tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73123699919618233422024-03-13T12:27:32.230-05:00The Creamer ChroniclesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1510125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-5546338460139413032024-01-11T13:08:00.002-06:002024-01-11T13:11:12.613-06:00A Mess Of Greens<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We're expecting low temperatures </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">in the 20's next week.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Texans are not built for that!</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And neither is my garden, so I went out today to harvest as many greens as I could.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiQDsFI_Yuwx087657DZRMkJsv5zlnBgcIdaDgssWwKHo4DzFJb9aZDXqsE8KeB06KVqkX_bXR0VsmGCoyy7NYxnwgiqnJrgSh0KYqhjnh2dWZFqi5Xatb4FmhBkKGd_uJRIqGTR_rk394Q2mL-QHdRX9g_6pECFNYjP9Ye1OMdpHveMeZ2YNXCyVjcQ/s2448/IMG_3679.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiQDsFI_Yuwx087657DZRMkJsv5zlnBgcIdaDgssWwKHo4DzFJb9aZDXqsE8KeB06KVqkX_bXR0VsmGCoyy7NYxnwgiqnJrgSh0KYqhjnh2dWZFqi5Xatb4FmhBkKGd_uJRIqGTR_rk394Q2mL-QHdRX9g_6pECFNYjP9Ye1OMdpHveMeZ2YNXCyVjcQ/w480-h640/IMG_3679.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">As it turns out, it was <b><i>A LOT</i></b> of greens...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The washed greens covered the span of my island!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Hardy greens like kale, collards, mustards, and swiss chard all lend themselves to freezing and the process in incredibly easy. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">After a thorough washing and removing the stems, roll stacks of your greens into a "cigar" shape and then make rough chops across.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe09QQTlu8_ZSs9JZHXwKEBURrOEyk3cU8Rg-3tDB0RNYbfVxDfOR10gefMkNesh4PPjf4WfX40uSohBgxp2mmxumKMyRuCQt6mFKv86SOyUScHDbmhT6oTsP2tzKuaTEGS6vcPKqG9_4RW1lVSzsiAF_0TvJz09Ri1zrH3fr6nlsDMhdsHty1GTVoPZY/s2123/IMG_3681.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2123" data-original-width="1591" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe09QQTlu8_ZSs9JZHXwKEBURrOEyk3cU8Rg-3tDB0RNYbfVxDfOR10gefMkNesh4PPjf4WfX40uSohBgxp2mmxumKMyRuCQt6mFKv86SOyUScHDbmhT6oTsP2tzKuaTEGS6vcPKqG9_4RW1lVSzsiAF_0TvJz09Ri1zrH3fr6nlsDMhdsHty1GTVoPZY/w480-h640/IMG_3681.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Heat a large pot of water to just under boiling. Put your greens in and blanche for 3 minutes. Remove the leaves with a slotted spoon and submerge into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Keep the leaves in the ice water for 3 minutes then wring them out really well. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUSwlaDfJmo-oDjhSR88UvGxy1WpgoEplCvsapgkLZlnHLuSXZ0aao0def23MyEGhQNZsVEb5Xf9TVCcp95eD8RSxc5loh_ApXFVoqOvoN6lOs5WBK2-pJKHQ2BpNhtZhLxkkHYlxyuM_GJjhe-GM547XKh1WsLbwAziQOTdxeKSOpdnYsP-s4_AR3fc/s2448/IMG_3683.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUSwlaDfJmo-oDjhSR88UvGxy1WpgoEplCvsapgkLZlnHLuSXZ0aao0def23MyEGhQNZsVEb5Xf9TVCcp95eD8RSxc5loh_ApXFVoqOvoN6lOs5WBK2-pJKHQ2BpNhtZhLxkkHYlxyuM_GJjhe-GM547XKh1WsLbwAziQOTdxeKSOpdnYsP-s4_AR3fc/w480-h640/IMG_3683.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>Pack your greens in a quart sized zip lock freezer bag, </span><span>press out all the air, and seal.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2QHKotoGdA6D10uuG4gJGmSVWrmw-DoyxmDpahoiAjD4wod_hsjsoi6F4fgiFgWRCzEg_uZrvHCgC2uVhbhadsxJvpXPMqPr_LzwkTrX6BFOpLJGs-JZ1KRGW4F0r4nondqvCAZyx6wRQ9cbEakQ9UQfiTGLa1IjDJqJhkxkiI9Z6PzoKWTb91b4YnE/s2448/IMG_3685.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2QHKotoGdA6D10uuG4gJGmSVWrmw-DoyxmDpahoiAjD4wod_hsjsoi6F4fgiFgWRCzEg_uZrvHCgC2uVhbhadsxJvpXPMqPr_LzwkTrX6BFOpLJGs-JZ1KRGW4F0r4nondqvCAZyx6wRQ9cbEakQ9UQfiTGLa1IjDJqJhkxkiI9Z6PzoKWTb91b4YnE/w480-h640/IMG_3685.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">These little packets of goodness will keep 10-12 months in the freezer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's so nice to have these on hand to throw into a soup or smoothie. But my favorite way is to boil a smoked ham hock and onion in some chicken stock and add the greens to that for a good 'ol southern "mess of greens."</span></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-73825340638103244132024-01-03T08:30:00.001-06:002024-01-03T12:30:48.239-06:00The Goodness of Bread<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">One day, I took my daughter to the library and while she was browsing, I did some browsing of my own. I went to the cookbook section and found a treasure trove of bread baking books. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I checked out like five of them. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It was wonderful, dare I say <i>life changing</i>...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObiqXt8_M5k15s-GpH7g7J77Zfpc5OrSlVYQnuJvYsqa8cV7dJKticzLw2a7vmBn6DHgc2pd7QwMCEDDMS4Ll3UjB9PmT76KAfYztZ3WYgSMJ-o2HSCp8Pp76cC-Qunt9tpWwk2zoxisZf2r_HLmn9Ygg21pi6r9KG0-t2F7vHkpSz_sTjj366ULy8W0/s3840/5C0E4AA9-76C9-4429-AEC8-676F0D9C7C47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObiqXt8_M5k15s-GpH7g7J77Zfpc5OrSlVYQnuJvYsqa8cV7dJKticzLw2a7vmBn6DHgc2pd7QwMCEDDMS4Ll3UjB9PmT76KAfYztZ3WYgSMJ-o2HSCp8Pp76cC-Qunt9tpWwk2zoxisZf2r_HLmn9Ygg21pi6r9KG0-t2F7vHkpSz_sTjj366ULy8W0/w360-h640/5C0E4AA9-76C9-4429-AEC8-676F0D9C7C47.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My favorite book was this one: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: x-large;"><b><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bread+baking+for+beginners" target="_blank">Bread Baking for Beginners</a></u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I literally baked my way through this book!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, I'm no stranger to bread baking. You can see in some of the previous posts on this blog that I did quite a bit of it. But this book helped me take my skills to the next level!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aj-PdZLUiPSVzlOnB7ZMuHWdbN-s37Psqtvl1FpYRM6TFRGxDfzyigRhN-Dy1m6AiHC9bPuffJK9GiIA1hnOfddDVoVs_hxSIKQz4osRcO83fqLY0MD4mix1iSmFC2OLvhaKGh3o_14hq_PAnfezum2x0O0r4xhTaQlBtZ_y6tSgjU6mCowjpf34-mM/s2448/IMG_3435.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aj-PdZLUiPSVzlOnB7ZMuHWdbN-s37Psqtvl1FpYRM6TFRGxDfzyigRhN-Dy1m6AiHC9bPuffJK9GiIA1hnOfddDVoVs_hxSIKQz4osRcO83fqLY0MD4mix1iSmFC2OLvhaKGh3o_14hq_PAnfezum2x0O0r4xhTaQlBtZ_y6tSgjU6mCowjpf34-mM/w480-h640/IMG_3435.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And I shall refer to December 2023 as the month of <i>"Fatty Christmas"</i> because I baked so many versions of bread...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-9R6vwYLFc2WAQEyEZnkUUVU0cgyeeTAgNWmpKqKwxfHyfNEPdmFP9SvdrALgEjvj6-Le0EUhCoLCa2V1avtFVaQZfLqIRdDUv9PbWuN56bXV5n1fgDLZdBGNeREiuY2joAxnjpsCzO2NLsXi3nJAusDlQce98pGRz7iwsc0UNxizxwDSlWv4kYqUY0/s4032/IMG_3590.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3020" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-9R6vwYLFc2WAQEyEZnkUUVU0cgyeeTAgNWmpKqKwxfHyfNEPdmFP9SvdrALgEjvj6-Le0EUhCoLCa2V1avtFVaQZfLqIRdDUv9PbWuN56bXV5n1fgDLZdBGNeREiuY2joAxnjpsCzO2NLsXi3nJAusDlQce98pGRz7iwsc0UNxizxwDSlWv4kYqUY0/w640-h480/IMG_3590.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Focaccia,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZQO63MUQO0LZv_i5Of3_iHherO_9bfc0pUFtNSJKdK4dZUlRCjWWckROgdqyY6BPh8jJYmEg3CfZ7DW6kH_8sOewvcd0zNmvdWuOC07H_KjKoLJM7EEKkYfmVf6BtDKMV87xDWBOuK7zc_5PnswzfN61EpmxMYNv2_90RD1IMC8YFnYexHNhahUdaVs/s4032/IMG_3467.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZQO63MUQO0LZv_i5Of3_iHherO_9bfc0pUFtNSJKdK4dZUlRCjWWckROgdqyY6BPh8jJYmEg3CfZ7DW6kH_8sOewvcd0zNmvdWuOC07H_KjKoLJM7EEKkYfmVf6BtDKMV87xDWBOuK7zc_5PnswzfN61EpmxMYNv2_90RD1IMC8YFnYexHNhahUdaVs/w480-h640/IMG_3467.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cinnamon & Sugar,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWYXYWUPHhCcfbKRu-V_1q6Hogt3QhsRD07IyDvT1MkYMa7lH94jAicod8gDA71pX1f10vIKMsGVPM0t9TAC4jrBrVzYS-ga1yVr82cwQNwA9lkUK7PlaTc3mJB0GTtpK_DlrvnqxIRGdGqsEUIS_kLIWOsaeRhDwhss7JCC6K2x8jM9878d9qJ58k_k/s1799/AF0B1CC8-B44F-48C0-8AA2-72C43A1203F9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWYXYWUPHhCcfbKRu-V_1q6Hogt3QhsRD07IyDvT1MkYMa7lH94jAicod8gDA71pX1f10vIKMsGVPM0t9TAC4jrBrVzYS-ga1yVr82cwQNwA9lkUK7PlaTc3mJB0GTtpK_DlrvnqxIRGdGqsEUIS_kLIWOsaeRhDwhss7JCC6K2x8jM9878d9qJ58k_k/w512-h640/AF0B1CC8-B44F-48C0-8AA2-72C43A1203F9.