce line just a little bit and there are bagged apples, that are just as good looking as the loose for $3.99 for a 3 pound bag. Buy 3 pounds of the loose apples and you are paying $6 for the same amount as the ones in the bag. Sales are not always the best deals I have discovered. I am sure this is some kind of marketing strategy. Then ice berg lettuce was $1.89 a head...for a stinking head of lettuce that doesn't even have any taste. I am not a fan of iceberg as you can tell. I saw in a Walmart everyday low price flier that their lettuce is .89 a head everyday. A whole dollar cheaper!!! What really gripes me is this store doesn't even double couples or want to take internet coupons. Walmart is boasting that they are slashing their groceries prices. As much as I hate to fight the crowds at Walmart, I slowly see myself making the change to shop there all the time. I don't care for their meats, so I will continue to buy those at Sam's and Costco's. The other thing I don't like about Walmart is that they are very brand limited. They don't carry a lot of brands that I would say are south based (i.e: Carolina Treat BBQ Sauce) because I use a lot of these brands. Also, they never seem to carry the brand that is on the coupon. But over all if I can fight the crowds, not use coupons to save tons of money and still save money...then the trip was worth it. I am certainly not saving at my grocery store now....over $100 for 2 people every time we go. I will be at Harris Teeter this week as they are tripling coupons. I have set aside a few just for this event. I just realized this week as I saw the prices for real that when you are in a hurry and throwing things in your buggy...that is when they get you. Who really has time to ramble slowly through the grocery store looking and comparing prices when you just got off work, both kids are hungry and you are trying to get home. Sometimes we are robbed without someone holding a gun and saying, "hands up this is a robbery."

Have We Forgotten!!!

Whenever I ramble around town shopping or running errands, I do one sneaky thing....I eavesdrop. I listen to others conservations...most you can't help but listen to because they are talking so loud. I hear how many people were at church services, how they don't like their pastor or how they couldn't believe who actually made it to church. I hear how they don't like their sons new wife or how precious their grandchildren are to them. I hear how they don't like their job or how they don't have enough time to do the things they love. This week, I over heard 2 old men talking about the war at the PO as I waited to mail my packages. Both of these looked like they were old enough to have served in War World II. They talked about how we should have never gone over there to begin with, and how political all this was and so on. They talked about how the US should mind their own business. I wanted to scream, "Do you not remember September 11th??" I mean it has been almost 9 years ago, but hello. We, The United States of America, were attacked. Have we forgotten those towers falling and thousands dying, or the Pentagon, a symbol of our nation, engulfed in flames. or all those passengers who knew their destination was death decided not to take others with them as that plane went down in Pennsylvania? Have we forgotten the shock and look of horror on people's faces as they came out of those towers or the black cloud that engulfed New York City as those towers fell? Our nation's capital feeling vulnerable and helpless as our Pentagon raged with fire? Are we such callous people that we have forgotten all this? Are we suppose to sit back and let people attack us?? No matter what you think about the war, it is real. I read lots of blogs, and this one blog really caught my eye this week. It is called, "A Little Pink in a World of Camo." I read this blog and tears just flowed down my face. This 23 year old Marines wife was finally meeting her husband after he had been deployed to Afghanistan. Instead of meeting him and smothering him with hugs and kiss, she washed a flag draped coffin with her tears. Her beloved had been killed. We will never understand the why of everything...why this Marine had to leave behind a young wife and young daughter?? I do know one thing, he died for those 2 old men freedom who were grumbling about the war. He died protecting theirs and every Americans freedom and our country of more attacks. Why are we a nation that soon forgets? Why do we grumble and fuss over things that are being done to protect us. If our men and women were not over there, I am sure that there would be lots more attacks here on American soil. Mind our own business...thousands dying on 9/11 is our business. We are known as "the land of the free and home of the BRAVE."...not home of the cowards. Whether you believe the war should not have happened or whether or not we should bring our troops home...our military is dying for the fight of our freedom. Don't discount the fact that real men and women with families are over there fighting for the safety that we feel everyday as we go about our busy lives here in the Good Old USA.

Spring X's 2!!!

