A Few Frugal Tips !!

Thought it would be fun to write a blog on saving tips. Will write a few every so often. With times hard for so many, it is always wise to see how long you can hang onto your "cents." I have noticed that cooking for the two of us,hubby and I ,making sure it is a healthy balanced meal, is an art. What with the increase in cost of groceries...my oh my! Who wants to waste??

TIPS

1. In order to save your celery (we always buy for a recipe that calls for only one
stalk....Pleeazeeeee..) Cut off the bottom section, place this in a freezer bag
storing for a day of soup or broth making. Wrap the entire stalks and stems in
aluminum foil. Really, was I surprised at how long this lasts.

2. To keep a head of lettuce fresh for a week or even longer.....after washing
lettuce, let it drain well first. Insert head of lettuce into a big enough bag
along with a piece of paper towel at bottom and top. The paper towel will absorb
moisture. Each time after using the lettuce, check the paper towel to see if it
needs new. Amazingly, you will have fresh lettuce for a very long time. I eat a
salad at lunch each day. Don't waste your money of the pre-chopped bags of
lettuce. I found that once opened, they last only that day or perhaps a day and
a half. A wasted for a single or double family.

Simply Wonderful Days Of Spring

Can you believe tomorrow will be June? Where does the time fly too?
I have been busy each evening "putzing" around my flower beds.....enjoying the smells of Spring, earth, sweet cool air. Isn't it wonderful this time of year.
I marvel at God's creation. What an Awesome God is He!!! He created all, with a purpose and everything intertwined, His World for Him.
I became a member of the Peru Garden Club last June. It has been so much fun. Was afraid at first that a person needed to be a pro to join...but found out differently.
As one lady stated, "it is a great way for a novice to begin." She is right. So much knowledge from the pros in the group...you are always accepted, free seeds and plants...oh my !!!! :)
My experience has been, plant it and see if it survives. If it does then figure out or read up on why. If it dies, then do the previous. Trial and error...nothing better than that.
We live in town and have small yards,so mine is quickly becoming crowded with lots.
My one sister Jo inspired me. She is such a pro - a definite green thumb with lavender twist to boot!!!
My pictures are first the climbing rose bush that has taken about 6 years to get to this stage. Another, just plant and see what happens. My Clematis is the last 3 photos. Not sure of the name, my pansies, that are a favorite of my hubby's, are the two center photos and first photo is the Red Raspberry bush. It was absolutely loaded last year to the point that my freezer overflowed with bags of BIG PLUMP Red Raspberries. We had Raspberry Shortcake just the last week. Now this year it looks as though will be full again. Have counted 6-8 blooms on each cluster.
The funny thing is I purchased this bush at Home Depot about 4 years ago. It looked pathetic but the price was right up my alley....$1.99.
It is one of the stories "plant it and see if it grows." It wasn't until the 3rd year it yielded so much!! When we went on vacation last year I request our neighbors and cousin to please come and pick them...didn't want them to go to waste.
Enjoy my photos. ( I know they did not upload in the right order)

Memory of my Annie Girl

High in the courts of Heaven today
A little cat bravely waits.
with all the others she will not play
But sits alone by the gates.
"For some day my mistress will come." says she.
"And when she comes she will call for me."
Author Unknown

A Sad Day

My goodness it has been so long since I last posted on my Blog.
First, during later part of fall and then into December we were busy with family things...and of course the holidays.
We went to Georgia to see our grandsons & family for Thanksgiving.
Then I was busy getting ready for my upcoming re-constructive surgery on my right foot. I would be non-weight bearing for about 2 months, in a cast, then a walking cast the latter weeks.
It has now been about 4 months !!! Yes, 4 months!!! There have been problems with my ankle implant working out and the 1st Metatarsal not fusing as should. Thus am on a bone stimulator. It is working. Still in boot/cast for another week and prayerfully will be off. I do need a minor surgery to re-screw in the implant.

