Saucer Magnolia

 The saucer magnolia is blooming

Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Spring Plantings & a Frittata

This week I planted cold hardy leaf and red romaine lettuce, and baby spinach in raised bins.

I also planted cilantro and dill and I'll plant more cilantro in pots. I cover them with a sheet overnight if the temps dip below freezing. I will also be planting some kohlrabi and kale.

The other day I made a vegetable and cheese frittata for dinner because I had an abundance of eggs and fresh vegetables which needed to be used. I sauted the vegetables in advance and added them to the mixture. I added shredded cheddar cheese on top. Next time I'll add the cheese and vegetables to the middle. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Back from the Dead

Last year one of my variegated yucca plants just up and died, probably due to all the rain we had last summer.. Yesterday I was going to replace it with some other type of plant.

When I went to remove the crown, look what I saw. The plant is starting to come back from the dead. I'm looking forward to the vibrant plant lighting up the garden again. Thanks for reading and for all your comments..

Pots in Use

Food seems more appetizing on handmade plates. Here are a few handmade pots in use over the years. About the only time I eat mayonnaise is with asparagus or artichokes.

This is a salad I made up the other day of papaya, rice, parboiled carrots and celery, one roasted poblano pepper, and lots of cilantro. I made a dressing of lime, vinegar, olive oil, soy sauce and sriracha pepper sauce. Gary was raving about this salad the next day, even said he'd be vegan if he could eat like this all the time. Ha. I am sure he'd sneak a hamburger every once in a while.

baked kale

fresh figs

cream of heart palm soup 

pink porgie with wild rice 

sushi

fresh cobia saute

 portobello lunch

olives

sashimi

ginger and thyme swordfish

mangrove snapper with black rice

turmeric shrimp and vegetables

New York cheesecake

Two Buyers, One Vase

Several years ago there was the case of two buyers and one vase. A woman came into my booth at the farmer's market and looked at this vase. And she looked and looked and looked. Then she said she'd be back. I turned to Gary and said the next person who comes in here is going to buy that vase. Many times I have premonitions which actually happen.

Sure enough a woman walked into my booth not a minute later, went straight for this vase and purchased it. Most times folks who say they'll be back to your booth, never return. But several hours later the first woman came back looking for the vase; I had to tell her of the other woman's purchase. I had lots of other choices but those wouldn't do. I can't tell you how many times this has happened in my booth because most of my work really is one of a kind. The moral of the story is, if you see art you like, don't hesitate, buy it right away. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Garage Sales are Treasure Troves

 

Garage sales are treasure troves to the discerning shopper. Last weekend we went to a yard sale and I found a brand new set of Cuisinart oven mitt pot holders. If you cook as much as I do your pot holders might look like mine do: threadbare and stained beyond repair. For fifty cents I now have a thick new pair.

Gary found an old non digital phone which works without electricity. This is very helpful if the electricity goes out and a cell phone isn't handy. These landline phones are the precursor to digital landlines. The phone operates without electricity because the copper wire connection carries just enough current to make a connection possible. We were pleasantly surprised the phone has a real 'old time ring' to it. Of course most folks rely on cell phones. But one never knows if a cell tower might be knocked down in a hurricane, tornado, or high winds. Heaven forbid in a complete loss of the grid or satellite; in cases like that, this phone would be handy. Ths phone was a bargain at one dollar.

Gary has been wanting an extension ladder to pressure wash the upper story of our home and to reach the roof of our camper trailer to refresh the roof with sealant. We have an eight foot ladder but it just isn't tall enough. Yesterday we went to an estate sale and he got an electricians extension ladder for $30. These ladders regularly cost in the hundreds. They are made with fiberglass side panels to impede the conduction of electricity. Now we didn't  necessarily need this particular specialty ladder but the savings was tremendous.

Visit a garage sales you never know what treasure or bargain you might find. Not to mention the items you purchase are being recycled. Another reason for going to garage sales is you meet lots of new people. What about you, have you found any treasures or bargains lately? Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Ceramic Congress - Free Videos till 3/8/19

Free videos on all types of pottery making. Just learned of this now so I have missed out on a few days worth - click this link to be taken to the site. Sign up with your email. The videos run till March 8th.

Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

Step Back In Time With Me

Step back in time with me

Just imagine how your life would be

Living in this home with your family.

No running water, no indoor plumbing, no electricity

No internet, no cell phone, no TV

Just imagine how simple your life would be.

No world news to worry about
No impending weather to think about
Just daily living to go on about.

There'd be planting, picking, and canning to do
There'd be wood to cut and split and stack
There'd be sewing and mending and hand-me-downs.

There'd be big pots of soup on the wood stove
There'd be biscuits and bread baking in the oven
There'd be family supper by lantern or candle light.

There'd be playing with brothers and sisters
There'd be swinging in the back yard
There'd be sitting on the front porch and visiting.

There'd be chores to do without grumbling
There'd be early to bed and early to rise
There'd be strict discipline to keep order to things.

There'd be neighbors to get to know
There'd be sharing your garden bounty overflow
There'd be helping others and having to ask for help.

There'd be praying for rain or wishing it'd go away
There'd be walking to school and church on Sunday.
There'd be school and church lessons to learn and follow.

With your head on your pillow at night
Plumb worn out from the day's activities
Ever so tired, instantly, you'd fall asleep.