One of the advantages about coming and going between two places is that you get to experience some things twice. Now there are some things that one experience is enough. The changing of seasons is good thing to experience twice especially Spring and Fall. In another blog, I shared how Spring was announcing its arrival at our house at the coast. Well, it has arrived with a bang here in Moore County as well. This past weekend our niece, Anna, had Peepa out in the yard digging up sprouts of bushes and asking all kinds of questions. He absolutely enjoyed himself. Mark's sister, Gail, brought his mom home for the day so she could see her flowers. The weather was just gorgeous. I have enjoyed watching things burst to life. The old pear tree has the biggest buds I have ever seen in my life. Lots more plants coming to life as the weather warms up. I noticed a few buds on the grape vines. I am anxiously awaiting the Azalea's to announce that Spring has arrived to them as well. I love Azalea's, they really bring a dull lawn to life. It is funny how things will have buds for days and all of a sudden there are leaves everywhere. Here is just a few photos of the things that are coming to life here in Moore County.

Some very beautiful Yellow Bell Bushes. They are so full of blooms.

They say this is a Bridal Veil Bush. I googled it and it did look like the ones on the internet. It is gorgeous in person, the photo doesn't do it justice.

One of my favorites, daffodils. This yard is covered in them, and they are so pretty.

I am not sure what this little cutie is called, but there are lots of them scattered out in the flower beds, and they have the most delicious fragrance.

Also not sure what this bush is called, but it has the prettiest coral little flowers on it.

Deals & Steals!!!

On Saturday, I found myself with 2 ways to save money. One was a $10 rewards coupon from Best Buy. The other was a mystery coupon for Peebles. I already knew that I would be getting Carrie Underwood's latest CD at Best Buy, but I looked the store over anyway. A whole $10 to spend with no catch. This is not as good as a reward that Ken got to spend at Staples, but hey $10 is $10. I never buy a CD so this was a slight splurge for me. Only had to pay $3 and some change for the CD. Got it home and loved every song but two on the whole CD. That never happens to me. My whole $10 that I could spend at Best Buy...with no strings attached. I just had to spend at least $10, which was not hard.
The Carrie Underwood CD that I got to put songs on my MP3 player.

Then I was off to Pebbles. I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to get since I didn't know what my savings was going to be. I saw a handbag that caught my eye, and it was marked down to $11. The coupon was good on regular price, sales and clearance. So, I knew I had to have it.

A very good deal at only $5.50. I actually changed purses in the car before going to eat.

Then I decided that I wanted a really nice pair of flip flops. Dressy ones as I called them. They had a great selection, but they were $20 a pair. I was hesitate until I saw the BOGO half off, so I picked another pair.

I loved these with the stones on them. My mom bought me a necklace like this for Christmas, and I thought these would look great with the necklace. I already have an outfit in mind. Khaki Capri's with a turquoise shirt, the necklace with the flip flops. A girl has to plan!!!

I love these with the polka dots...and for $5 (that is what they were after my discount) who could leave them at the store. Now as my friend Tiffany Johnson says, "I have to make sure to have my toes "did" during flip flop season." She is so funny, and could be a blog all by herself.

When I got to the register the cashier said the flip flops were BOGO FREE. Okay, but that is not what the sign says, she says that the sign is an old sale. Who am I to argue with a store employee?? I just love a "know it all" employee. The sales paper for this week even said they were BOGO 1/2 off. The coupon could be for 20%, 30%, 50% off or a free gift. I figured I would get the free gift...that's my luck. When she scanned my coupon, I got the 50% off. That meant that my shoes were now $10 for both pair (averaging $5 a pair) and my handbag was $5.50. I was so excited. I did ask the cashier what was the free gift...thinking it was so lotion or something like that. Turns out that it is a $10 Peebles gift card that you can use on that purchase. Not a bad day in my shopping world. Only thing that could have been better was if they would have had the white eyelet shirt that I had been watching in my size. It was $56, but yesterday they were marked down to $21...could have had it for $10.50. But I am happy with my deals and steals.

Unfinished or Not!!!

