Too Cute to Cut

Alan thinks it's time to mow the grass. He really enjoys mowing. Strange, I know, but he does. I'm not letting him do it just yet.

Our backyard is covered in the sweetest little purple violets.

The snow melted and there they were.

We are not ready to mow.

Sally

Late March Snow

True to her word (the weather lady) we did get some snow Saturday night. We woke up Sunday morning to a pretty little dusting that was mostly gone by noon. I know it's still march, but I sure do want to get out in the yard and start digging. I have my vegetable garden all planned out, but I sure don't want to jump the gun and and be disappointed when it snows in April. The man bagging my groceries today told me that he's seen snow in Louisville as late as May. May? I think I'm going to have to check the Farmer's Almanac and see what they say. They are always right. Right?

Sally

Tea of Last Week

Last week when it was "hot" I needed some iced tea in a bad way. Lucky for me I still had some of these cold brewed mixed berry tea bags in the cabinet. I told you about them last summer. You just put them in a pitcher or glass of cold water and in just a short time you have tea. I think it might be not that easy to find. I get mine at the Fresh Market and it comes in a couple of other flavors.

Anyway, that was last week. Now we are back to chilly temps and hot tea for sure.

Sally

The "ZEST" of Life

I had to make a quick stop at Bed Bath and Beyond the other day and decided that it was finally time for me to purchase a Microplane for zesting lemons, limes and oranges. I have a little zester thing, but it makes long pieces of zest and then you have to chop it all up. I just don't have time for chopping zest.

Who knew there were so many different kinds of microplane zesters out there to choose from.

Not me, that's for sure.

This is the one I decided on, because I liked the shape and the yellow handle.

I really did rush home and try it out.

Can I just say "where have you been all of my life Microplane zester?"

I love it. Within seconds I had zested the whole lemon and was left with the little pile of ZEST

Here is a closer look. No chopping involved at all. Now I'm on the lookout for recipes that call for ZEST!

Sally

It's Spring Right?

It must be spring.

The daffodils are blooming and the stores are filled with all things Easter. I even found some (limited edition) pastel Junior Mints. I have to say that even though they are cute "springy" colors, I don't think they taste as good as their chocolate covered cousins.

But if it is truly spring, then why did the weather lady say it's going to "snow"?

You heard me right. SNOW!

Two days ago it was 83 degrees and I was wearing flip-flops and drinking ice tea.

Come back spring....Please.

Sally

On My Own

Alan is off at a work related conference in Ohio this weekend so I'm on my own. Well, I'm on my own with the dog and the cat.

I stopped by Whole Foods on my way home from work last night and picked up some essencial "girl food".

Since my episode with the stomach bug last week I have been craving fruits and veggies and my goal is to eat only fruits and vegetables for the next 2 days.

So far I've enjoyed a tropical fruit smoothy for breakfast and a huge salad with a bowl of Organic Carrot Fennel Soup. Sorry it's not in the picture because I ate it all. It was wonderful. I'm thinking a stir-fry for dinner.

I also added several "chic flick" movies to our NetFlix instant viewing so I think I'm set.

Hope you have a great, healthy weekend.

Sally

Tea of the Week

Since Grace was home on spring break last week, I let her choose the "Tea of the Week".

If you are a fan of pomegranates then this tea is for you.

I'm not really, so I sent the box back to school with Grace. She love it.

I have to say that I did like the box it came in and the beautiful red color of the drink.

The main problems for me were the too fruity smell and the lack of "tea" taste. It resembles more of a hot fruit punch.

It's going to be 83 degrees this afternoon, so I'm thinking I might have to switch over to iced tea.

Sally

Getting Radical

This is probably the strangest post that I have written to date. Please don't think that we have gone off the deep end, but what I'm about to tell you is really big news (for us).

We didn't put out our trash this week.

Are you shocked?

We are.

Are you saying somthing like "everyone forgets once in a while" ?

We don't.

I should say Alan doesn't.

Putting out the trash and recycling on Monday night so that it can be collected on Tuesday is part of Alan's weekly routine.

Alan loves routines. Once somthing gets added to his "agenda" it's there forever.

Just like his lunch- a cup of yogurt, an apple and a couple of cookies every single day.

That's just the way he is.

Anyway, back to the trash story. When he got home last night late after a dinner meeting, the first thing he said was "I have to put the trash out".

Me being me made the suggestion that maybe we just should skip a week.