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">English muffins,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eDXSh1MRn1fPa-t_QA7AG6NrQSPa4snTmnAi87seR8RanQqobop5dbMqYA7_bbNZMegrw10HEO05O-aI5nMOBd-X4pvh-3myRSDLPmxkqc6bMq1oK6hJML-Y1tHnsi7ZHaD-xyklmhw8r_NaG-FMIbiePKjNbrN3jsiWfd5zVR7HxzE_Ins44hGLlTA/s2448/IMG_3345.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eDXSh1MRn1fPa-t_QA7AG6NrQSPa4snTmnAi87seR8RanQqobop5dbMqYA7_bbNZMegrw10HEO05O-aI5nMOBd-X4pvh-3myRSDLPmxkqc6bMq1oK6hJML-Y1tHnsi7ZHaD-xyklmhw8r_NaG-FMIbiePKjNbrN3jsiWfd5zVR7HxzE_Ins44hGLlTA/w480-h640/IMG_3345.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">An insane amount of pizza,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and the list goes on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And while this little side track may seem frivolous to some, I have gained so much confidence in this new skill. Mass produced bread products are just that, mass produced. One reason homemade bread tastes so much better is that I know exactly what is going into it. Not every loaf of bread is perfect, but every loaf of bread is edible...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and that makes bread baking the most delicious form of therapy for me while my garden is sleeping over the winter.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-78274429010344444192023-12-21T07:12:00.002-06:002023-12-21T07:12:07.372-06:00Wild Lettuce<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So in my last post, I told you about my farm job. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y'ALL...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I come home most days, jump in the shower,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> take 4 Motrin, 2 Aleve, crank the heating pad to the "lava" setting and crash for several hours.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am old.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am out of shape.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am basically falling apart.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Doug had been doing some research on medicinal herbs and came across wild lettuce. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, that's <i>WILD</i> lettuce...<i>NOT</i> the devil's lettuce!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Anyway, it turns out that it is an incredible natural pain reliever. Doug bought a bottle of capsules of the dried herb and I've been taking them daily. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I take them in conjunction with an OTC pain reliver and only at night and I have to admit that it does what it says! It relaxes me and makes me a little sleepy. On the nights I forget take it, I usually wake up several times due to pain. I liked the effects so much that I purchased a package of seeds from <a href="https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #a64d79;">Strictly Medicinal Seeds </span></b></a>and grew out five plants this past fall.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_wgHdMH_zwxqXYOyizLQsH62nXnDdsZgJp7LFvzYTtZTPZ1UBW9YA9fn_YOMxnA_JZhLIpTpgGL4ZyZ19M1uN-zNGm_fmyl4laknGZFhdEuthHLXL93Gw2JSIleu53LjI8TEjBkWu59PifhCofiTRcf8B_IfSS9NXC_EXfm1dmZzlj9t2dTEg1PJwjo/s4032/IMG_3482.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_wgHdMH_zwxqXYOyizLQsH62nXnDdsZgJp7LFvzYTtZTPZ1UBW9YA9fn_YOMxnA_JZhLIpTpgGL4ZyZ19M1uN-zNGm_fmyl4laknGZFhdEuthHLXL93Gw2JSIleu53LjI8TEjBkWu59PifhCofiTRcf8B_IfSS9NXC_EXfm1dmZzlj9t2dTEg1PJwjo/w480-h640/IMG_3482.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There are about 50 varieties of wild lettuce and from what I've read, they all have about the same medicinal qualities. I recently harvested the plants and dried them. I think I'll make a tincture to last me through the winter and then re-sow the plants in the spring.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU01DqAQbOFD8lE5GQsBwMpjFY1OxA3DAR_1wZyNyUmBxlotMDNflpfuN-wkrtyYURqyJNkIDKDlUlvFnMLfBRyssGV6Y-wEREEMru2GtR5eSAVKKkApLOlelBkQ_AIHdm3TrpDuFBvom4hQywSTLf5kBQA_AEjBt2k3S-PdfeFK8yvSDFbaSiEMNj_uo/s4032/IMG_3502.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU01DqAQbOFD8lE5GQsBwMpjFY1OxA3DAR_1wZyNyUmBxlotMDNflpfuN-wkrtyYURqyJNkIDKDlUlvFnMLfBRyssGV6Y-wEREEMru2GtR5eSAVKKkApLOlelBkQ_AIHdm3TrpDuFBvom4hQywSTLf5kBQA_AEjBt2k3S-PdfeFK8yvSDFbaSiEMNj_uo/w480-h640/IMG_3502.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For me, it's a great substitution </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">for so much OTC medication,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and I know my liver will thank me for that!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Check out some info on Wild Lettuce<a href="https://practicalselfreliance.com/wild-lettuce-pain-relief/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> HERE</span></b></a>.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-65121230008501215852023-12-17T07:55:00.002-06:002023-12-17T07:55:36.553-06:00The Perks of a Second Job!<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So how does a girl go from having <i>no job</i> for a year to having <i>TWO</i>?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm not quite sure, but if I figure it out I'll tell you.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It turns out the job at our local college is VERY part time....more like PRN. PRN is "nurse-speak" for "as needed", and they really don't need me that much. Also, it's winter break and there is simply nothing available for me until the new year. So when I get a call from a local farm for help with their gardening, I jumped at the chance!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The job is at a homestead/farm just a few miles from me. It has lovely gardens, lots of farm animals, and two of the kindest folks you'll ever meet who call it home. My days are spent weeding, planting, watching the ducks on the pond, and listening to the birds. My strength isn't what is used to be, but I'm working on that! And there I DO get my part time hours, and at Christmas time, it is much appreciated.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-TKnTmOA3q5rNL9dBu7CnbHsRBa3DATMr8EJRDzJ-K4skuA1HdRnH_gHKFnKNclKw7dIVhWXCUCpBEBBrxxQ3CRYHDwSutiw7YGh3_GBt5gzIW4DAisrMsvEgzwqWBudTnj0fOD6gSvrp10I0etKVyfAQwp7-7-o0sEJRUtfcz8v4ANWvLLUA-S3Fqs/s1799/09B64DFB-D04E-457A-B22C-AA7B8CECF4BB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-TKnTmOA3q5rNL9dBu7CnbHsRBa3DATMr8EJRDzJ-K4skuA1HdRnH_gHKFnKNclKw7dIVhWXCUCpBEBBrxxQ3CRYHDwSutiw7YGh3_GBt5gzIW4DAisrMsvEgzwqWBudTnj0fOD6gSvrp10I0etKVyfAQwp7-7-o0sEJRUtfcz8v4ANWvLLUA-S3Fqs/w512-h640/09B64DFB-D04E-457A-B22C-AA7B8CECF4BB.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">One of the residents of this lovely little farm is this Jersey cow. She is very gentle and her owner has provided a "cow share" to some local families for her milk. Now, we're no stranger to raw milk! It literally cured John Paul of terrible eczema when he was a child, but to actually be able to milk a cow myself? I never thought I'd have the chance! But here I am with the opportunity to milk her twice a week until the new year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have a feeling she is going to be my new best friend and I can't wait to make cheese and butter with her gift of milk...and fresh steamed cream for my morning coffee. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">THAT'S the kind of benefits package I can get behind!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_fZ03xBJx5I5Hhe1iudHp7NwlNFh4yOPgcYNzqjBnh5-eeZmYDIMqHJ0LolugpzlVPjqGKq_t54ZaxI7tgLUOOZSbuDNUxbo3hw6cVbqocpoCOuswHmzQz8I8jD0-KM5cA3sdtqfvNx95XtzH1lsJpCFzE8tABCB3n_ioyBB7zacn4F47UE50iQnjFA/s1799/AB56A426-3EF8-41BB-BB34-DE9BB47E6DBC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_fZ03xBJx5I5Hhe1iudHp7NwlNFh4yOPgcYNzqjBnh5-eeZmYDIMqHJ0LolugpzlVPjqGKq_t54ZaxI7tgLUOOZSbuDNUxbo3hw6cVbqocpoCOuswHmzQz8I8jD0-KM5cA3sdtqfvNx95XtzH1lsJpCFzE8tABCB3n_ioyBB7zacn4F47UE50iQnjFA/w512-h640/AB56A426-3EF8-41BB-BB34-DE9BB47E6DBC.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So say a prayer for good weather, and strength for my back and messed up foot. God has yet again provided us a source of income with the added bonus of tending to His creation.