I always joke about having adult ADD, but I do think it is true. I have so many unfinished projects and things to do. I have an Afghan that is no where near completed, and on top of everything else; I have lost my crochet hook. Then there are the star ornaments that I was going to make and list on Ebay. I have all the material, and only a total of 2 made. Okay now I am reading on 3 books, and have not finished a one... I was reorganizing my cabinets during the cold months...only 1 done. Getting old photos together to make a book...well I did get the pics but on a disk, but that is as far as that project has gotten. Planning to clean out clothes that we don't wear in our dresser..haven't even started. Wanted to rearrange our storage unit while it was cool...not done. Have a stack of Cd's to down load on my MP3 player still sitting where I put them. Mark made about 12 DVDs for us to mail out to friends...still in my bag...got to buy envelopes. I need to repaint my wicker furniture...I have the paint. There are probably more things I could list if I really thought about it. In my defense everything I listed that is not done is at our home down near the coast, and we are only there 8 days a month. Plus, it has been like a monsoon down there every time we are there.

On an up note, there are some things that I managed to accomplish. I got my shelves labeled and organized in our laundry room.

I have a place for Tupperware containers, umbrellas, vacuum bags, batteries, craft supplies, light bulbs, playing cards and cookie cutters.

All our games in a somewhat orderly fashion.

Another shot of our shelves that I organized. I love my label maker. As you can see in this picture, I still have to paint the trim in this room. Another unfinished project. LOL

Our little quick find tool cabinet. Makes life lots easier at times.

I did organize and label all my cooking magazines by name and date. I went through my closet and donated clothes that I am never going to wear again (I just haven't done the dresser yet). During all the rain, I did read a lot of books, and passed them on to others. I have clipped all the dead junk off my flowers that come back every year, so they are ready to go. I changed out my porch decorations to spring things, so I am ready for this season. I cleaned out and reorganized my night stand drawer. Then I have sent lots of packages...this was no small feat. These packages contained things that I had planned on giving people for a long time, but never did. I little piles everywhere of things I was going to send someone. So one day, I packaged everything up and sent it out. We put in new shelves and organized all our books and movies. Not the Dewey decimal system, but they are grouped by subject and genre.

Okay maybe I am not too bad on things not done. I would still feel better if all my unfinished items were finished. Now to make a to do list.

PS: Since posting this blog...I have now downloaded all the CD's and added the songs to my MP3 player. LOL

In A Nut Shell!!!

This week has been busy to say the least, but who's life isn't busy now days. I don't have kids to cart around and care for, but I have more than enough on my plate. I get over whelmed at times, if I really sit down and think about all the things that I need or intend to do (I have lots of things I intend to do). I sometimes put more pressure on myself...I am my own worst enemy at times. There never seems to be enough time in the day. I haven't been on Facebook much at all. I miss the connection with my friends. I just text my status once in a while without being on the site. My mom has played all my games for me. I know I have things to do, and I can't imagine how people get anything done sitting on there all day long. I am not talking about retired or disabled people...I am talking about working people with kids. Oh well, not my concern...I just wonder about it.

Ebay has kept me hopping this week, which is good things. Lots of orders equal money. I have plans for my Ebay seed money this year....remodeling our house. As a matter of fact, the builder called today to say that he will met with us next Friday to give us a quote on the work we want to have done. I can hardly wait...this has been such a slow process. Every time you do one thing, there is another thing that is wrong...a never ending process.

I have found myself at the PO every day this week. I am sure the postal workers just love me!! I know they do...I bake them cookies. They have been wonderful this week.

All library books read and returned. Didn't check out anymore right now. Ebay will take up too much of my time right now. I get up extra early to bag seeds and I try to pack up orders at night. I still have orders to pack in the morning, as my night owl customers pay in the middle of the night.

I did get my donation of seeds off to Jeanie this week. I can't wait to see pictures of her garden. What a great thing she is doing in her community. I also sent off my Easter cards this week. I made all my baskets except one, but I won't see her until the 28th, so I have a little time.

House cleaning is a never ending chore. I mostly had laundry to do this week, but when I finish this blog I am going to go dust and clean bathrooms. Love to dust, but would love to have bathroom fairy. LOL As you can see not that much happening other than Ebay this week, so this has been my week in a nut shell.

Cherished!!!

This past week found me thinking about things I cherish...not people but things. I know that sounds so shallow, but there are few things that I hold dear to my heart. Most can be replaced, especially with sites like Ebay. I have found that you have nothing unique anymore, go on Ebay and there will be page after page of your "one of a kind" heirloom....just minus the memories that goes along with yours. These are things that when we move, I personally take these items in our van. They never go in a box, and I always know where they are. I couldn't take pictures of everything that I cherish, so there are only a few pictures.

