Just for kicks and grins I decided to look to see what was in Blogger's spam filter for comments on my blog. I found some comments in there from the last of October to the first part of November that should have been sent to comment moderation. Makes you wonder about the flakiness of the programing. It, also, makes me ask the question; do you really need a spam filter if you have comment moderation turned on?
I promise to do better and look in there on a more regular basis from now on. :>)
Have a good day!
Judy
Showing posts with label navel gazing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label navel gazing. Show all posts
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I've been busy
The house is a fright. I wish I could get the urge to clean like I do for needlework. I may have to due some heavy browbeating to get motivated for that though!
I have started washing dishes again. Hubby's gout has flared up and he has lost use of his right hand. I'm helping him with his socks and shoes. I'm also trying to cook things that can be eaten one-handed which is a challenge because I forget every once in a while and cook something that needs a knife.
Have a good day!
Judy
Thursday, March 8, 2012
not my mother's brussel sprouts
Photo from: http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/brussels-sprout_2.html
I don't know about your mother's brussel sprouts but my mother's were boiled into a bitter army-green mush. You had to eat them hot and quick to get them down. When I got a pound of them in my most recent Bountiful Basket, Hubby was trying to find ways to feed them to the chickens so he didn't have to eat them. His mother's were evidently as bad as my mother's were. It seems the women from the southeastern corner of Kansas can only cook peas, corn, and green beans.
Well I indulged my favorite past time of web cruising and came up with a couple of recipes for fixing brussel sprouts that sounded interesting. The one I fixed the other night is called Chestnuts and Brussel Sprouts. The other one I found that really interested me was Brussel Sprouts in Sour Cream. If we ever get any more this will be the next recipe I will try.
So here is the recipe with my changes.
Chestnuts and Brussel Sprouts
1 pound brussel sprouts, trimmed and cleaned (This video shows how to clean them.)
6 ounces bacon, cut in small strips (I used 8 oz.)
1 cup canned chestnuts, cut in halves or quarters (I used 5 fresh because we also got water chestnuts in our Asian pack)
2 tablespoons butter (Didn't use because you are getting fat from the bacon)
Salt and pepper (only used a bit of pepper because you are getting salt from the bacon)
Cook the brussel sprouts using your favorite method. I just boiled them for about 12 minutes in salt water. Rinse and cut the sprouts in two. (Cut your sprouts before cooking according to a you-tube video I watched. It helps reduce the bitter taste if the centers are exposed to the boiling salt water. Only cook until the sprouts are just barely tender! You are going to cook them a bit more with the bacon.)
(Skip this part) Melt the butter in a skillet on medium heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. (I cooked the bacon until most of the fat had been rendered out. Drained most of the fat off. Left maybe 2 TBSP.) Add the brussel sprouts and chestnuts and continue cooking until the bacon is cooked through and the sprouts are slightly browned. (I cooked until my water chestnuts were lightly cooked.)
Makes 4 servings.
Sister Suzy didn't like them at all. Hubby said if he had to eat a brussel sprout that was the way to eat them. I thought they were delicious. In fact, I thought they were good cold!
Side Note: Remember in the last post I said the Muse wasn't interested in doing anything fiber. Well last night She decided I should knit on my current afghan project. I feel like knitting today and the hell with scrubbing bathrooms. I believe my Muse is one fickle lady!
Have a good day!
Judy
Saturday, March 3, 2012
100th post and random thoughts
I can't believe I stuck with blogging long enough to get to 100! Will I get another 100 in? I don't know; we will see.
The Creative Muse has, evidently, wondered off to do other things. I have a half done quilt that has been setting here since before Christmas that isn't any more done than it was when I wondered off to do something else and it is not crying out to be finished. All the blocks are completed and quilted. The setting strips for the front and back are done but the desire isn't there.
I started a new afghan with the yarn from an afghan I wasn't going to finish. I found a pattern I really liked of an aran afghan that was for extra chunky weight yarn. I only have worsted so I found and swatched the border pattern, and the two cables patterns in the center panel. Figured out the gauge and added one more cable each of the cable patterns in the center panel. I have 12 inches knitted and the desire/pressure just isn't there to work on it. As I said the Muse has wondered off.