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheMedinaFarm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Check out: The Medina Farm</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now if I could just muster up the strength to tend my own garden!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-23934301544653206002023-11-25T09:28:00.003-06:002023-11-25T09:28:48.647-06:00Happy Thanksgiving<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Turkey, football, and pumpkin pie!</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodoSe2o1_nvXi8W7bd6PB5uy-FDCVwgYcP5BU2QEmUWpfc2iBl-J05OZGmWNZ0eqsDnVTQahWutfd5QCs3RS2cyfNASxwvUBuRjuToVLVI9ywG9dqP97o2SI1FxDFGwOdg0RfAKaSPyHnBy-H0SriXcwoqh6asQ1WP-rudx1DPlR4omtBzpSf9oLq8mI/s2448/IMG_3360.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="2448" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjodoSe2o1_nvXi8W7bd6PB5uy-FDCVwgYcP5BU2QEmUWpfc2iBl-J05OZGmWNZ0eqsDnVTQahWutfd5QCs3RS2cyfNASxwvUBuRjuToVLVI9ywG9dqP97o2SI1FxDFGwOdg0RfAKaSPyHnBy-H0SriXcwoqh6asQ1WP-rudx1DPlR4omtBzpSf9oLq8mI/w640-h480/IMG_3360.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Today I give thanks for my stretchy pants...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fqlIfQRmYqs0meX0ogYntzHI5Xyd-ASBcs-7WtdMh-ve_vHjEhz-NSzBY7Mrw-4GHzSPnIimIu83AWDRNfNuiroiYUPUIZ4cI3hYCmZFkcqLFUHUgn10rEyOyzeLDgFGASQeWZthc7pecpz6LN_jIepLIAaYdei7CjiAyFrzWg9V2aOz9bNaKpkeIHg/s4032/IMG_3349.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fqlIfQRmYqs0meX0ogYntzHI5Xyd-ASBcs-7WtdMh-ve_vHjEhz-NSzBY7Mrw-4GHzSPnIimIu83AWDRNfNuiroiYUPUIZ4cI3hYCmZFkcqLFUHUgn10rEyOyzeLDgFGASQeWZthc7pecpz6LN_jIepLIAaYdei7CjiAyFrzWg9V2aOz9bNaKpkeIHg/w480-h640/IMG_3349.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...and for wine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fXUpMO7_7rvRDCY-oUZKww1jxArnS51316iYTyLa8cRjQS4BVcDihtL18TAPePpcUspqbdqBLyafpEsjG0F6kiBXdoS5EOxYiuNB2GkSrnT7nT2HTq7htF3GndVqnVAq9Mfps2nWBMiMVoTNNBoi12jFmzUlN_MAZ8X6xvQC7Dl2SueBs4kgvj9mUHE/s4032/IMG_3354.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fXUpMO7_7rvRDCY-oUZKww1jxArnS51316iYTyLa8cRjQS4BVcDihtL18TAPePpcUspqbdqBLyafpEsjG0F6kiBXdoS5EOxYiuNB2GkSrnT7nT2HTq7htF3GndVqnVAq9Mfps2nWBMiMVoTNNBoi12jFmzUlN_MAZ8X6xvQC7Dl2SueBs4kgvj9mUHE/w480-h640/IMG_3354.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thank you, Lord, for every blessing!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Thanksgiving from</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Creamers</span></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-11388759723757542152023-11-17T15:27:00.004-06:002023-11-17T16:55:37.785-06:00One Year Later...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Exactly one year ago today, November 3, 2022,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I was fired from Houston Methodist Hospital for refusing to take the Covid 19 vaccine. My 31 year nursing career ended. Ended not on my terms but the terms of a tyrannical mandate. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I spent that November and December embracing the time off and trying to make the holidays magical for my family. I was thankful for that time off to decompress and to mentally deal with being fired for no wrong doing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">As 2023 started, I began to apply for (non-nursing) jobs. And the more jobs I applied for, the more I was rejected. It seemed no one wanted an educated older woman to work for them. I became depressed, angry, and anxious about taking care of my family. Doug stepped up and began to work more. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It was tough, but God <i><b>always</b></i> met our needs.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here we are again at November 3rd. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Today I had an interview with Wharton County Junior College for a position as an instructor for vocational nursing. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I was hired on the spot. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Did you read that? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>Exactly</b></i> one year from my firing, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I was hired again!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">To be truthful, I never wanted to go back to any kind of nursing after getting fired. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm still very salty about the whole ordeal! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But I'm very excited about the future and teaching the next generation of nurses. I want to help them become strong, critical thinkers who are firm in their beliefs...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and willing to walk away if they are asked to violate their conscience.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Because I believe that the character of a nurse is just as important as the knowledge he/she possesses.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklSibU_6fpCdDdJgInxYAxGZqe8ODoYCwHqXxZPQ0WSOeVUG2PbKNrV0GpHRpdvdgC5vqzRGvXFudkYAEqL_iv_wur-yEP5EU5bDv2WkHXRo8lxws9qsA25HEjn9uqZb_VyiA4_4G89k-xFFlOt01b3QPz4fE6uug0zGE_EEBPRuwTyL7yE28nL1zEEU/s2448/IMG_3326.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhklSibU_6fpCdDdJgInxYAxGZqe8ODoYCwHqXxZPQ0WSOeVUG2PbKNrV0GpHRpdvdgC5vqzRGvXFudkYAEqL_iv_wur-yEP5EU5bDv2WkHXRo8lxws9qsA25HEjn9uqZb_VyiA4_4G89k-xFFlOt01b3QPz4fE6uug0zGE_EEBPRuwTyL7yE28nL1zEEU/w480-h640/IMG_3326.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-73678568683944613202023-10-30T12:49:00.002-05:002023-10-30T12:55:05.902-05:00Pecan Season<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here we are at the end of October and quite possibly the BEST pecan season we've ever had! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have three large pecan trees in my backyard and despite record high temps and a drought this summer, these trees have pumped out </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">pounds and pounds of pecans.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC_l5fVUcthUBozwLjARGUeSrRzAYVPclT8vJA9kizrQLLkVgxqvh7dAeDY3W42YHaY0-O5UkEIuv9fnG7fMFq5x1bg6xnelDhb7HHmuLz3vDObGYc-pWZO3mDaEIKUOj-nnhfqevbr75ntdec3mwoCQLbBX2OTDAVi_qMX8LtRLOVBF-PlljlizmQck/s1799/pecan1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwC_l5fVUcthUBozwLjARGUeSrRzAYVPclT8vJA9kizrQLLkVgxqvh7dAeDY3W42YHaY0-O5UkEIuv9fnG7fMFq5x1bg6xnelDhb7HHmuLz3vDObGYc-pWZO3mDaEIKUOj-nnhfqevbr75ntdec3mwoCQLbBX2OTDAVi_qMX8LtRLOVBF-PlljlizmQck/w512-h640/pecan1.jpg" width="512" /></a></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And not just regular pecans, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">these babies are full and buttery. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Literally the best harvest we've ever had!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5FGG5ecgBFmg9gI8UjgBDIHnV1bOraAbLlWT9kblOmNzeyjoDDOOxpyBTQwJC9d5dBu6Vt7jqBNUh4SvXLA7ElQW78ZZrbvy3p5xkWpfh4bLGMw2Al_A4rSVcQe6sbdS4jRXwD2YgfZ93rc4Z8b254gGIm_Wt8ISgDhMHnYvX07_RWA3mUwoDQ74ooA/s1799/pecan2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5FGG5ecgBFmg9gI8UjgBDIHnV1bOraAbLlWT9kblOmNzeyjoDDOOxpyBTQwJC9d5dBu6Vt7jqBNUh4SvXLA7ElQW78ZZrbvy3p5xkWpfh4bLGMw2Al_A4rSVcQe6sbdS4jRXwD2YgfZ93rc4Z8b254gGIm_Wt8ISgDhMHnYvX07_RWA3mUwoDQ74ooA/w512-h640/pecan2.jpg" width="512" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And every October, me and Abby are in the backyard harvesting these beauties. Abby has an un-natural love of pecans (or any nut for that matter). Some years she'd eat the shells and all! But most days we'd sit together and I'd shell half a dozen or so for her.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1dqEA7mnUBqdQQqP_lxM60g1HsK8Q8jDC0i_d2cri9dLFehuuHwCii7cx_LUxN1j4N8lFUEcEyc9bIA1GAvqAl_EIaJ-iRnZlf459OH8DYwFghRY7LJvXQF20GlinXouR1O-9Qxp7xqhAChkSVhqY5u0Z9P4g4tXKB31iCpN60TfI6sNuSRgH28J72U/s4032/IMG_3144.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1dqEA7mnUBqdQQqP_lxM60g1HsK8Q8jDC0i_d2cri9dLFehuuHwCii7cx_LUxN1j4N8lFUEcEyc9bIA1GAvqAl_EIaJ-iRnZlf459OH8DYwFghRY7LJvXQF20GlinXouR1O-9Qxp7xqhAChkSVhqY5u0Z9P4g4tXKB31iCpN60TfI6sNuSRgH28J72U/w480-h640/IMG_3144.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But this year is a little different. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Abby is going on 15 years old, and the poor girl is feeling it. She still goes outside with me to harvest pecans, and I still feed her as many as I can crack by hand. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Maybe the trees know, too, that this is Abby's last pecan season. Maybe that's why they're extra good this year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmMkzJn5UeVmfGm77DzHn5cngzMOSHOWetLidIRVNkLaDP7I0J2ay1PvNfYD-5jlnzySEkeZWMVeXo31gpU0pbuemGrbkxmBBK4LbY0LKadEIKl1FphNLKBUJaJXiW57-y7LXfdXmtOA8TPLJ_kTZfkTVs9S9HZ5OLHU0YiECmJEcXzbl5Jh30MZoMec/s4032/IMG_3142.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmMkzJn5UeVmfGm77DzHn5cngzMOSHOWetLidIRVNkLaDP7I0J2ay1PvNfYD-5jlnzySEkeZWMVeXo31gpU0pbuemGrbkxmBBK4LbY0LKadEIKl1FphNLKBUJaJXiW57-y7LXfdXmtOA8TPLJ_kTZfkTVs9S9HZ5OLHU0YiECmJEcXzbl5Jh30MZoMec/w480-h640/IMG_3142.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And you can be sure that I'll bloody my fingers shelling them to make sure she gets her fill.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-4426570386288724372023-10-23T15:35:00.001-05:002023-10-24T15:53:48.671-05:00Thirty Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">October 23, 1993</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Two young kids in love.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMHVAnwaXS7miyZ7xhNXSSgCrbikEQhEKpx5E75dn8zXU5r0WAK3EpPOuqo52AWjvLbdwdDwJOMmkgC9Hxv_xcY7nqwJ2mzC5VEUvo7i-9BVuRvw_HeyU3qyI2pVCyqYz0TFwSdMZnEh3bquFBcVt8KiMd2h9g6yZ8sCYfjUisjlfcp4330o_Z2gazpU/s3985/IMG_3164.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3985" data-original-width="2989" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMHVAnwaXS7miyZ7xhNXSSgCrbikEQhEKpx5E75dn8zXU5r0WAK3EpPOuqo52AWjvLbdwdDwJOMmkgC9Hxv_xcY7nqwJ2mzC5VEUvo7i-9BVuRvw_HeyU3qyI2pVCyqYz0TFwSdMZnEh3bquFBcVt8KiMd2h9g6yZ8sCYfjUisjlfcp4330o_Z2gazpU/w480-h640/IMG_3164.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">October 23, 2023</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Two old farts STILL in love!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0l7ScBOFyTt_e91yGdTMAuuJVHa9y-sfk4LSKU5Ab4p-jfIvHKm49Lkdtbei9b_1sX4vIeA_KxKFunF7MaxUTTVdhyphenhyphenc_4tWd8x30bqqskOdKMbffBtTq22otd4WuKvmdW0r_QbvFDdtIWAxdPVPI5ZuJVUgfJUsBiU9qEJirhRYhvThOXmJraqmFddw/s2448/IMG_3182.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="2448" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0l7ScBOFyTt_e91yGdTMAuuJVHa9y-sfk4LSKU5Ab4p-jfIvHKm49Lkdtbei9b_1sX4vIeA_KxKFunF7MaxUTTVdhyphenhyphenc_4tWd8x30bqqskOdKMbffBtTq22otd4WuKvmdW0r_QbvFDdtIWAxdPVPI5ZuJVUgfJUsBiU9qEJirhRYhvThOXmJraqmFddw/w640-h480/IMG_3182.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">30 years</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">360 months</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1,560 weeks</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">10,950 days</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and still counting...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-41279714866538081992023-10-18T18:16:00.007-05:002023-10-21T18:34:13.014-05:00Turning 22<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I don't know about you, but I'm feelin' 22...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(<i>sing along ala T.Swift!</i>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggopTfUjrivggHO8rtZnGg0NImnbMKldRsDtbSIq2v6MnqY4TxcoJ9JnkxMlRWrsspXACZNkZRvQ-icrwtjx1cJ3XvMyEMhx2IQFqsVi9qs-2l-SrcfL6FH7U4XkU0LhumaBfm2w0NwDNMNwhql3fD3JeER6huUso7ubFFvYfjfDBYkwAR2cunKdVX-Yg/s1856/IMG_3104.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="1599" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggopTfUjrivggHO8rtZnGg0NImnbMKldRsDtbSIq2v6MnqY4TxcoJ9JnkxMlRWrsspXACZNkZRvQ-icrwtjx1cJ3XvMyEMhx2IQFqsVi9qs-2l-SrcfL6FH7U4XkU0LhumaBfm2w0NwDNMNwhql3fD3JeER6huUso7ubFFvYfjfDBYkwAR2cunKdVX-Yg/w552-h640/IMG_3104.HEIC" width="552" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Everyone in our family has a birthday buddy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mary Grace and John Paul are a mere </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">six days apart by dates.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaY1J3-UHkahqkvdrdlYf5XVb8FbIu-PuFgYNC7aLp3puLR9BsYdZfZn5EQn2AkW2k7Ma0WZxkg_GBzizMMnrOMLU0ho-ZId8c6R4IAdRuxpLHJClbrBP80IXcJN74WGF61nQ74-ce8mIauCcRCmLmqwTlIpHuplf7s0I-uwxsxXVgzBZToa8hUxc3y-4/s958/IMG_3108.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="622" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaY1J3-UHkahqkvdrdlYf5XVb8FbIu-PuFgYNC7aLp3puLR9BsYdZfZn5EQn2AkW2k7Ma0WZxkg_GBzizMMnrOMLU0ho-ZId8c6R4IAdRuxpLHJClbrBP80IXcJN74WGF61nQ74-ce8mIauCcRCmLmqwTlIpHuplf7s0I-uwxsxXVgzBZToa8hUxc3y-4/w416-h640/IMG_3108.HEIC" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's a busy time of year for us!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Due to unforeseen circumstances, we couldn't make the drive to go see JP this year. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But thank goodness for Door Dash! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This mama sent him a lemon Bundtini to celebrate.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(IYKYK)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2mRVETy_pH1mdury2i0Rg-0_hACbY7idhFk4NHxlvEVSn7olmmYYxpSK9PhIbh_t9QXB6f9taPJB0-B3rTkfqNn4K3uOMzBWgTHCxkmI8l4cvhOyxlgtmHlr64fXKoWEjhUmkThokTemcFTpZ6GlL1ric5dbho46f_qoJgFg7tZ-8TvslsB9MyL62Qg/s1103/IMG_3107.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="1103" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2mRVETy_pH1mdury2i0Rg-0_hACbY7idhFk4NHxlvEVSn7olmmYYxpSK9PhIbh_t9QXB6f9taPJB0-B3rTkfqNn4K3uOMzBWgTHCxkmI8l4cvhOyxlgtmHlr64fXKoWEjhUmkThokTemcFTpZ6GlL1ric5dbho46f_qoJgFg7tZ-8TvslsB9MyL62Qg/w640-h360/IMG_3107.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He had a quiet evening hanging out with his friends at his apartment.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">You know, it's a mother's job to teach her children not to need her anymore.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The hardest part of that job is accepting success.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Even at 22, you'll still always be my sweet little boy!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-51967201318559304202023-10-17T10:25:00.004-05:002023-10-17T10:25:36.561-05:00Turning 12<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Our Mary Grace turned 12 and we celebrated </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">for <b><i>three whole days!</i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK46VwKryMMZjxEXWpF6l703QPH6q9XZJl6XDlimLB-NSRg-1b6B2f7t_SZMWej6AzsoHSYxSP51Fr5djpS5UnNfp-PS0EppWwTweS8hUba2cCxDU9aNGJeuVGRvuz8jpzgHL303AcyPPWlGE-ABhOqD2Moc1nhDaYZcN9ZduXJa0NAmaj9YnyFDdJCU/s4032/IMG_3045.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVK46VwKryMMZjxEXWpF6l703QPH6q9XZJl6XDlimLB-NSRg-1b6B2f7t_SZMWej6AzsoHSYxSP51Fr5djpS5UnNfp-PS0EppWwTweS8hUba2cCxDU9aNGJeuVGRvuz8jpzgHL303AcyPPWlGE-ABhOqD2Moc1nhDaYZcN9ZduXJa0NAmaj9YnyFDdJCU/w480-h640/IMG_3045.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When you're the youngest of five and the only girl, sometimes you have to be a little bit EXTRA.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO2khvUcL6tPAi3-2jG9vOCXNRdlWcwplYWIQuNSaGIO7s45Pw8szCi_6GqnPuItP20scQcLXdDRRI5j32ZCOSSOrrqN79IyMTfLSZPVMgPish14hlTN1kDJT_Nwa7hDw7Q8q85GXUSwiG99smlzuvJdFF_XzPo5XSK-tqpNvRMWbylOugPHrDPXpBiE/s2448/IMG_3040.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO2khvUcL6tPAi3-2jG9vOCXNRdlWcwplYWIQuNSaGIO7s45Pw8szCi_6GqnPuItP20scQcLXdDRRI5j32ZCOSSOrrqN79IyMTfLSZPVMgPish14hlTN1kDJT_Nwa7hDw7Q8q85GXUSwiG99smlzuvJdFF_XzPo5XSK-tqpNvRMWbylOugPHrDPXpBiE/w480-h640/IMG_3040.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We started off with a trip to the mall for some shopping and getting her ears pierced. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">She was such a trooper and didn't even flinch! Now she can hardly wait for the six weeks to pass to get some fun and funky earrings to wear.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQojUHE4HBJdwNKMRpkkAcf7f-dfYNuAcT_bj5iPcHtPtX_I0XkAVhho9GEfC7a14tA1Mzx81v7Pg9oKcLyX_V5O9uMaf-RZo9gxjqT1eVZ470luv0CcXiVIHFjYLQ_P8h1dcZN21Gqm1UR8YtNyo8tYI1Kvgeguiae0w5G74tVI54hQW25BDp9lwk3U/s4032/IMG_3038.