Busy Girl

Yesterday while Scott was at the interview in Leesville I decided to get off my rear and start cleaning up the front yard. Scott says that the neighbors will think that we have moved and new folks moved in overnight as it's been years since we've done any real trimming up. I just laughed - it's because his yard woman had a job that required all her mind, body and soul - have I said lately how glad I am to be away from that? ANYHOW.... I worked across the front of the house and got to the other corner last night. And then this morning I finished going around the corner to the air conditioner and have quite the pile of debris for the trash people come Tuesday.



I'm hoping to get more done on that side of the house tomorrow morning. But this is what I got done so far...

Interviews Lining Up

Scott has an interview today here in SC and there are interviews in the works for Wisconsin and Illinois - so fingers and toes are crossed that Scott will have employment before the end of this month. I'm hoping and praying!

I believe that I will work a bit in the garden today and get a few more things planted. Even if someone else gets to enjoy it. I just so enjoy watching things grow.

Shrimp for Breakfast

This morning I wanted something a little different so we had "Shrimp and Grits" with a side of scrambled eggs and black coffee. YUMMY The recipe I use can be found at > http://www.virtualcities.com/ons/sc/gov/scgvfs1.htm



After breakfast we ventured outside and Scott took some pictures while we walked and talked about what we would do today - he is taking calls from Recruiters in the mid-west and I am finishing up some quilting projects - will post more about them when I have them complete.





The red maple in the front yard is so beautiful this year and the old time rose out behind the garage is really putting on a show. I am so enjoying being a home-maker again and getting to see how things progress in my own little corner of the world.

Then it was back inside for more computer time before heading off to my sewing room... he hasn't caught me in there yet.

Blooms of the morning

An OOPS! I went to straighten the stem of this purple bearded iris not realizing that it was caught on another and snapped the flower off. It's all right as now I get to enjoy it every time I'm in the kitchen and not when I'm out walking the yard.




A pair of bearded yellow iris from the front lawn.




The white rose from the other day but more open and a surprise - a fresh white bud.




And a yellow Dutch Iris from the back woodland garden spot.

Secret Sister

I got to meet a on-line quilting friend; Diane from Maine yesterday evening. She also happened to be my "secret sister" for a swap we were doing so I took her goodies to her at Outback in Florence, SC. She thoroughly enjoyed them and we had a lovely time.



Paul (Diane's husband) and Scott chatted as well and compared notes on stashes taking over and the space taken up by sewing and fabric.I took the above picture of her goody bag before we left and took the camera with us and then forgot to take pictures at the restaurant... too busy talking. And the time was too short. Perhaps we will get to visit in person again one day.

Before leaving for dinner I worked up a table topper using some blocks that have been "floating about" that I received in a swap several years ago.


This may become a gift or I may add it to my box of projects awaiting my opening an Etsy shop. I want to have inventory before I open it so have been putting it off until I have about 25 items made up and ready. And I've also been thinking about a name for my shop and think I've got it - "Aunt Beck's Cottage"

Cloudy Saturday

I've been up for about an hour and have enjoyed my first cup of coffee waiting for the sun to rise which I believe is stuck behind a rain cloud - THANKFULLY! We need some rain so badly; especially my garden. I wish we had a well for watering the garden or a way to catch water off the roof - rain water collection for the garden. The treated City water is expensive and full of things I'd rather not put in my food. Perhaps one day that will be a reality for us - somewhere.

Yesterday I mowed the lawn as the dandelions were starting to bloom heavy and I wanted to prevent them from spreading a million seeds. It looks a whole lot better but my head is so stuffed up from all the pollen and dust that flew around while I was mowing. Perhaps this rainy day will help with some of that and the next time I mow I will be cutting grass and not whipping up so much dirt.

I was thinking about hanging laundry out to dry today but thats not going to happen now so I will use the dryer. Next week is filling up with activities all ready so I will need to get the house work done over the weekend. Monday evening I'm going to get to meet an on-line friend from Maine as she makes her way back home from Florida and then Tuesday we are to go to Uncle Jessie's again to help him clean out some more. And Scott has been getting calls from several Recruiters so perhaps he will get a few interviews this week - I'm hoping and praying for that!

I better get this day started!

Flowers and Garden Shots

Some of the flowers in bloom in our yard...








And some pictures of the salad burnet in bloom and a shot of our mesculen mix ready for salads - I'll be picking a HUGE bowl full in the morning.

Flowers by the River - from yesterdays walk

Beautiful Butterflies at the Riverwalk

Scott tried and tried to get a good shot of these butterflies - they were so gorgeous! I've created a panorama of the best three shots here...

Pooh Baby Quilt

I started a new project yesterday and am hoping to finish it today; it's a baby quilt for one of Greg's shipmates (actually 2 shipmates as they are married). The gal requested "Pooh" so I went looking for fabric - not really much available that looked "girly" but I was finally able to find some on a white background. I then pulled together some FQ's (fat quarters) to create a "girly" border. This is the first couple blocks as I was laying them out. I'll post again later with additional photos. I also plan to make her a couple Pooh burp clothes.



The top ready for layering and quilting.