I would say She is in the nesting mood. Cooking and housekeeping are taking a precedent. She wants to clear the junk and find tasty new recipes. Gardening however doesn't thrill Her. But de-junking the yard does! So I will follow Her around and see where She leads me.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is blogging may get even more infrequent that it has been in the past if I have nothing creative to post.
Have a great day!
Judy
The Creative Muse has, evidently, wondered off to do other things. I have a half done quilt that has been setting here since before Christmas that isn't any more done than it was when I wondered off to do something else and it is not crying out to be finished. All the blocks are completed and quilted. The setting strips for the front and back are done but the desire isn't there.
I started a new afghan with the yarn from an afghan I wasn't going to finish. I found a pattern I really liked of an aran afghan that was for extra chunky weight yarn. I only have worsted so I found and swatched the border pattern, and the two cables patterns in the center panel. Figured out the gauge and added one more cable each of the cable patterns in the center panel. I have 12 inches knitted and the desire/pressure just isn't there to work on it. As I said the Muse has wondered off.
I would say She is in the nesting mood. Cooking and housekeeping are taking a precedent. She wants to clear the junk and find tasty new recipes. Gardening however doesn't thrill Her. But de-junking the yard does! So I will follow Her around and see where She leads me.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is blogging may get even more infrequent that it has been in the past if I have nothing creative to post.
Have a great day!
Judy
Sunday, March 13, 2011
stage mother
Sigh! My life as a stage mother is over! Sister Suzy is graduating this year and the high school theatre troop put on their last production for the year. It was Stand and Deliver. Sister Suzy was the security guard and the janitor. Sister Suzy did a great job! As well as the rest of the troop! They were really stretched as actors. It is so much easier to do the over-the-top stuff. Getting the accents, subtle body movements and such frustrated them all, time and again.
I got to find and alter the pants, a shirt, and belts for Sister Suzy's costumes. The theatre director found the shirt for the security guard . I also, got to make a holster for her baton. I had a couple of false starts before I figured out a way to make the holster without a bunch of bulky seams. Hubby took care of the musical sound track for between the scenes when the stage was blacked-out. There wasn't enough Santana and way too much Jose Feliciano (one short piece. . . I can live without him!)
During production week we provide one of the evening meals for the cast and crew. The kids were so appreciative. Some of the comments were “All-right a gourmet meal!”. . .“A feast!”. . .And tons of thank-yous.
No more listening to Sister Suzy after a day of set building, talking about supplies they were looking for. Then rummaging around and coming up with the stuff they needed. Sigh!
Have a good day!
Judy
I got to find and alter the pants, a shirt, and belts for Sister Suzy's costumes. The theatre director found the shirt for the security guard . I also, got to make a holster for her baton. I had a couple of false starts before I figured out a way to make the holster without a bunch of bulky seams. Hubby took care of the musical sound track for between the scenes when the stage was blacked-out. There wasn't enough Santana and way too much Jose Feliciano (one short piece. . . I can live without him!)
During production week we provide one of the evening meals for the cast and crew. The kids were so appreciative. Some of the comments were “All-right a gourmet meal!”. . .“A feast!”. . .And tons of thank-yous.
No more listening to Sister Suzy after a day of set building, talking about supplies they were looking for. Then rummaging around and coming up with the stuff they needed. Sigh!
Have a good day!
Judy
Monday, February 7, 2011
the world is coming to an end
I just want to let you know the world, as we know it, is probably coming to an end soon. I washed dishes two days in a row. (Can you tell I despise doing dishes.) We may be safe as the house still needs a good cleaning, though. (I'm not to thrilled about housekeeping either.) However, I have got the laundry started, so if it starts raining frogs, I will back off and let my inner three year-old out to mess up the kitchen.
Have a good day!
Judy
Have a good day!
Judy
Monday, December 13, 2010
I'm still alive
I'm still alive! Confession! I suffer for the chronic mullygrubs (dysthymia) . The other day it finally dawned on me as I was wallowing around in the pit of despair, again. I came up for air and started to call the doctor for an appointment for meds. Then, I started grousing about the side-effects and why I had quit taking all the different pills before. So I decided to do some research out on the web looking for holistic alternatives for the pills. I had forgot about St. John's Wort and I found some acupressure points. I am feeling better and can begin to see over the edge of the abyss again.