If you could have seen the look he gave me, like I had just said the most ridiculous thing ever.

But, then he thought about it and then he started rationalizing about whether it was a real possiblity. We do have the biggest garbage can known to man. We never fill it up. We don't even fill the recycling bins each week (when it's just the two of us). Maybe, just maybe.

It's going to drive him crazy all day.

I love driving him crazy.
Sally
sorry about all of the spaceing. I can't make it go away

Happy Spring!

I hope your first day of spring was as warm and beautiful as ours. After being "yucky" sick for a few days, the sunshine and flowers popping up everywhere where just what the doctor ordered.

Our themometor even registered 83 degrees at one point. Of course that was with the sun shining on it, but still....

I did just hear on the news that we might reach 80 degrees for real tomorrow. WOW!

I also just heard the word "humidity" mentioned.

Why can't we just have a little sun and warmth without the "humidity" and bugs?

Never mind all of that. It's spring for real and I'm ready for it.

Sally

Taking a Little Break

Just wanted to let you know that I'm taking a little break from blogging. Grace and I made it home from Iowa, I worked one day, and woke up that night with a really bad stomach bug. I won't go into details, but let me just say "YUCK".
Hopefully I'll be up and running soon.
Sally

Quick Trip to Iowa

Grace is home for Spring Break and she and I decided to take a quick trip to Iowa. I know what you are thinking, "why not go south?" After realizing how cold it still is in Iowa, that might not have been a bad idea. We hit the road on Saturday morning, visited with some good friends and now we are back in the "south" the grass is green and and the daffodils are starting to bloom but we sure did have a fun time Iowa. I wish I had taken more pictures, but everyone knows that they are going to end up on the blog so it's a little awkward.

Hope you had a great weekend too. I know that we are all keeping the people of Japan in our hearts. Every time that I see pictures of the destruction in that part of the world I wish that there was something that I could do to help. I'm sure there will be several relief opportunities in the near future, but for now our prayers couldn't hurt.

Sally

More New Stuff

I made a visit to that TJ Max HomeGoods Store this past week and couldn't leave without these darling little pitchers. I had to have the little honey bottle thing too, because you know I need a little honey in my tea.

Right now these are the things I have sitting by my kitchen sink.

I am so, so ready for spring. Can you tell?

Speaking of spring. I hope you remembered to "spring" forward last night. I am really excited about Daylight Savings Time. I can't wait to get home from work and have it still be light outside.

What are you going to do with your extra hour of sunshine?

Sally

The Old and the New of It

OK, so when I was about 16 I began to spend a little more time in the kitchen. One of the things that I noticed was that all of my mom's stuff seemed "old". I'm talking about things like cookie sheets, and Tupperware, because when you are 16 these are the things you use the most in the kitchen. Anyway, I remember saying to myself, "why doesn't she get some "new" stuff?" I also remember thinking that I will never have "old" stuff, "rusty" stuff in my kitchen.

Well, wonders never cease and I have totally turned into my mom. It's true. Yes I do have some "new" stuff in my kitchen, but boy do I have a lot of "old" stuff.

Of course, I get it now. New stuff costs money and why spend money when the "old" stuff still works. Yike! I can't believe that I just said that.

The point of this story in case you were wondering is that I finally did replace a piece of "old" stuff this week. Please do not judge me when you see these pictures. Promise?

The "old" grater now sits in a place of honor on top of my Housier cabinet. There is not enough room up there for all of my "old" stuff, some of it just might have to go to the trash. Sad, yes, but to everything there is a season....

Sally

Let the Sun Shine In

I don't know if you have heard, but it has been raining buckets here for days. Seriously, the greyest, cloudiest skies I have ever seen. Did I mention it's been like this for DAYS.










But, just when you think that you can't stand it for one more minute, you wake up to a beautiful, sun shiny day.

FINALLY! I can not even begin to tell you how much my spirits have been lifted. I hope that where ever you are your day has been brightened too.

Sally

More Happy March Stuff

Sometime during the month of March, you have to buy yourself a little shamrock plant. I love this purple one with the little pink flowers.

Since I'm making suggestions, you should also try the St. Patrick's Day Hersey Kisses.

If you enjoy a little chocolate/mint combination, you will love these little green delights.

I found mine at Target.

One (or two) after dinner I've found to be an excellent way to cleanse the palate.

Just a suggestion....