Blooms from our last walk at the River

Another glorious walk at the river last Thursday. Each time we see new things jumping to life and blooming.

A trip to Crystal and Richard's

Yesterday Scott and I went to see our friends at their place out in the boondocks. It's really not far from our 10 acres at all going the back way. They were having a cookout but we wanted to see their projects in person. They are building a pole and straw bale house on their land. It's really coming along nicely and we offered to lend a hand if they needed us. Here is a picture of what they've got going so far as well as "the facilities"....




After we left their place we swung by our property to check on the plants we kinda just threw in the ground last week and so far they are all pretty much surviving. Seeing Crystal and Richards place makes us yearn to have something built on our land again but we are stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment. One or both of us needs to find a job or jobs to get some income coming back in. Scott was applying for jobs like crazy last night and I will start looking for something as well - no management positions! I'm done with that roll.

Columbia Motor Speedway

Today Scott and I attended the reunion up at the old speedway. I mainly tagged along to take pictures as Scott had a friend to chat about cars with... or as I say RUNT RUNT RUNT over engine sizes and body styles.





I saw an old Ford Maverick which brought back memories as that was my first car. Mine was a 6 cylinder and Baby Blue in color.

A Book Give-a-way

http://steelkitten.typepad.com/steel_kitten/2010/04/a-giveaway.html

The gal over on "Steel Kitten" is giving away a book! For your chance to win leave her a comment about what you would take to the 1800's to help with your survival.

Kitchen Treasures

My kitchen table of goodies from Uncle Jessie. I nearly died when I opened a mailing box and found a brand new copy write 1961 Betty Crocker Picture Book.... I LOVE IT!!!!!!!Most of the utensils were still in their original packaging too. I do have some more treasure but haven't got them cleaned up yet and at the moment I'm putting up the mustard greens that we grew in our garden. Mustard greens are quite labor intensive as I remove all the stems - we hate the texture and woodiness of them. So until I finish with them everyone will have to wait and see the rest of my treasures.

LATE start to this morning

I was going to get up early this morning so that I could work in the garden before the sun got too high up in the sky and started roasting me but that did not happen. So I will be harvesting the mustard greens at lunch time instead. Everything needs to be watered as well; I wish that we would get a bit of rain but that is not in the forecast for quite some time. The lawn needs to be mowed too. Always something needs to be done around here.

We were just hearing cannon fire from Fort Jackson; I guess they are practicing since it's not Friday (Graduation Day). A reminder that we are very much involved in a war.

I'll post again later today to talk about the kitchen goodies that I brought home from Uncle Jessie's. He was so sweet - I'd ask are you sure you want me to take this and he'd say, " Anything I'm not using you can have". He just wants family to have whatever they want. I think thats how his love for Mary Etta was - he let her buy anything she ever wanted. He misses her so much and told Scott that the day I die Scott will know true loneliness. Life just isn't the same without your soul mate.

Graham Cracker Cake Recipe

OK; I haven't tried this yet but thought I'd share anyway as it sounds delicious! I found this recipe during the cleaning yesterday at Uncle Jessie's; hand written in pencil on a piece of old spiral notebook paper. If someone went to the trouble of copying it down to share it must be good...

Graham Cracker Cake

1 cup Crisco
2 cups white sugar
5 eggs
2 Tablespoons Baking Powder
pinch salt
3/4 cup milk
1 cup pecan (more if wanted)
1 cup coconut
1 BOX Graham Crackers - crushed

Cream Crisco, sugar, eggs, milk, salt and Baking Powder. Add crushed crackers, pecans and coconut. Beat until well blended. Bake in 3 layers at 325*.

Filling

1 stick Butter
1 Box powdered sugar
1 small can pineapple (crushed)

Drain Pineapple and pour juice over layers. Mix butter, sugar and pineapple and use between and on top and sides of layers.

This is exactly as it was written. No baking time listed so just check for springiness, and insert a toothpick in center of layers at 20 to 40 minutes. It just sounds so easy and I absolutely adore old recipes written in real handwriting from years ago. The lady is most likely gone that first wrote this down as the notebook paper actually has 5 holes instead of just 3; definitely something to be cherished.

A day with Uncle Jessie

Yesterday the 3 of us went to Greenville with Julia (Scott's Mom) to help Uncle Jessie clean out some trash and to bring home treasure- things he can't or doesn't use anymore that he wants family to have. Here are some pictures of the jewelry that he let me have...





I also got a lot of items for my kitchen that I will write another post about once I get it all cleaned up.

Disturbing Dreams

Why do people have disturbing dreams? I spent the entire night last night having one bizarre dream after another that I awoke from covered in sweat. Truly terrifying dreams - dreams you wouldn't wish upon anyone - WHY? I hate having dreams like this as I wake feeling uneasy and then find out someone has died in the family - truly creeps me out. I'm hoping and praying that all family and friends are all safe and sound and ALIVE this morning.

Can we say WHITE?!

These are our white azaleas in front of our house and they are such a pure white this year and absolutely loaded!

















And this is the "snow on the mountain" bush thats in our back yard; also loaded and beautiful!