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQojUHE4HBJdwNKMRpkkAcf7f-dfYNuAcT_bj5iPcHtPtX_I0XkAVhho9GEfC7a14tA1Mzx81v7Pg9oKcLyX_V5O9uMaf-RZo9gxjqT1eVZ470luv0CcXiVIHFjYLQ_P8h1dcZN21Gqm1UR8YtNyo8tYI1Kvgeguiae0w5G74tVI54hQW25BDp9lwk3U/w480-h640/IMG_3038.HEIC" width="480" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I had taken to FaceBook to ask about fun places to have lunch or dinner to celebrate. You all gave some great ideas and I was excited to take her out. When lunch time rolled around, do you know what she wanted? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mall pizza and her favorite drink from Starbucks!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mvRsNSZmICJM8NbhCBO8CuFoJR-RrhJwneGnCtcbkN5OrlVS_l9K99_vYZeUtsUxb9L74NRB78HpOymJeb6S5E77vmt8xhFSFxCrqs-VeDOKflq_4qm42VaxZyU91EAZAW5TmZm_s1yP2AxsnpohpsupVtCrRk-_TZLgUZLC30aBp9lhsbIOP3COvWY/s2448/IMG_3066.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="2448" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mvRsNSZmICJM8NbhCBO8CuFoJR-RrhJwneGnCtcbkN5OrlVS_l9K99_vYZeUtsUxb9L74NRB78HpOymJeb6S5E77vmt8xhFSFxCrqs-VeDOKflq_4qm42VaxZyU91EAZAW5TmZm_s1yP2AxsnpohpsupVtCrRk-_TZLgUZLC30aBp9lhsbIOP3COvWY/w640-h480/IMG_3066.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The next day, we had a girls night out and went to see the Taylor Swift ERAS TOUR movie. It was so cute seeing her sing and dance to the music. She even came prepared with friendship bracelets to trade!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoHg4QX9H2eV469KPoXT2Q5O2drx6lHNX2ke6Pj6SDj4nwxn7UcV7Hzn5qUA5NZybSdQMxfayWkCzKdJaeW9Utzahrroy6sjZsQXwyQtmZoTxwqx22FQmTiYGc-b0nzTTrmpM_L8gUrrouKGzBctCLettAK7q4h5wKm1IG1nRvaNJP9BXRjoniWq2kSg/s1429/PhotoRoom_20231015_083543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1429" data-original-width="1171" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoHg4QX9H2eV469KPoXT2Q5O2drx6lHNX2ke6Pj6SDj4nwxn7UcV7Hzn5qUA5NZybSdQMxfayWkCzKdJaeW9Utzahrroy6sjZsQXwyQtmZoTxwqx22FQmTiYGc-b0nzTTrmpM_L8gUrrouKGzBctCLettAK7q4h5wKm1IG1nRvaNJP9BXRjoniWq2kSg/w524-h640/PhotoRoom_20231015_083543.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The last day of celebration stole the show!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Our #3 son, and Mary Grace's best buddy-John Paul, came into town to take her to her first concert. They ventured into downtown Houston for Suki Waterhouse. And honestly, I have no idea who she is or what she sings! But Mary loved it and rode that high through the weekend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA-PZ0cjkEvkFtF6BwNU-G9hyjF6I8u5cB9fZM8RSoxeQkxCKK3abtJv6oI0K3dLUWhpeoXNEYlFXA-5TP2K_Qonbbo3xuZ4Zp6F9vx0KFPgNhBsdBliGNv1RCkcRH8WgWePS3qe-HPqDRmMJLJpCxMAVCeVvRNriu9Q1RKFQgaUkvlt5G-5TWdRp_mA/s1760/FB1DBF86-0474-4892-AF16-290EBA17C102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1760" data-original-width="1737" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA-PZ0cjkEvkFtF6BwNU-G9hyjF6I8u5cB9fZM8RSoxeQkxCKK3abtJv6oI0K3dLUWhpeoXNEYlFXA-5TP2K_Qonbbo3xuZ4Zp6F9vx0KFPgNhBsdBliGNv1RCkcRH8WgWePS3qe-HPqDRmMJLJpCxMAVCeVvRNriu9Q1RKFQgaUkvlt5G-5TWdRp_mA/w632-h640/FB1DBF86-0474-4892-AF16-290EBA17C102.jpg" width="632" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Oh, and there was even a solar eclipse in her honor!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Fitting, don't you think?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But I don't know how we'll top THAT next year!</span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-52375269150978884152023-09-14T09:51:00.000-05:002023-09-14T09:51:14.522-05:00Fire Cider<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The end of summer begins the prep for cold and flu season. My counter is currently filled with jars full of ferments for wellness, and the main one is FIRE CIDER. <span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">Fire cider is full of health benefits from medicinal plants and herbs that are infused into raw apple cider vinegar and sweetened with raw honey</span><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">. A tablespoon a day will help support your immune system and overall health throughout the year but especially during cold and flu season.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px;">Here's how I make it:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o3TAgIBISH9HC7t4wTFO88f6vEIQXqEzcneyowtLl77HWjD8nrJrytZqXnP-iSqC1_QMAPuOfKAuqX4WnoyJKnqQUknPKDP4wyAzYlti8WaSEUala7kXWVtfdTHby256U9I-gBLLNodiSQd43GbEO1977dYL0SdCcy-KcAiN82X4ZehBURczt8IsRRA/s2448/IMG_2763.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="2448" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o3TAgIBISH9HC7t4wTFO88f6vEIQXqEzcneyowtLl77HWjD8nrJrytZqXnP-iSqC1_QMAPuOfKAuqX4WnoyJKnqQUknPKDP4wyAzYlti8WaSEUala7kXWVtfdTHby256U9I-gBLLNodiSQd43GbEO1977dYL0SdCcy-KcAiN82X4ZehBURczt8IsRRA/w640-h480/IMG_2763.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">You'll need:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Organic apple cider vinegar with "the Mother"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Onion</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Lemon</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Garlic</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Turmeric</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Black Pepper</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Ginger</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Rosemary</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Horseradish</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Any Hot Pepper</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Chop all ingredients and add to a glass jar. Pour apple cider vinegar over and make sure the ingredients are submerged under the vinegar. Loosely lid while fermenting so gasses can escape. Place in a cool dark space and shake occasionally.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Let ferment for 2-6 weeks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Strain into glass bottles for storage and sweeten to taste with raw honey.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Work up to taking a tablespoon a day, this is potent stuff, and increase to 2-3 tablespoons in the event of illness.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCH7DJ9vV5xYfPG0gSef5kEhh1XHV4FBo1Vc8hECvy5wBTeMSt2pma_UjRI4sT8QU2k8H-AIeK1LPrAy9ugJ_13GIhfphg6z611dlBFZUTA7_UUWqXLsvbUzhfse6juULMaSTe3CQUpfx_JnnNyQmC4N1eGBtyuSSEiIG8FS7cH_9Lfpbz8itfPg9NS0Q/s2448/IMG_2764.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCH7DJ9vV5xYfPG0gSef5kEhh1XHV4FBo1Vc8hECvy5wBTeMSt2pma_UjRI4sT8QU2k8H-AIeK1LPrAy9ugJ_13GIhfphg6z611dlBFZUTA7_UUWqXLsvbUzhfse6juULMaSTe3CQUpfx_JnnNyQmC4N1eGBtyuSSEiIG8FS7cH_9Lfpbz8itfPg9NS0Q/w480-h640/IMG_2764.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">All of the ingredients have amazing health properties and really help to support a healthy immune system. If you can't find the ingredients listed above, you can always substitute dried OR any other medicinal plants you may find like elderberries, s<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px; text-align: start;">age, oregano, lemon balm, lemon verbena, holy basil/tulsi, savory, catnip, etc.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.48px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Herbal vinegars like this should last a year at room temperature.</span></span></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-52821693188137218872023-09-01T10:56:00.003-05:002023-09-01T10:56:40.398-05:00Homemade Yogurt<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Yogurt can be expensive to buy plus it has a long list of artificial ingredients. Many years ago, when I still had little kiddos at home, I used to make it in the crockpot. Fast forward a decade and my boys still love the stuff with granola and fruit. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So,</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I pulled out my trusty crockpot and am sharing this easy recipe with all of you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Homemade Yogurt</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pour one gallon of milk into your crockpot. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Store bought milk is good, but if you can source raw milk, the taste and nutritional value </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">will be even better! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Set your crockpot to LOW and let it go for 2 1/2 hours.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At the end of 2 1/2 hours, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">unplug the crockpot and let sit for 3 hours.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwyz-AxVynDDZ-bZz5Y-Q5QVgECu2fYYPHgOcEbS2356LpnGhrOYpUs3unZvvmf5zNYu5Q59orYpjFh8pv-FA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At the end of 3 hours, the yogurt should be around 110 degrees. If it's hotter, you could possibly kill the yogurt cultures. Mix in one regular container of unflavored Greek yogurt. Make sure it says, "active cultures". Then wrap your crockpot in a couple of towels or a blanket and let it sit </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">for12 hours. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>THAT'S IT!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJroAHriJmafm2_OX_gRiVQSeVNd0VRb_mxMvj0PdHk9VfVmw17RzdL_3Oqv8q-3xNH8GRVf8b68TQQuRmWg4eTwrAdlGxy99Cq5hYj8ZAuAael39o-x7teICEGq1e3vH2k9K2obNasBTRYc5OJ3p26L0yKKCHRWbPCBzWBG20XZwaE5Xc_5BYOQaUwCE/s1800/A6C787AC-B8BC-4F78-B566-2E0F703A63E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJroAHriJmafm2_OX_gRiVQSeVNd0VRb_mxMvj0PdHk9VfVmw17RzdL_3Oqv8q-3xNH8GRVf8b68TQQuRmWg4eTwrAdlGxy99Cq5hYj8ZAuAael39o-x7teICEGq1e3vH2k9K2obNasBTRYc5OJ3p26L0yKKCHRWbPCBzWBG20XZwaE5Xc_5BYOQaUwCE/w512-h640/A6C787AC-B8BC-4F78-B566-2E0F703A63E2.jpg" width="512" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at those vanilla specks</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't forget to save one cup of your yogurt </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">to start the next batch! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">You can get fancy and flavor your yogurt if you like. I added two Tahitian vanilla beans to the milk and the flavor was so good! You can add honey, flavorings, or just leave it plain. If you like really thick yogurt, you can strain it through cheesecloth. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We like to eat this with fresh fruit or jam, with granola, in the blender with frozen fruit for a cold smoothie, and I like to use it in place of sour cream in a lot of recipes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It stays good in the fridge for two weeks.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-14261835114668910102023-08-19T15:30:00.003-05:002023-08-19T15:31:58.867-05:00Back to Homeschool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIW7C3wd5mEFZuYBQH6B5ZInIDc_WBFKqi0sunqNZSWjMgTPlwhqw00ZsOypzH3lAKi4t-PPoNhS0QLAv4UqJ9eAfHXLIBg4zRthU6fePQDbcIbWDp0x30dU1hJMjr02wc4c16fduwsFF59ys0xaBzbiH2N5AVu9T11YRgIpC_YX_QQagYadA1MEBeqI/s4032/IMG_2636.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIW7C3wd5mEFZuYBQH6B5ZInIDc_WBFKqi0sunqNZSWjMgTPlwhqw00ZsOypzH3lAKi4t-PPoNhS0QLAv4UqJ9eAfHXLIBg4zRthU6fePQDbcIbWDp0x30dU1hJMjr02wc4c16fduwsFF59ys0xaBzbiH2N5AVu9T11YRgIpC_YX_QQagYadA1MEBeqI/w480-h640/IMG_2636.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">All of my Facebook friends are posting sweet back to school pictures of their kiddos, so I thought I'd post a back to HOMEschool picture at the Creamer house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No new outfit, no chalkboard sign about the year, and best of all...I didn't have to spend a hundred bucks in school supplies! Just a sharpened pack of pencils and a new spiral notebook.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's simple, it's comfortable, and her only distraction are the two kittens playing in that basket.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-18296009064514766082023-08-02T11:32:00.001-05:002023-08-04T11:51:49.746-05:00Happy Birthday, Ryan!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy birthday, Ryan!</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's your last year in your twenties, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">so you better make this one count.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVukzVMpN9Vvsz4m0j3QjmCfdbbEyr0GAwhYjk6i1qyMPPXJQJVT0-msBLP3XOCUO15RUBAKQelMmXZpKifyswZjBhq2_A610pMqInusFOXX3zUonp6m7fU3n5baSStORxLPNAEaNxNyWlnpLg68cnEWZTdzhD1ZXkUzraR9G_zPcLhmlTwgXXseyOGs/s1799/85FEA675-782F-40A2-B7AE-60775D102EB5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVukzVMpN9Vvsz4m0j3QjmCfdbbEyr0GAwhYjk6i1qyMPPXJQJVT0-msBLP3XOCUO15RUBAKQelMmXZpKifyswZjBhq2_A610pMqInusFOXX3zUonp6m7fU3n5baSStORxLPNAEaNxNyWlnpLg68cnEWZTdzhD1ZXkUzraR9G_zPcLhmlTwgXXseyOGs/w512-h640/85FEA675-782F-40A2-B7AE-60775D102EB5.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In my last post, I talked about how we all have a "birthday buddy." Two days ago we celebrated Kyle, and now it's Ryan's turn. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And keeping true to Creamer brother fashion, while Kyle keeps things simple, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ryan is always just a little bit extra.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2egI1pBBmvRtcnPpDIw5hq2rteAL8Zx4VOo7voZ4E8xuLNxLlStA-5mlUjV1-bVIOUf4HzSB-7GrtHixgCaL5BmlddbW5OfTXIlMse5ZWwgcKPVncnW_g6Hxg3RamzWn2S4fOKs4GIIdMIYSCjXFIHhd47mysYctvR9gubWcCBiP0npzrrgPqpQi7W1Y/s1800/11A2DE67-C832-49D2-9F84-DA97043D084C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2egI1pBBmvRtcnPpDIw5hq2rteAL8Zx4VOo7voZ4E8xuLNxLlStA-5mlUjV1-bVIOUf4HzSB-7GrtHixgCaL5BmlddbW5OfTXIlMse5ZWwgcKPVncnW_g6Hxg3RamzWn2S4fOKs4GIIdMIYSCjXFIHhd47mysYctvR9gubWcCBiP0npzrrgPqpQi7W1Y/w512-h640/11A2DE67-C832-49D2-9F84-DA97043D084C.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We went out for sushi, enjoyed a homemade Chantilly cake (<i>VERY labor intensive btw</i>!), and Ryan added to his library with a set of books, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">he's a very voracious reader.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B515Qj9QmRCZGYSos-Z1OC9gKE7vXeJOrocv8vBVD2uMDLG2zKfxegCvsAtVjcKLYZLWCDH-vouHmuBlu2sIwMMPkWUWcbvmxkMtHW_0EJfzwA81rJCAc6obO41w3nq940ud1luj_XNUydhCfoGHLWzlFQrfOeWzMSB9bWVixpQ0s3m0TR5gDm7e0rc/s4032/IMG_2614.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_B515Qj9QmRCZGYSos-Z1OC9gKE7vXeJOrocv8vBVD2uMDLG2zKfxegCvsAtVjcKLYZLWCDH-vouHmuBlu2sIwMMPkWUWcbvmxkMtHW_0EJfzwA81rJCAc6obO41w3nq940ud1luj_XNUydhCfoGHLWzlFQrfOeWzMSB9bWVixpQ0s3m0TR5gDm7e0rc/w480-h640/IMG_2614.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He ended the night at the pool with friends t</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">hen a movie night to finish it off.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you know Ryan, then you'll know this was a very laid back day for him. Maybe his brother is wearing off on him, maybe he's growing up and settling down, all I know is that I have a year to save up for his next birthday because sushi and homemade cake won't cut it for his 30th!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And how can I have a child who is almost 30?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't blink, mamas!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Time goes by way too fast!</span></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-36511631997377114852023-07-31T14:50:00.003-05:002023-07-31T14:50:50.938-05:00Happy Birthday, Kyle!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y'all, SURELY I'm not old enough </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">to have a 26 year old!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But that's the year we celebrated with our sweet Kyle this weekend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This son of mine is a "no-fuss" kinda guy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He wanted to keep things simple this year so all he asked for was a homemade peach cobbler, a weighted blanket, and an afternoon out with his dearest friend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZKZ5yoFpeBzvq_dAKOiglusMiEOUnDmvtHRo8JYi3prjrPpJkUV_YtEjG_qAynxJgWQR9cY4IDGJn1eV_4xlqgYXOh5-A-uLTIp4QiK2zowcezDjDMB7p_9h0WpZQhiBy66emMDq3n76RJwL8F7DOUQvBo-6XVb4zXme3wxhf_VTrRksWB6zgON4cRs/s2448/IMG_2582.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZKZ5yoFpeBzvq_dAKOiglusMiEOUnDmvtHRo8JYi3prjrPpJkUV_YtEjG_qAynxJgWQR9cY4IDGJn1eV_4xlqgYXOh5-A-uLTIp4QiK2zowcezDjDMB7p_9h0WpZQhiBy66emMDq3n76RJwL8F7DOUQvBo-6XVb4zXme3wxhf_VTrRksWB6zgON4cRs/w480-h640/IMG_2582.