Sunday Ramblings

Today was another sunny, warmish day. A perfect day to work outside.

Harvey cut the grass and I watered the hanging baskets under the eaves. Then the day was mine to do with as I chose.

I spent a great deal of time curled up with a book and then went for a walk. While on my walk I noticed all the lilacs were blooming, and their perfume was lovely.

Now I love lilacs but am not lucky enough to have any in my yard so what to do.......

I asked my neighbour if I could clip some of hers to enjoy their fragrance and beauty in my house. Irene said to go right ahead. I am now the proud owner of a lovely bouquet of purple blooms.

Now if I can just keep the cat away from them.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Yard Sale Season

It is the beginning of yard sale season in my neck of the woods.

Last year I started putting a few dollars in my pocket when I went for a walk on the weekends, and I am continuing the practice this year.

Today I stopped at my first yard sale while on a walk. This is what I picked up for a couple of dollars.

I usually spend some money picking up books for those long winter nights when it is just too cold to get to the library. Can't beat the price.

I also picked up this unopened tin full of recipes using that versatile food, cream cheese. It also had blank recipe cards in it. I am sure this will come in use sometime when the urge to make something totally decadent takes control.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

The Perfect Day For......

As today looked much like this

from the time I got back from my rather wet walk (thank heavens I was on my way home when the rain hit). I decided it would be the perfect day to do some baking.

I haven't made pies in awhile so gathered together all my supplies and set to work.

I made three Rhubarb Sponge pies. This is the last one that I took out of the oven. It will make us dessert for the next few days. The other two are residing in their new home, the freezer, to be taken out as needed.

Got to use up much of last years frozen rhubarb, and had fun doing so.

Here is the recipe:

Rhubarb Sponge Pie

3 tbsp softened butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, separated
2 heaping tbsp of flour
1/8 tsp salt
2 cups chopped rhubarb

Mix butter, sugar, egg yolks, flour and salt together and add the rhubarb. In another bowl beat egg whites until stiff and fold into the first mixture. When blended pour into a pie shell. Bake at 400 for 25 mins and then turn down the heat to 325. Bake until golden brown and set when tested in the center.

This is enough for one pie.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Just A Bit Of This And That

The day dawned cloudy and rainy once again, but by mid afternoon the rain had stopped and things were drying out. I decided to take a walk around the yard and get some weeding and such done.

Since our front yard seems to be mostly dandelions I spend a bit of time digging them out. Harvey asked if we had been infested by moles when he saw it. There are still many more out there to dig up, but I am giving the moles a rest for the day.

I then moved on to weeding the hosta bed. To my surprise I found that many of the plants were springing up almost overnight.

I continued on with my weeding, just so happy that these were poking their way through the mulch that I did not mind the weeds I had to pull up. I have been concerned that they were all in that place that dead plants go.

My Virginia Creeper is starting to fill out once again. Considering the size of the duplex that has been built behind us, I am so glad that we will have this bit of privacy on our deck.

More and more blossoms are appearing on the cherry trees. We should have another great crop this year....if I can keep ahead of the birds!!! Which is an ongoing battle every year.

It looks as if spring is really and truly here. That means summer should not be far behind. So looking forward to the nice weather considering the long, cold winter we had.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday May 27th to June 2nd

Before I start my menus for the week, I would like to wish all my friends in the United States a very Happy Memorial Day!!

Monday

Changed the plan already. I was going to have spaghetti, but there is so much tuna casserole left from Friday we will be having that tonight. Some sliced cucumbers on the side.

Tuesday

Leftover Beef Roast thinly sliced with onions, sliced green peppers and sliced mushrooms. I will make a brown gravy to go with and serve this over baking powder biscuits.

Wednesday

Spaghetti and meat sauce, salad on the side.

Thursday

Leftovers from Tuesday as I have a feeling there will be enough left for another meal, serving it over mashed potatoes this time.

Friday

Breakfast for dinner. I think French toast sounds perfect!!

Saturday

Grilled hot dogs and pasta salad.

Sunday

Roast Chicken, mashed potatoes, and carrots. Unless there is lots of pasta salad left and then I will serve that instead of the potatoes.

Everyone have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Sunday Ramblings

It has been a busy day for me considering it is Sunday and supposedly a day of rest.

Started with doing the announcements at Mass this morning, then it was rush home, eat lunch and get on the road once again.

I had a meeting to chair in a small town about an hour away. I swear I left in plenty of time, but with highway construction, farmers burning stubble off the field and getting lost finding a church I have been to many times, I was a bit late!!! Ruined my day totally.

The meeting did go well though and we were finished that in record time. I came home another way to miss the construction and the smoke from the burning stubble. Made good time.

I know a person is supposed to practice patience and I get the fact that some are upset over the new protocols the Church is putting out, but really, it is not that hard to get a Police Record Check to prove that you are not an abuser of any type. I really do not know what the fuss is. I get that some people may be insulted, or decide that they will no longer help. I get that it means that perhaps fewer people will volunteer in various ministries. But this is something we have been asking for, heck even the priests have to undergo this process now. Hopefully people let off steam and will be willing to go with the flow! At one point in the meeting I almost stood up and said what are you hiding, this costs nothing as it is for volunteers, and really unless you have a record what is the big problem. People do fill them out for work.

I am home now with a bunch of reading to do, a report to type up and a workshop to organize for the fall. I think I want to pull some blankets over my head and see if everything will go away.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Garden Is Growing

Today started out being very foggy.

But became a lovely sunny day after a shower this afternoon.

I decided to take the camera and show you how a few of the vegetables are growing.

The peas are popping up. Three whole rows of them. I am hoping that this will give me a few to freeze.

A stalwart row of green beans. I should get plenty along with what I still have in the freezer.

Potatoes, a mainstay in this house. Harvey is a big meat and potatoes man and so are our sons.

Our set onions are getting larger by the day. Harvey always keeps extra to replace the ones I pull to use as green onions in salads and such.

The Walla Walla onions!! These usually get huge and taste oh so sweet. We are hoping for the same this year.

Now if we can only get rain when we need it, sun and warm temperatures we will be able to have another great harvest.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.