I found some interesting facts while wondering out on the web. Two to three time more women than men suffer from Dysthymia. (Let's see. Yup, I'm female!) If you have chronic health problems (asthma and diabetes) you are prone to it. In the case of diabetes when you are depressed you don't metabolize carbs as well. (That's a nice vicious cycle!) If you are asthmatic taking Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors like Prozac; it causes too much serotonin in the body which triggers asthma attacks. (Wonderful! No wonder I felt like crap!) A family history of mental health problems. (If they weren't locked up, they were killing themselves!) Addictions (Yup! Drunker than old Hooter Brown!) And a few more I can't remember right now.
So I am on a knitting marathon and when I get all the slippers knitted for gifts for Sister Suzy's friends I will post pictures and my changes to the pattern. (It just wouldn't be me, if I didn't change the pattern to suit me. LOL)
Have a good Day!
Judy
I found some interesting facts while wondering out on the web. Two to three time more women than men suffer from Dysthymia. (Let's see. Yup, I'm female!) If you have chronic health problems (asthma and diabetes) you are prone to it. In the case of diabetes when you are depressed you don't metabolize carbs as well. (That's a nice vicious cycle!) If you are asthmatic taking Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors like Prozac; it causes too much serotonin in the body which triggers asthma attacks. (Wonderful! No wonder I felt like crap!) A family history of mental health problems. (If they weren't locked up, they were killing themselves!) Addictions (Yup! Drunker than old Hooter Brown!) And a few more I can't remember right now.
So I am on a knitting marathon and when I get all the slippers knitted for gifts for Sister Suzy's friends I will post pictures and my changes to the pattern. (It just wouldn't be me, if I didn't change the pattern to suit me. LOL)
Have a good Day!
Judy
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
format
Well as you can tell I have been playing with the format of my blog. What do you think? I'm kind of liking it. It looks clean, easy for me to read without my glasses. I have most of the blogs I read listed. I do have a few that I can't get Blogger to list. Strange. I would love to add a quote-of-the-day or something similar as a top gadget but not if it includes an ad. You know rearranging the furniture on your blog is a whole lot less stress on the old bod than moving furniture in a house! LOL Off to play some more.
Have a good day!
Judy
Have a good day!
Judy
Sunday, September 12, 2010
killing time
While I was out on the web killing time instead of being productive. I ran across a blog that reads like I wrote it, In the Shadows by Shadowmoss. I found her blog through Brian Gore's blog goin' RV Boondocking .
So what did I take away from reading her blog? Not entirely sure. There are several musings.
Why do we have more things we want to do than the energy to do them?
Are we trying to meet the expectations that we think the world has for us and not what we really want to do? You can't serve two masters.
Or because we are not well 'domesticated' we find society's expectations overwhelming? I used the word 'domesticated' in the context of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Because we tend to accumulate unnecessary stuff, is that where the lack of energy comes from? Feng Shui says the stuff you accumulate blocks the flow of energy in your life and you are, also, avoiding dealing with unpleasant life issues; and your local psychologist says so, too.
Are we adult ADD? We think about doing things, we plan the projects out, and we may even start the projects but the projects or chores just never get done. Our minds wonder off to something else or we get interrupted and we don't get back to 'whatever' to get it finished. So, the project is one more thing to weigh us down.
Or are we basically 'present hedonists' and are at emotional odds with our 'Protestant' upbringing which makes us so tired? Professor Philip Zimbardo video The Secret Power of Time
It is nice to know I'm not the only one out there that can't seem to 'git'er done'. The only solution I have seen or heard of, about the problem of 'no energy/too much stuff' is pretend you have the 'energy'. (psychology) You just keep putting one foot in front of the other until 'energy' becomes a habit. That whole scenario of pretending to be full of pep just makes me tired and frustrated thinking about it. Because I can only pretend (lie to myself) so long and I know it.
You know, I think the two, no energy and too much stuff, are related somehow or they are symptoms of the same problem. I will have to give that some thought and see what kind of research there is on the relationship of the two. More time to kill on the web! All right! LOL
Have a good day!
Judy
So what did I take away from reading her blog? Not entirely sure. There are several musings.