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He's also a creature of tradition.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So I put out a Creamer birthday breakfast of kolaches, apple fritters (<i>his FAVE!</i>), and donuts.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He also got his homemade peach cobbler with vanilla Blue Bell, of course!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM0mxH4erN7l1YvPQjmdRGEgm17TcVDGHd8fhWemHQvNvBNBsQnq-JKgXUPhaqSEf3Xc2uhRmzPTRxiLFsjocksji134VUqafmpmv-rZbd2fp41X4E5pOMouqIVmtApEnW045N71O_2IyHa31KQzDJ81w1eYKvKWiT80y9JUHyz5R4ZHDrcq9usyvU9A/s4032/IMG_2589.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVM0mxH4erN7l1YvPQjmdRGEgm17TcVDGHd8fhWemHQvNvBNBsQnq-JKgXUPhaqSEf3Xc2uhRmzPTRxiLFsjocksji134VUqafmpmv-rZbd2fp41X4E5pOMouqIVmtApEnW045N71O_2IyHa31KQzDJ81w1eYKvKWiT80y9JUHyz5R4ZHDrcq9usyvU9A/w480-h640/IMG_2589.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I asked him why he didn't want to go out the Astros game or the shooting range for his birthday and he said, "Mom, as you get older you just want to keep things simple!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Son, you are preaching to the choir on that one!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy simple birthday, my sweet boy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">You are loved more than you'll ever know.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-42058992215032653902023-07-25T15:04:00.000-05:002023-07-25T15:04:22.835-05:00A New Job For Me?<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have been out of work since November of 2022. My 31 year nursing career was cut short by refusing to take the Covid vaccines. I have been in quite the funk about it for longer than I care to mention! I don't want to go back to bedside nursing, so I've been applying to random jobs in remote nursing, retail, and food service, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">YOU NAME IT!!! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No one wants a 54 year old former nurse.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I've prayed and prayed for the Lord to show me where to go and what to do. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He has been <i>painfully</i> silent.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And yet, he has provided for us every single day!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I like to be creative and I like to be at home. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I LOVE to garden and sew, so that was my outlet in dealing with my depression. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I often post my projects on Facebook and other social media and inevitably I get several private messages offering to buy my creations. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I began to think, why not sell what I create?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So I'm here to announce my new online store:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b>HERB & THREAD</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Handmade soaps, tinctures, salves, balms, etc...made from herbs organically grown in my own backyard and that I and my family use ourselves. Also, a variety of hand sewn products that tickle my fancy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm busy making products to launch the store and will let you know as soon as it's up and running!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In the meantime, say a prayer for me!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I think this is where the Lord is leading me.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-63016501073236586112023-07-18T17:34:00.001-05:002023-07-19T11:21:56.957-05:00The Three Oil Soap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's too hot to garden, I can only clean the house so much, and my sewing machine is broken! In a fit of boredom, I busted out my soap making bin and searched for the perfect soap recipe, and I think I've found it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I call it my <b><i>"Three Oil Soap."</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHQTP_j-WWhPAncTAuWpTwuVz_1R_QO7RcluCtxNrgO121ZMyjlNJfV4656FhdthfId2mOg9eFWaSnPUiOAIU4jJXDeeGJFrRzYVxA0DxOG4hShvvEPCswSubJx_GD0Pi3MGPMwIrrDNgGCTOpCajHCy7MVilpD0YnCQVEQm080pUibAKLSq6Lgv1LnM/s1799/67FA7224-DBBC-430C-A582-3D6149F85584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHQTP_j-WWhPAncTAuWpTwuVz_1R_QO7RcluCtxNrgO121ZMyjlNJfV4656FhdthfId2mOg9eFWaSnPUiOAIU4jJXDeeGJFrRzYVxA0DxOG4hShvvEPCswSubJx_GD0Pi3MGPMwIrrDNgGCTOpCajHCy7MVilpD0YnCQVEQm080pUibAKLSq6Lgv1LnM/w512-h640/67FA7224-DBBC-430C-A582-3D6149F85584.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's a lovely, old fashioned soap.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">You know, like Granny used to make out by the "cement pond" and Ellie Mae used it and she had the most beautiful skin in all of Beverly Hills!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoTf4DeZdS1nNqrgb_cPupEhowpT_AamPXvzQ-VAb49LKZyzerqAfzQ_-BKHVc89vQ_7eUAGzU48h8FD7kh2NOgm_EYJagsX2oL5N9QAJGWDMkAc8mWcLpMgv1C0nFMK5Gx5Gt2j48kphKBe5Kku3Q1RFBq-DGaa7nTun9w8IKG9DkWArwFBExLy9IzI/s1799/7ADF9C7A-15C6-4511-839A-CFF0372025AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoTf4DeZdS1nNqrgb_cPupEhowpT_AamPXvzQ-VAb49LKZyzerqAfzQ_-BKHVc89vQ_7eUAGzU48h8FD7kh2NOgm_EYJagsX2oL5N9QAJGWDMkAc8mWcLpMgv1C0nFMK5Gx5Gt2j48kphKBe5Kku3Q1RFBq-DGaa7nTun9w8IKG9DkWArwFBExLy9IzI/w512-h640/7ADF9C7A-15C6-4511-839A-CFF0372025AD.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's makes the most creamy bars and the ingredients are very moisturizing and nourishing to the skin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Three simple oils:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tallow</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Castor Oil</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Coconut Oil</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Unscented, no preservatives, organic.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyF0IPSEGJDcH-gYqi33tmk6JMghhXNiawc9xvZ6VzH38jxcJe0298kyRy-KiBdivgH0sF2vZ0ew6gzVaKpjIXA2-XYfxkfp1J4fXOQEkj-MBr4YA0KfuZXikn7VD9envI9P1daQoOowWmncd3z0trKeNijOgKK76alHfW1l0Tql69KthrH_1iwFQEY8/s2027/IMG_2536.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2027" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvyF0IPSEGJDcH-gYqi33tmk6JMghhXNiawc9xvZ6VzH38jxcJe0298kyRy-KiBdivgH0sF2vZ0ew6gzVaKpjIXA2-XYfxkfp1J4fXOQEkj-MBr4YA0KfuZXikn7VD9envI9P1daQoOowWmncd3z0trKeNijOgKK76alHfW1l0Tql69KthrH_1iwFQEY8/w580-h640/IMG_2536.HEIC" width="580" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm not sure I can wait the six weeks </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">for them to cure!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">These will be available in my online store in August and I can't wait for you to try them, too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-34190086541473574332023-07-01T15:20:00.005-05:002023-07-01T15:21:09.382-05:00Preserving Herbs Part 1<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I have a dedicated garden box right outside my kitchen for herbs. I use them in cooking almost daily and I prefer to use them fresh, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">but herbs don't grow in the winter </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">so I've set about ways of preserving them to enjoy later in the year.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> My first project was an Italian herb blend.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46EJyLxPcVn5sQlXiEmWPBOfALJqWI7wHPQoN4BoTmI__O5Rtu0HFZeMg0JkKkFbLu0Ak7XkqMmzrzNgOPsyFqd-rRUNapFyZ5TZmJSvUZ7KlLzrqCxJNKqrAd2CAU6qymaf53YvyJplKDV7ysApJrNn7SFkvjZG90Wny6eiZunL2p4-4OKL3YD4d9vY/s2448/IMG_2404.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46EJyLxPcVn5sQlXiEmWPBOfALJqWI7wHPQoN4BoTmI__O5Rtu0HFZeMg0JkKkFbLu0Ak7XkqMmzrzNgOPsyFqd-rRUNapFyZ5TZmJSvUZ7KlLzrqCxJNKqrAd2CAU6qymaf53YvyJplKDV7ysApJrNn7SFkvjZG90Wny6eiZunL2p4-4OKL3YD4d9vY/w480-h640/IMG_2404.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I've been snipping loads of Genovese basil, parsley, rosemary, oregano, and thyme.