My most prized possession is my vanity chair. It was my Nanny's. It is a scroll wrought iron chair with a cushion on the bottom and back. When I first received the chair it was white with a purple velvet covering on the cushions. Since I have had it, it has been a rainbow of colors. Right now it is celery green with a green and gold material covering the cushion. I have always called the chair the "biscuit chair", because the cushion looks like little biscuits in the pan. My nanny had this chair in her bedroom and I use to set in it as I played dress up and looked through all her lipsticks and jewelry. I can still see it in my mind sitting in her room. To this day it is still referred to as "nanny's chair". I have had it over 25 years and I guess in my heart, I have never taken possession of it. I still use it today to sit at my vanity to put on my make up and do my hair. Probably means nothing else to anyone, but means the world to me.

With my other grandma "mam ma" as we called her, I have something entirely different that I cherish. Something that no one would even imagine. I have a old plastic lard bucket filled with curlers. Why is this so special? Because every Sunday afternoon I would drag this bucket out and curl and play with her hair. I think this is really funny now, because I hate to touch hair. She loved for someone to mess with her hair, and this provided hours of entertainment for me. This is one of my fondest memories with her. Nothing grand but a bucket full of curlers that holds some childhood memories.

Then I have my scrapbooks. From high school through our married life. These are the one thing that can't be replaced. The memories that flood our minds as we look at the pictures and see the people from our present life and from our past. They are irreplaceable.


Below is a Cameo Head Doll that was my Nanny Sizemore's. She is 89 years old now. She gave this to me about 6 years ago. I had always admired it even as a little girl. I causally mentioned it one day at her house...she had it packed up. She went running in the next room, and came out with it. She gave it to me, and it was as beautiful has I had always remembered. My Godfather had brought it back to her on one of his trips overseas. It still has the original pink hard plastic roses in her head. I cherish this so much, mainly because who gave it to me. I am sure when Papa Sizemore picked it out for her, it was picked and given with much love.


The plate below was also given to me by Nanny Sizemore. It is a plate of Napoleon and Josephine. She actually bought this plate in France. She thought it was beautiful, but debated on whether to buy it or not for over a month. It was purchased in the 40's, when they were stationed overseas. It always sat on the same table as the Cameo Head. I always thought of the two as a set.

I have more things such as my Willow Tree Nativity set that between my mom and Mark, they purchased for me. I leave it up all year long...we shouldn't just celebrate Christ birthday one day a year.

I have lots of Shih-Tzu figurines that Mark bought me. They are the Sandy Cast, and they look so much like Lilly. My mom just bought me a new one with a little Shih-Tzu sitting in a tea cup. I love them.

Finally my mom and dad bought us an antique Empire Buffet several years back. It is absolutely the prettiest piece of furniture that I have ever seen. I love it!! In the buffet I keep my grandma's china, which I found out were my Nanny Sizemore's first set of china. She gave them to my grandma when she got another set. That makes them doubly special. I have lots more things that I cherish. But for the sake of sounding shallow, I won't go on. LOL I think it is nice to have things you like and cherish, as long as they don't become obsessions and rule over you.

Springing Up!!!!

Even though Spring doesn't officially arrive on the calendar until Saturday, you can't tell that in our yard down at the coast. We still have a Camilla bush blooming right along with the daffodils. Our grass is greening up and the clover has sprouted all over our lawn. Some don't like clover, but I do. Have you ever walked on clover with your bare feet? It is so cool. No matter how hot it is outside the clover will be cool. You just have to be careful not to step on a bee. I love Spring, but not all the allergies that it brings. I am already itching (no pun intended) to get some flowers to plant and start hanging baskets everywhere. I have been mentally planning what I am going to get and where I am going to put it. Since I am not there all the time, I have to put things were nature waters them for me. My tulips are up but not blooming. I am shocked with all the varmints we have that they have managed to come up for 3 years in a row.


Our Bradford Pear is blooming. It and our Mulberry Tree along with the plum tree are the first things to bloom in our yard. We have 9 Pecan trees and those are the last things to bloom and bud out. I am not crying about that. I am highly allergic to pecans. Not just the nut, but also the tree, bark, leaves and anything else about the tree.