Why do we have more things we want to do than the energy to do them?
Are we trying to meet the expectations that we think the world has for us and not what we really want to do? You can't serve two masters.
Or because we are not well 'domesticated' we find society's expectations overwhelming? I used the word 'domesticated' in the context of The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Because we tend to accumulate unnecessary stuff, is that where the lack of energy comes from? Feng Shui says the stuff you accumulate blocks the flow of energy in your life and you are, also, avoiding dealing with unpleasant life issues; and your local psychologist says so, too.
Are we adult ADD? We think about doing things, we plan the projects out, and we may even start the projects but the projects or chores just never get done. Our minds wonder off to something else or we get interrupted and we don't get back to 'whatever' to get it finished. So, the project is one more thing to weigh us down.
Or are we basically 'present hedonists' and are at emotional odds with our 'Protestant' upbringing which makes us so tired? Professor Philip Zimbardo video The Secret Power of Time
It is nice to know I'm not the only one out there that can't seem to 'git'er done'. The only solution I have seen or heard of, about the problem of 'no energy/too much stuff' is pretend you have the 'energy'. (psychology) You just keep putting one foot in front of the other until 'energy' becomes a habit. That whole scenario of pretending to be full of pep just makes me tired and frustrated thinking about it. Because I can only pretend (lie to myself) so long and I know it.
You know, I think the two, no energy and too much stuff, are related somehow or they are symptoms of the same problem. I will have to give that some thought and see what kind of research there is on the relationship of the two. More time to kill on the web! All right! LOL
Have a good day!
Judy
Saturday, August 7, 2010
my name is judy
My name is Judy and I am a start-aholic.
I think it is inherited! As I have moved into my sewing room ... oh wait, they are called quilt studios now ... or whatever they are call these days. I discovered 2 tubs and a card-board box of unfinished quilt tops of Mother's. I, not to be out done, have 2 quilts I need to put back in the quilt frame and finish. I have 3 quilt tops that are done and ready to quilt, 2 quilt top, no, make that 3 quilt tops I am working on, and 1, 2, 3, 4 knitting projects and 1 counted cross stitch project. If I finished what is started I could move a lot of stuff out of here.
I have my six tub stack for my cutting table. I had a moment of inspiration and decided not to use the dinning table extensions. I decided they were too heavy and would be too big for my tubs. So I found a piece of sheet rock 26" by 48". I trimmed off one corner so it would fit in the space, used duct tape (the handy-man's friend) to wrap the edges. Voila! I have a cutting table that my 36"x 24" cutting mat fits on.
Changed the curtains out to some lace ones, I like the light but not the heat that is being let in, so while I was moving fabric around I found a piece of eyelet. I am going to hem the sides and put a rod pocket on it. I think it will brighten the room and still hold some of the heat out.
Well the chickens, ducks, and dogs need fed and I am it today. I guess I need to get that done so they will still love me. Judy
I think it is inherited! As I have moved into my sewing room ... oh wait, they are called quilt studios now ... or whatever they are call these days. I discovered 2 tubs and a card-board box of unfinished quilt tops of Mother's. I, not to be out done, have 2 quilts I need to put back in the quilt frame and finish. I have 3 quilt tops that are done and ready to quilt, 2 quilt top, no, make that 3 quilt tops I am working on, and 1, 2, 3, 4 knitting projects and 1 counted cross stitch project. If I finished what is started I could move a lot of stuff out of here.
I have my six tub stack for my cutting table. I had a moment of inspiration and decided not to use the dinning table extensions. I decided they were too heavy and would be too big for my tubs. So I found a piece of sheet rock 26" by 48". I trimmed off one corner so it would fit in the space, used duct tape (the handy-man's friend) to wrap the edges. Voila! I have a cutting table that my 36"x 24" cutting mat fits on.
Changed the curtains out to some lace ones, I like the light but not the heat that is being let in, so while I was moving fabric around I found a piece of eyelet. I am going to hem the sides and put a rod pocket on it. I think it will brighten the room and still hold some of the heat out.