Now, the sad part. I am posting a picture of our beloved Calico Orphant' Annie. She is named after one of James Whitcomb Riley's poems that my father read to me often. Orphant' Annie was one of many favorite Riley poems I adored as a child and now as an adult. Of course he is a Hoosier ! :)
Annie had hyperthryoidism. We had her on meds. then she began to spit them out, hide at pill time...you name it.
Anyone that has had a Calico know they are very bull-headed and she more so since being so spoiled by us. She was a beautiful Calico.
I said God gave her to me, November 1993, because my heart had been broken by my father's untimely death.
You see, Annie had a beautiful black heart on her right shoulder! She was a new heart for my breaking heart.
It was so very hard to take her to the vet yesterday. My hubby was crying as hard as I.
The young vet was so compassionate along with the assistant. At her age to have the thyroid eradicated was just way too expensive and her being old and not an outside cat....well, I know her heart would have been broken to be away from us for 2 weeks.
So...here we are, seeing our beloved Annie's image in every nook and cranny of this 2 story victorian home.
Yesterday as I notified my friends ....my thought was.....why are we to fall so madly in love with God's critters just to have our hearts broken.
But....you know.....I am so richly blessed to have had Annie grace my life.
I always talked to her...."you are such a pretty pretty Calico." As I rubbed her chest she would puff it out and let me keep telling her how pretty she was.
Now....if that isn't a Calico for you....very proud and strutting her stuff.
I hope you enjoy her photo....I know she would love it ~
Hugs
Susan

HAPPY HARVEST TIME !

I absolutely love this time of year! While living away from Indiana I always traveled back home for a visit during the month of October.
Since moving back, and through my friend at church, there is another reason why I love October....QUILT RETREAT !! Yahooooooo
You will see to the left many photos that I took while on my recent Quilt Retreat at Camp Mack which is in North Central Indiana.
We have a ball...us ladies laughingly say "we sew alot, talk alot, eat wonderful food and sleep very little.
Many bring UFO's which is Unfinished Objects along with at least three projects to chose from.
You go away with new ideas and tips on bettering your quilting craft.
I only started quilting about 3 1/2 yrs ago, although I have always admired it often. Remember, I have been sewing (or attempting to) by the age of 5. Was taught by my beautiful spirited Grandma that raised me.
It was always a treasure to me to be able to pull out her big muslin bag full of fabric scraps and imagine and then create. Little by little she began to allow me privledges of using her tools and sewing machine.
Enjoy the photos. Should have taken more. We have a Show N Tell Night where the ladies show off a project she has worked on or completed the past year....and let me tell you...they were awesome.
It humbles one such as I.
The one photo is of the back west side of lodge...I neglected to get one of the front that was decorated with pumpkins and cornstalks.
Susan

SUNFLOWER HERB DIP

I just have to share this delic.....recipe with you.
During our monthly Peru Garden Club Meeting this past Monday, we had a speaker that provided information on the sunflower.
She handed out this recipe and upon reading it said to myself "ohhhh this sounds so good and I already have most ingredients at home. "
Well today I made it, took a small spoonful out to sample. So delicous !!!

Enjoy it !

Sunflower Herb Dip

2/3 Cup Plain Yogurt 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons chives 1/4 teaspoon paprika
(I used fresh from my) 1/2 cup sunflower kernels.
garden, snipped
2 teaspoons parseley flakes

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until sunflower kernels are chopped up. Some may not be.
Chill overnight. Serve with crackers, chips, or raw vegetables.
Yield approx. 2 cups.

Mine is chilling for tomorrow so haven't decided which is best to serve with and if using crackers which would compliment the taste. The dip is a wonderful, powerful blend so am thinking a basic cracker would be nice.

ENJOY !

I AM SO SURPRISED !!

What a surprise when checking with my Blogspot to see that Jody, with
Primgalsprimitivepallette.blogspot.com nominated me with the
I Love Your Blogspot. "
It is truly an honor and as Jody stated, humbling. There are so many
wonderful artists at OFG Team with Etsy.
Thank you

Please check out :