We took a corner of our yard and made a triangle bed. In the bed I planted lots of daffodils (or buttercups), tulips, Encore Azaleas and my Camilla bush. I also have big pots sitting around that I usually plant Geraniums in every year. There is Lantana that grows on the edge of the fence, that my grandma planted when she lived there. I dug up a huge Lantana plant last year that is pink and yellow and put in a pot on my porch. I didn't think it would live, but it did. I hope that it will come back again this year.

My grandma had planted 4 big Yellow Belle Bushes in a row in the side yard. They are gorgeous when they are in full bloom. I finished out the grow with some Hydrangea bushes and Azaleas. I love Azaleas. They are personally one of my favorites.

These are my favorite daffodils. They are called "Paper Whites". I planted these around a big pecan tree in the front. I was hoping that my daffodils would multiply and I would have lots in the Spring, but so far no luck on that.

I love working in the yard, when it is not scorching hot. My biggest nemesis this year besides the rain is "fire ants". I hate those little boogers. 2 bit me this past weekend. My other job that I hate is picking up limbs. Pecan trees have lots of little limbs that fall from it...so that means I pick up lots of limbs. I want to plant some Crepe Myrtle's, but will probably wait until the fall. Waiting for it to dry out so I can mow over the lawn. Mark says mowing it this early just makes it grow faster and I start the mowing season earlier. I think that I definitely might have "Spring Fever", and we are still 3 days away

An Award For Me!!!

The Top Rated Seller Award given to me by Ebay!!!

This week I went to the mail box, and got the shock of my life. Ebay had sent me an award. I got Top Rated Seller for March. Now that doesn't mean that I am the top seller on Ebay...not by a long shot. It does mean that I am consistent in the quality of my product, communication with my buyers and I ship very quickly. It is hard to maintain good customer relations via Internet. You don't speak to customers face to face, so you have to get creative. I am also a power seller on Ebay which means that I have to maintain a certain amount of sales...I am talking dollar amount. That can sometimes get hairy in this economy, but we always seem to make it. This award means more to me than the Power Seller status, because this award is based more on how I treat people, not the amount that I sell. I treat people the way that I want to be treated as a customer. If a problem arises, then I contact customers and explain my situation. It only takes a minute and saves you a lot of grief in the long run. Most people think that you list a few things and wait for the money to roll in...WRONG!!! You have to establish a name for yourself on Ebay, and that doesn't happen over night. I started off as a customer that bought lots of cheap items so that my feedback number would climb. Your feedback number shows 2 things: 1. How many transactions you have done on Ebay 2. How the seller/buyer rated you in the way you conducted business. You have to build up trust with the Ebay community to get top dollar out of your product. 2 sellers have the same item on...one has over 1,000 feed backs at 100%, the other seller has 10 feed backs 100%...who are you going to buy from?? Most people don't want to take the time to build a reputation. In the end their item doesn't sell or they just about end up giving it away. I don't know how this blog turned into a lesson on how to sell on Ebay. The fact is that I am proud of my award, and I say a big hearty "THANK YOU" to the people all over the USA who buy from me.

Outer Mongolian!!!

A friend from high school, John McIntyre, talks all the time about this restaurant on Facebook called Bdobo. It is located in University Landing shopping center in Wilmington. After seeing picture after picture that he had posted on Facebook of their wonderful looking food, I knew I had to try it. Mark and I decided to try it this weekend. Oh my, was it fantastic. Well, it was so good that we found ourselves eating there on Friday, Saturday and Monday. We are getting known there, but not as well as John. I had to mention John's name to our waiter, he knew him and told us how nice a person John was...this immediately elevated our status as a customer. Thanks John!!

Bdobo is a Mongolian Grill. We had never had Mongolian food before. It was so delicious. It is a buffet. Well, the part that we ate anyway. I think that you can order from a menu. You fill a bowl with noodles, raw vegetables and raw meat. Then you ladle on all kinds of sauces. This is what gives it such a unique flavor. I have never eaten anything that tasted the same. I mix different veggies, meats and sauces all the time. I am especially fond of the calamari on the bar. There is pork, beef, chicken, shrimp and calamari. Too many veggies to name. Then you give your bowl to the chef, who cooks it on a big round grill with 2 overgrown chop sticks. That is a show within itself. You are served soup, rice and sesame bread along with the buffet. The sesame bread rapidly became a favorite for me. The staff at Bdobo are so nice and friendly. If you leave hungry, then it is your own fault.