Well the chickens, ducks, and dogs need fed and I am it today. I guess I need to get that done so they will still love me. Judy
Sunday, August 1, 2010
life
Hubby's father passed away early Monday morning (July 26). We spent last week running around making funeral arrangements. Hubby learned the power of lists when under duress. He would randomly think of something and I would remind him to add it to the list. In the end, it all got done and we didn't forget anything.
One thing that amazed me was some of the family started to obsess about the flowers, colors and types, I keep repeating just trust the florist to do a great job, because it really depends on what is available. Hubby and I went in with a picture of a casket spray we liked. Talked with the florist, told her this is kind of what we want and for her to go for it. We ended up with a one-of-a-kind spray that reflected my father-in-law's personality and it was beautiful. Trust the florist!
When they were discussing what to do with the flowers after the service I forgot to suggest giving them to the local nursing home for the patients to enjoy. I didn't remember it until we were back at the trailer unwinding. We did that after my mother passed away. Man, I can't believe I forgot that! What a waste of such beautiful flowers, because nobody took them.
We kicked around whether or not to stay in a motel or just come home and sleep in our own bed after the Thursday night visitation then get up early Friday and drive the hour back for the graveside services. We had a moment of inspiration and decided to take the travel trailer. We stayed in a local RV park, had our own beds, peace and quiet, and a full kitchen. The rest of the family stayed in the local high-end motel and had to put up with noisy ice machines, slamming doors, loud talking in the halls and A/C that didn't work. We stayed an extra night and came home Saturday morning.
Spent today puttering in my sewing room and cooking. I got one tub of fabric on bolts (cards) and put away in a dresser drawer. Only have ten bazillion more tubs to go! I saw these fabric organizers in the Clotilde catalog. I thought they were a great idea but unfortunately I have way too much fabric to afford them. I also, want to get my fabric stash down to one maybe two tubs. So I think it would be kind of a waste to buy enough for ten bazillion tubs of fabric. Gave it a some thought, had flash of brilliance and cut up some cardboard boxes into sizes that fit my storage system (file cabinet, dressers, and totes). Yes, I know the cardboard is not acid free but nether is the file cabinet or dressers or totes. My thinking is if I can get the fabric sewn up and out of here in the next year or two it won't make any difference. I'm not into heirloom quilts. I want my quilts to be used.
My stomach is growling! Think I'm going to raid the frig.
One thing that amazed me was some of the family started to obsess about the flowers, colors and types, I keep repeating just trust the florist to do a great job, because it really depends on what is available. Hubby and I went in with a picture of a casket spray we liked. Talked with the florist, told her this is kind of what we want and for her to go for it. We ended up with a one-of-a-kind spray that reflected my father-in-law's personality and it was beautiful. Trust the florist!
When they were discussing what to do with the flowers after the service I forgot to suggest giving them to the local nursing home for the patients to enjoy. I didn't remember it until we were back at the trailer unwinding. We did that after my mother passed away. Man, I can't believe I forgot that! What a waste of such beautiful flowers, because nobody took them.
We kicked around whether or not to stay in a motel or just come home and sleep in our own bed after the Thursday night visitation then get up early Friday and drive the hour back for the graveside services. We had a moment of inspiration and decided to take the travel trailer. We stayed in a local RV park, had our own beds, peace and quiet, and a full kitchen. The rest of the family stayed in the local high-end motel and had to put up with noisy ice machines, slamming doors, loud talking in the halls and A/C that didn't work. We stayed an extra night and came home Saturday morning.
Spent today puttering in my sewing room and cooking. I got one tub of fabric on bolts (cards) and put away in a dresser drawer. Only have ten bazillion more tubs to go! I saw these fabric organizers in the Clotilde catalog. I thought they were a great idea but unfortunately I have way too much fabric to afford them. I also, want to get my fabric stash down to one maybe two tubs. So I think it would be kind of a waste to buy enough for ten bazillion tubs of fabric. Gave it a some thought, had flash of brilliance and cut up some cardboard boxes into sizes that fit my storage system (file cabinet, dressers, and totes). Yes, I know the cardboard is not acid free but nether is the file cabinet or dressers or totes. My thinking is if I can get the fabric sewn up and out of here in the next year or two it won't make any difference. I'm not into heirloom quilts. I want my quilts to be used.
My stomach is growling! Think I'm going to raid the frig.
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