Katscraftingcottage.blogspot.com

MyfathersHouse4.blogspot.com

Primgalsprimitivepallette.blogspot.com

iplayoutsidethebox.blogspot.com

jywheeler.blogspot.com

Folkarttree.blogspot.com

Paintedkreations.blogspot.com

TinsandTreasures.blogspot.com

Blackberry-ridge.blogspot.com

misseskwitty.blogspot.com

OakleafHollow.blogspot.com

Willmaswimzees.etsy.com

Huckleberryarts.etsy.com

Paintindaze.etsy.com

Rabbithollowprims.etsy.com

Rockriverstitches.etsy.com

PrimitiveFolk.etsy.com

MommaB'sfrontporch.etsy.com

END OF SUMMER

Can you believe it is the last week of Summer ? My oh my where has the time flown too??
As you can see it has been well over a month since I last added to my blog. So many things happening, and then grabbing the special moments in life.....well.....time has flown by !
As you can see by my latest photos....us artists at Etsy have already been thinking about Fall Harvest and Christmas. We have been busy making up different challenges that are showcased on Etsy. These are a couple of my Harvest Items. It is always so much fun to have ideas and colors floating in ones head, then to take that to canvas or fabric is thrilling.
Of course Autumn has always been my favorite time of the year. The many years living away from Indiana, my heart pined for the Seasonal Changes. There is just nothing like the different seasons. Each season makes you appreciate the next one.
The many years living in Saudi Arabia brought about a hunger to return to the northern part of USA, then alas, my ex-husband's company took us to Florida. Now, I truely believe that each State is so unique , but....please, seasonal changes in Florida??? Give me a break. Yes, there is a "slight" change during winter, but not enough for me.
There is something about being cozy in a warm home, nestled up on a sofa and reading a good book, or as with me...sitting in my studio with the sewing machine humming away or paint brush a-flying, and looking out the windows to see the snow flying. Hmmm.
So...this time of year has me yearning for the cooler weather - leaves changing - the Harvest colors in decorating.
Also, am getting ready for the Quilt Retreat in October at our church camp. Us ladies go for a long weekend and have so much fun, eating, sewing, gabbing and very little sleep for some of us. Will post some pixs after that event.
Just blink....and look......the Harvest time is here - cool weather and brisk intakes of air - the smell of burning fireplaces - pink cheeks - and beautiful leaves in an array of colors !

Wanted to add another post tonight while it was all fresh in my mind and on my heart.
This weekend has been busy. In fact the whole week has been Circus City Days here in Peru Indiana. This was once the original headquarters for the circuses. This tradition still lives on. Each July, 3rd week, there is the downtown carnival, the circus in a permanent building with performances by the local children that are truely talented, we have a Hall of Fame Circus outside of town that goes all summer, then the parade on Saturday.
Today's parade was outstanding in that there have been more of the original antique circus wagons restored and used in the parade. In fact there are Circus Clubs Nationally and Internationally that have come here to work on the circus wagaons.
Our history also boasts of Emmet Kelly the Clown and Cole Porter.
Anyway, today was busy.
We went to my one cousin's house on main street (part of the parade route) to have an early breakfast before observing the parade from her front lawn.
We also had a reunion with family from Florida
Normally, the time with our family in Florida has been far and few inbetween these past years for some of us. I treasure the memories of years gone by when this family would make a trip to Indiana each summer with their 5 children. They stayed at our house (grandma's and my residence). There was always the huge family reunion in the park with oodles of good home cooked dishes. Our family was so big back then.
Also today after the parade we went to another relatives home in the country for a lunch. Spent alot of time sitting around talking , laughing and hugging.
Now..here comes the part that is on my heart.
Can we please freeze time right now? Can we recapture the dear loved ones that have passed on and bring them back.
I am telling you I just don't want the time to end. Is it possible, somehow, to grab the 4 corners of time and tie a knot to gather it up and stay in that frame?
Yes, I am an adult and realize this is not possible...but my oh my ....WHY NOT ?
We are allowed to have so many wonderful treasurys with family and friends...special times and then it fades. This is not how I want it to be!!
A few of us walked across main street down the side street to grandma's old home. My the memories, good times....so many beautiful souls that God has allowed to Grace my heart. How I treasure them all and am so very thankful to have been a part of this big extended family. Thank you God.
Now...I will go and cry silently in my studio for a while.
I don't know if or when I shall see or hug them again.
Can't you relate?

Well, am back on the scene after a wonderful trip to Richmond Virginia. We attended our church denomination's annual conference which was also celebrating the 300th year for the Church of the Brethren.
There were over 5,000 in attendance this year.
We drove the 12 1/2 hrs. in order to stop along the way and enjoy some sights. Am afraid my digital camera is acting up a bit, so the photo at left just isn't that great. But thinking about it, who can capture the ultimate beauty of God's Creation?
This view was breath taking. Made us stop and ponder the wonder of it all.
Now, I believe each state is unique with it's own special terrain. Do we live in an awesome country or what. After traveling many years through many different nations...I can honestly state that America has such diversity in the geographical element , all tied up into one country. Most countries do not.
We visited a Tudor Mansion that was shipped in crates to America in the 1920's. It was an estate that had become severely neglected and was being auctioned off. A man from family tobacco wealth in Richmond purchased it. He and his wife brought it back and began the assembly.
The place is called AgeCroft and you can find it online . Google Agecroft Richmond Virginia. Just awesome how this was preserved. Later on they went back and purchased furniture that was of that period.
The gardens are so unique. That intriged me also, since I recently joined our Peru Garden Club.
Another thing that I learned very fast was the hills of Richmond....my oh my. Now we only saw a few bicyclists. You would truely have to be fit to ride in that city ! :)