Sally

Cheers to Mary Ann & Earl

Have I told you about the Liquor Barn? You may have one where you live, but shopping there was a new experience for me. The best way that I can describe the Liquor Barn is to say it's like the Ikea for all things alcohol. It's huge, and they have every kind of drink you could ever imagine.

Anyway, my husband, who doesn't really drink, stopped there Friday night on his way home from work. It must have been a tough week at the office. Who knows? He had seen some wine there the last time we ventured in that got him to reminiscing about his childhood. The way his memory works is a mystery to me. He has a knack for recalling even the smallest of details.

The way that this particular story goes (and I might not get it exactly right) is that when his dad was first stationed in England, before they moved into their house, they stayed in a hotel in London and ate dinner every night at the Columbia Club. The only thing on the menu that Alan liked was fried chicken, so he ate fried chicken for dinner every single night (except Sunday, when they had the buffet). But he also remembers that his parents shared a bottle of Mateus every single night. So, when he saw those thousands of bottles of Mateus at the Liquor Barn all of those happy living in England memories came back. Very sweet, don't you think?

Saturday night we shared (half) a bottle and drank a toast to Mary Ann and Earl. Thanks for the memories.

Sally

The "Cutest" Dairy Ingedients EVER!

I worked at the yarn shop on Friday. It was a slow day. Probably because it was raining and yucky outside and everyone just wanted to stay home. I would usually agree and choose to be home myself, except for the fact that the yarn shop is next door to the Fresh Market and no amount of rain could keep me from making a quick stop at my most favorite grocery store.

I couldn't wait until 4:00 finally rolled around. What can I say? The Fresh Market just makes me happy. I always find something "new", something "fun" and Friday that "fun" came in the dairy aile.

If you think that that is just ridiculous, than I'm sorry. Cute little cows and bottled milk speak to me in a way that plain old plastic milk jugs never could. And, just for the record, we really did need milk, half & half, butter and cream cheese. REALLY!

Sally

More signs of Spring

It's not even my Birthday, and yet, I got a present in the mail yesterday.

A wonderful "springy" package full of the brightest kitchen towels you have ever seen.

I'm not kidding.

My friend Angela, who knows my heart so well, says that she saw them and thought of me.

Is that not the sweetest thing ever?

They are adding that little punch of color to my kitchen that I was desperately in need of.

Now if the temperature would cooperate....

Thanks Ang.

Sally

Tea of the Week

One of my Iowa quilting buddies heard through the grapevine (Barb) that I was reinstating "tea time" back into my life. She sent me the most wonderful little package last week.

The best part is that her name is Kandy with a "K" and her husbands name is Steve Smith.

Can you believe it? I'm not sure where she found it or how, but everything about it is perfect.

The name, the box, the pretty little tea bags and best of all the taste. It's delicious.

Thanks Kandy.

Sally

Flower Power

Well, we had a whole lot of rain and then the sun came out. I'm not saying that it feels anything like spring just yet, but look what is popping up all over our yard.

Daffodils to the rescue.

It shouldn't be long now.

I'm hoping they are all bright yellow.

Just like these.

Sally

Short and Sassy

It's been 6 weeks. You know what that means.

Spa day for the Mags.

She is always so excited to go for a ride in the car.

I'm sure she thinks we are off to the park.

As soon as the Groom Room comes in to view it's a whole different story.

She knows what's going to happen. She knows that she will have to pose for pictures.

Most of all she knows that we are all going to laugh (with her).

Doesn't she look happy?

(She's already pulled out one of her bows)

I guess I wasn't fast enough with the camera.

Sally

Happy March!

Sorry that you haven't heard from me in a while. My girl was home this past weekend, and now that we know for sure that she will be leaving us in August to live for her entire sophomore year of college with a host family in SPAIN, I'm trying to spend every possible minute that I can with her. You did hear me right? Right? One whole entire school year. She keeps telling me that that is only really 9 months. REALLY? Only 9 months. Gee, won't that time just fly by.... We are all excited for her and know that it's an opportunity of a lifetime...HELP!

I worked at the yarn shop on Sunday and Grace was kind enough to volunteer to keep me company. You just never know what kind of a crowd you will get on a Sunday afternoon. The first hour was kind of slow which gave us time to chat a bit, but things picked up and the poor girl was left to sit on the sofa and knit for 3 hours. Good thing she likes to knit as much as her mama does.

Hope your weekend was full of fun and good times too.

Sally