This has quickly become our favorite restaurant in Wilmington. If you come to Wilmington or live in the area, so have to try it.

One of my unique creations that I made. Lots of zucchini with beef and calamari.

I was very intrigued with the cooking technique part, and found out a little bit about it. The legend is that Mongolian cooking was introduced in China by Genghis Khan when he invaded in the 13th century. According to legend, Khan's armies camped at night , built bonfires and threw their round iron shields down on the hot embers for use as a cooking surface. Thus arose the tradition of the Mongolian Grill. They were not equipped with fine cooking utensils, so they used their swords. Today they use two over sized chopsticks. Which is the most amazing part of watching them. They say that the adding of the fresh vegetables is mainly a Chinese innovation.

A Mongolian grill...not the one at Bdobo, but wanted you to see how unique it ready was...the over sized chop sticks are a blurr in this picture as they rapidly roll your food on the grill.

A big thank you goes out to JMac for always mentioning how great the food is here, and for always telling us on Facebook just how stuffed you are when you leave here. Seriously, had it not been for his post of FB, we may have never found this great treasure.

Wonderful Week!!!

Despite my hand getting burned this week, it has been a great week.

I started it off with having lunch with my great friend, Erin Brady. We went to a Greek restaurant in down town called Corfu. It is on New Hampshire Ave, and is definitely worth your time to check out. We got the calamari, and it was a platter full...that impressed me from the beginning. I got the mussels with angel hair pasta. Oh my, was it delicious. I had a great afternoon chatting with my friend and hearing about her recent trip to NY. Next time we have got to go get a pedicure together. Sandal weather is fast approaching, and my feet need a little pampering.

The next best thing about this week is EBAY!!! First week we have had our seeds on, and they are doing great. Last year, it took several weeks for customers to find us, but not this year. Auctions have gone high, and the seeds are flying out of our store. I have had to add more daily, because we have sold so much. Come and check out our Ebay store. I met a lady by the name of Jeanie on Ebay. She lives in Empire, CA. She plants her whole yard in a garden and sells boxes of veggies to the people in her community at a far cheaper rate than they can buy in their local grocery story. How cool is that? What a blessing to those in her community who are struggling to put food on the table. Produce is so high in the stores, so I know she is a welcomed sight to those who are barely making ends meet. It is called Empire Victory Garden. It is a wonderful idea. Wouldn't this world be so much better, if we all did something like that??

We are going home this weekend, and I must say that I am ready. Just not looking forward to the ride though, but some quiet time spent with Mark.

Now That's Service!!

Today was not my day in the kitchen. First thing this morning, I grabbed the handle of a cast iron frying pan that was hot. My finger and thumb felt like it was on fire. I immediately called my Pharmacist at The Village Apothecary. They told me to hold it under water for 10 minutes, which I had already done...no relief. Oh yeah, did I mention that I am a big baby wimp when it comes to pain. Everything they told me, I had already tried. I asked if they had anything in stock to take the sting out. They told me to get my doctor to call in a prescription for this ointment that will help me. I was calling Dr. J at lightning speed. His nurse told me that it would be no problem to call it in. Thanks!!! I have now only found relief when I put ice directly on the burn...freeze it!!! The pharmacy had my prescription ready and I was on my way to get it...relief was just a few miles away. I walked in and Herschal had my medicine ready at the counter and it opened. I applied it in a wink...and waited for the pain to subside. It felt better in just a few minutes. Being I only had one good hand, my great Pharmacist Herschal, walked around the store with me and picked up my other needed items. He spent time telling me how to apply the cream and picked out the bandages that I needed. As I left, I thought how wonderful was that...I felt so special. Herschal, Walter, Teresa and Sandy go out of their way to make you feel so welcomed and cared for. Today just reconfirmed my confidence in my pharmacists. I left with the feeling that this is the kind of service that I can get used to. By the way, you know I am an only child, so being doted on is right up my alley. Thanks you guys for great service and the concern you show your customers.

Memories!!!

I found Fruit Stripe Gum this past week. I haven't seen any in such a long time. It taste just has good as I remember. I love the green the best. It was so good. I love the little Zebra on the package. It made me think of things in my childhood. Things that when I see or hear their names, I am transformed back into time.

I use to love the cake decorations that you buy at the grocery store. Mark and I bought some of these after we were married...it was only as a child that I really liked these. They were hard as a rock and no taste. Must only like these if you are a child and have never had real icing.

I use to love to watch Wonder Woman...for a brief time I really thought I was Wonder Woman. Oh well, that could be another blog all it's own. Look at her, who wouldn't want to be her and have a magic lasso and an invisible airplane.

I loved Cabbage Patch dolls and the Rubik Cube. I could ever figure out the cube, but I did manage to learn to take it apart and put it back together so all the colors were on one side. CHEATER!!!

As a little child, I love the Weeble Wooble Tree House and my Baby Alive. I had a slinky at one time, and I loved to play Jacks. I especially loved the Weeble Wooble Tree House, "They Weeble and they Wooble, but they don't fall down.. I also use to have the record and book set that you listened to the record and follow along in the book. Coloring has always been a favorite of mine. I still like to sit down with a child and color with them.

I am sure there are lots of things I didn't name, but these are the things that stand out in my mind. Food wise, I have probably eaten my weight in Mac and Cheese. That was one of my favorites as a child along with gum. What toy, food or candy automatically takes you back to your childhood when you hear it's name?

Ungodly People!!!

I have lived long enough to realize that not all people in the world are what they claim to be in life. I have found this somewhat disturbing. I am not talking about the obvious people that you run into that are just plain nasty and you know they are what they are. I am talking about people that you think are good Godly Christian people only to discover that they are not what they claim to be. The sad part is that over the past 17 plus years, we have found most of these people sitting in the pews of churches. Some are not that sudden or that open with their twisted ways. It is the sneaky ones that I really worry about. The ones that play the innocent part down real good and kissing up to your face, all the while sticking the knife in your back. Like I said the sad part is that most of the people that I have ran into that fall in this category have been in church. No wonder our churches and our world are in such a mess. Sitting in our pews and the leadership in God's house are mostly occupied by those who only have their "agenda" in mind....God is never in consideration when they start making "their plans". Most of the time these people desire power. They try to get power wherever they can succeed. If they can't rule over family or their work life, they usually try to rule in the church. The sad part is most people in life will let these people rule and get their way. They just sit back and let them reek havoc whether it be in the family, work or church. That is the hard part to swallow...Christian people who won't stand up for what is right. We have had one major bad experience in our life, and that was the attitude of most people. We don't want to make things worse is their answer for not standing up to the bullies in the church, work or family. They never take in consideration the feelings of those who have been hurt in life. Every one's motto is let's not cause a problem, just let them have their way. This explains so much when churches can't seem to go forward. Dig deep and there is always something or "someone" holding the church back. A few holding back the work of the Lord. I really feel sorry for those...judgement does come to those who stand in the way of the Lord. My desire is to find a church where God is in control and not a few people who "play church".

My Life!!!!

The last few days have been a blurr of activity. I have been listing seeds like crazy on Ebay, plus trying to read my library books before the are due. I have been shopping a little, and found several great deals. I found my 2 little nieces an outfit each for only $2. I thought they were $3 each, but after checking my receipt I saw that they were only $2 each. What a great deal. I hate that they didn't have anything else in their size, and there were no boys clothes. My search for cute boy clothes continue.

A cute little outfit for our niece Madelyn. I loved this little 3 piece outfit. It has a hat with it!!!

Her big sister, Kate, will get this adorable Elmo leopard print outfit. I thought it was just the cutest little thing. I know they will both look adorable in these.

I have been running so many errands this week. That is the only bad thing about going back and forth from here to the coast...you play catch up wherever you go. I had to get medicine refilled and things mailed out. I just found a big envelope of coupons that goes to Amanda...so sorry I have forgotten these. I hope they are not out of date. I am going to wait until Monday to mail them, because I haven't clipped the coupons from last week, and then 2 more Sunday papers will be coming here this weekend. I did get 2 packages mailed out today that I had promised to 2 cute little kids that joined our family recently. I also mailed out some packages to my 2 older nieces...thought they needed some things to wear to school on St. Patrick's Day. I just realize that I always were green that day and try to eat corn beef, but I am NOT IRISH. I wonder why I do that??? Well, for one reason...I don't like to be pinched. I would like to find a pot of gold though, but I don't see that happening. I have started buying things to put in our 6 nieces Easter Baskets. I now have to buy the baskets. I may have too much to go in them, or I might not have enough stuff.

Sinus troubles have been my nemesis' the last 2 weeks. I have never had so many headaches before. I have taken Clari tin, Benadryl Sinus and Vick's Nasal Spray. I have gone through about 3 boxes of tissues...1 box was Puff's with Vick's on them. They are great if you are stuffed up. I have felt like my eyeball was going to pop out, and my face has just ached. I don't know if I am ready for Spring or not...I don't want to endure this much longer.

My daffodils are up at home, but not blooming. Crazy thing is that the daffodils here are blooming....go figure. Have gotten about 4 snows here plus ice and the flowers are blooming, but not down at the coast. I am looking forward to buying some flowers and baskets. That is one of my favorite things to do in the Spring.

After watching the news tonight, I might plant some tomatoes. $7 a box last year, and they are $30 a box this year. Seeds are not that plentiful this year. There are some things that I can't even get, and buying seeds in those little packs are a rip off. Ummm!!! Fresh vegetables sound pretty good right now. Went to eat seafood last night, and we got so much on our plate; that we had it for supper tonight. I got a whole flounder last night, and didn't make a dent in it...finished it off tonight. Seafood heats up great in the oven. Well, it is time to go read...my books are due Tuesday, and I only have 5 to read.

Seeds Galore!!!

Whether you plant a large garden, a raised garden or a container garden...we have the seeds for you.

Well, that time of year is finally rolling around. Gardening time!!! We just got a big order of seeds in this week. That is what we sell on Ebay during this time of year. We package our seeds to plant a garden for a family of 4. We have found out that this year there is a seed shortage, so I have been ordering like crazy trying to make sure our customers are taken care of this gardening season. We have lots of different vegetables and gourds on Ebay this year. I am waiting for peas and corn to come in on Tuesday. I am still looking for Banana Melons for this year...no luck so far. Everyone loved them last year. They are shaped like a banana and taste like banana, even though they are technically a cantaloupe. Our gourds go quickly as we sell a variety of gourds such as, banana, snake, apple, luffa, bushel, long handle dipper, Tennessee Spinner, mini bottle and more. We also sell a variety of squash seeds: patty pan, yellow crook neck, zucchini, Waltham butternut and Cushaw. We also are selling Rattlesnake Pole beans this year, that is already proving to be a big hit. Lots of people are planting their own gardens now with the cost of groceries being so high. We offer low shipping with our seeds to help our customers out. Most commercial seed companies want $5 shipping for just one packet of seeds. We are offering a deal this year that no matter how big your order is with us that shipping with never exceed $5. I try to give better deals to repeat customers, and big orders get some free seeds with their order. Selling on the internet is more of a challenge, so you have to implement great customer relations and perks for loyal customers. I have been selling on Ebay for over 6 yrs now, and I still have repeat customers that bought from me that first year. We sell other things than seeds right now. I have neck ties, aprons and few little odd and ends in there now. Come and check out our store on Ebay...Garner's Gems.

Did You Hear That???

Okay, if you have looked at my reading list for March you will have noticed that I have been busy. They have all been murder mysteries. This is not the usual thing that I read, but I had picked up a lot of these books at a thrift store for an incredible low price. I read the first one, and it wasn't that scary; so I continued on reading. By night I had read 3, and I had worked myself up to a good fit of paranoids. I heard noises in the distance that didn't sound right, and several times I heard noises in the house. I have refrained from waking Mark up because I know it is just my over imagination in high gear. Well, early this morning I got the scare of my life, I mean I was gulping down air and shivering while my rescuer laid next to me snoring lowly. I heard something, but then again I had been asleep; so maybe I was dreaming. Now I heard it...someone was walking up and down our porch. I went to peek out the window when the noise pierced my ears and my hand went over my mouth to keep from screaming. There on my porch was my neighbors big old white rooster crowing at 6 am. When you are dead asleep and a rooster is walking on your porch and crowing...it gets your attention. Luckily, I didn't ask Mark if he heard that? I wanted to get up early, but not that early. The joys of country living!!