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I dry them in my dehydrator, and in a couple of hours, they are brittle to the touch and ready for storage. I chop piles of dried herbs into smaller pieces and store them in an airtight jar.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3x38EILc-V4FzShmkrReC21JQ9bAQkqqVjKl5-r6Dc1QUUvA-CytsrdJcxwH5_Zjok8Vz28oK8kkQXUSw1b8rKsmjX0Sg1RIq1EDT9tWO-6E6ohzFH-CK4w2dL9BlZLDHel9_Q4qhK2_28X019HHIfqgHq1Hm5W6SBmLNYTH4OAQuTQ1mTf-14vnwKE/s2448/IMG_2405.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3x38EILc-V4FzShmkrReC21JQ9bAQkqqVjKl5-r6Dc1QUUvA-CytsrdJcxwH5_Zjok8Vz28oK8kkQXUSw1b8rKsmjX0Sg1RIq1EDT9tWO-6E6ohzFH-CK4w2dL9BlZLDHel9_Q4qhK2_28X019HHIfqgHq1Hm5W6SBmLNYTH4OAQuTQ1mTf-14vnwKE/w480-h640/IMG_2405.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The herbs will last for months and we'll have </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">a little taste of summer in the heart of winter!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-4421737347598043282023-06-30T19:53:00.000-05:002023-06-30T19:53:08.570-05:00Our Daily Bread<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I've baked bread off and on for many years. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My go-to method was always the "no knead method" that lets the dough ferment for </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">12-18 hours. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>That's too dang long to wait for bread!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">One day while scrolling on TikTok, I found the <b><i>BEST</i></b> process for a loaf of daily bread. It is literally perfect, takes almost no effort, and I can have it in under four hours!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Credit to @brittkubicki</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Basic Sandwich Loaf</u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In a bowl, combine:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3 cups all purpose flour</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 1/2 tsp. <b>each</b> of instant yeast, salt, and honey</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1 1/2 cup of warm water</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mix ingredients. Dough will be wet and sticky, if it's not, add a tablespoon or two more of water.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIwfdgiA6Qw6s6U67MPS_kpSxlk3HTUY38ISUnon3tBEBIHVfKXF9Z-Cih0N8zGnA1nfxbf7qvQYdO_XflL1fbCag1iHYdyoI5gHL-6BhcgSJApbq0ACdyhy9rbewef4S8dHwVLjDMHADIf03maRCdUQ2Pw7tdOpMhB7wcFE_GkLlOjRypHs0HQh_pVs/s2448/IMG_2373.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwIwfdgiA6Qw6s6U67MPS_kpSxlk3HTUY38ISUnon3tBEBIHVfKXF9Z-Cih0N8zGnA1nfxbf7qvQYdO_XflL1fbCag1iHYdyoI5gHL-6BhcgSJApbq0ACdyhy9rbewef4S8dHwVLjDMHADIf03maRCdUQ2Pw7tdOpMhB7wcFE_GkLlOjRypHs0HQh_pVs/w480-h640/IMG_2373.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Allow to rise for two hours.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dough should be doubled in volume </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and full of bubbles.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">With two forks, pull dough away from sides of bowl and into the center. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Go all the way around the bowl.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_K6mdgZws2vzuFAe4BZDC4NP4rrYKzlWHIgktOapyGlsZaIeKae4OAfOy8-0-TPNFUdZRd0Dq5wWRW8Sb-HYtIhOasQHTNXdzMHV8jiYBkMKjryGuyrfh843Yud4aWCYHfx-PQcIgCCHkOfvWsY_TwmqiBX2ykNP9WpF_Whbl36FHN_Xnffwn_ZAAwYE/s2448/IMG_2380.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_K6mdgZws2vzuFAe4BZDC4NP4rrYKzlWHIgktOapyGlsZaIeKae4OAfOy8-0-TPNFUdZRd0Dq5wWRW8Sb-HYtIhOasQHTNXdzMHV8jiYBkMKjryGuyrfh843Yud4aWCYHfx-PQcIgCCHkOfvWsY_TwmqiBX2ykNP9WpF_Whbl36FHN_Xnffwn_ZAAwYE/w480-h640/IMG_2380.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the dough, dip your hands in that oil, and work the dough ball off the bottom of the bowl. Pick the dough up and let the weight of it pull it into a rectangle. Then roll the dough onto itself to form a loaf.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLILLK6VqYTXY4oeiiFHGquP9_Mh6FzzlwxUOvmETGfkALrU-zxJiPl_aFaA3sVrAdiitZToClDy6-XdnEbxe2ZU-n5lGIO9T9f0RHujlHXt5XdC6utj_E2gfj1KSRi94VrbsNb833mrgMwL84ZlBdx433oovZaS3pBsPzjOck8_Y-XYL8PHRlbC2kHk/s2448/IMG_2381.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLILLK6VqYTXY4oeiiFHGquP9_Mh6FzzlwxUOvmETGfkALrU-zxJiPl_aFaA3sVrAdiitZToClDy6-XdnEbxe2ZU-n5lGIO9T9f0RHujlHXt5XdC6utj_E2gfj1KSRi94VrbsNb833mrgMwL84ZlBdx433oovZaS3pBsPzjOck8_Y-XYL8PHRlbC2kHk/w480-h640/IMG_2381.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It doesn't have to be pretty!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Plop your loaf into a well buttered bread pan </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and allow to rise about an hour.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZkmHPwOyGXzjrM0qnEn-B-UWqCCiGnsoF7b3LK_9t5-Y8PZnfbTZ9rsygRaltU3eSrIwHU8h3lQllHS8jDPQKCAerCWBxCUbMG8_me5RtuNx2JLNnnmlPs5Zao_SD4xqGt7TdA3IhPFeGEDUGGlF9bwJ__8cH9rJliwod0gljwlKrNPbugxkr6TwwME/s4032/IMG_2386.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZkmHPwOyGXzjrM0qnEn-B-UWqCCiGnsoF7b3LK_9t5-Y8PZnfbTZ9rsygRaltU3eSrIwHU8h3lQllHS8jDPQKCAerCWBxCUbMG8_me5RtuNx2JLNnnmlPs5Zao_SD4xqGt7TdA3IhPFeGEDUGGlF9bwJ__8cH9rJliwod0gljwlKrNPbugxkr6TwwME/w640-h480/IMG_2386.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Your loaf should rise about 1-2 inches </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">above the bread pan.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Heat oven to 375 degrees </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and bake for 45 minutes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gFPV4Vz19byIW3hXlz8J0IlxVflOliFTH2Z707enabBAmKbFEgA2g-Gtn21j1v0jEBOIQxNCq-MlDUg_t2AxXoWO2dBGfDHXPZV7tJNs9-EQWl2DK8xTxxvwey-SR-jAX9qkr54GW0LurzSwPRmtd0tgHO-YRq_6VkmyxwtAicEBFsWmzXDhlwPNZpw/s2448/IMG_2389.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="2448" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gFPV4Vz19byIW3hXlz8J0IlxVflOliFTH2Z707enabBAmKbFEgA2g-Gtn21j1v0jEBOIQxNCq-MlDUg_t2AxXoWO2dBGfDHXPZV7tJNs9-EQWl2DK8xTxxvwey-SR-jAX9qkr54GW0LurzSwPRmtd0tgHO-YRq_6VkmyxwtAicEBFsWmzXDhlwPNZpw/w640-h480/IMG_2389.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">PLEASE, do not cut your bread </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">right out of the oven!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Allow it to cool completely...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">or <i>almost</i> completely.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_85w1AnnFaygFDuNi8LlUIxYK_EoeTQXW_VtEFObF9D-PLs8w4Zwg3jZ3618ExoLhdeowAX-fHz3PY6hv5sJjh4Sj7uN6Nkx7XhFKcTK32HLcjqCvwpduHy6lAo35KPBXXH7X09ngtAzxVZKI3PzX1NOxRofL6-vcdU8hdCpJuefBpHg1W_N-Uq1FImk/s4032/IMG_2390.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_85w1AnnFaygFDuNi8LlUIxYK_EoeTQXW_VtEFObF9D-PLs8w4Zwg3jZ3618ExoLhdeowAX-fHz3PY6hv5sJjh4Sj7uN6Nkx7XhFKcTK32HLcjqCvwpduHy6lAo35KPBXXH7X09ngtAzxVZKI3PzX1NOxRofL6-vcdU8hdCpJuefBpHg1W_N-Uq1FImk/w480-h640/IMG_2390.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is the perfect sandwich bread or </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">daily loaf to serve with meals.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now will somebody please pass the </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">butter and honey?</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-51514932893123157582023-06-26T08:43:00.003-05:002023-06-26T08:43:57.946-05:00A Busy Week!<div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Every June, there is a week that is book ended with Father's Day and Doug's birthday. </span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Last week was that week!</span> <span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></blockquote><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cikq50otlhGkRYDS1cH7Bn74H0a57KKKLhMoGfaJAP71hqleqdzKaA4uutfxlYV3NEP98hmAE6aDT_cujDjm2VgfM4iGoE7G8ACEcaDkWFAZYXhXu02lMBhf4d2IqBLZxr_D6lGdfb3clA9F8HE0hBYvTgUiDtCcKz7H9M82A5jvquGKkmRjROsyKB8/s2448/IMG_2225.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cikq50otlhGkRYDS1cH7Bn74H0a57KKKLhMoGfaJAP71hqleqdzKaA4uutfxlYV3NEP98hmAE6aDT_cujDjm2VgfM4iGoE7G8ACEcaDkWFAZYXhXu02lMBhf4d2IqBLZxr_D6lGdfb3clA9F8HE0hBYvTgUiDtCcKz7H9M82A5jvquGKkmRjROsyKB8/w480-h640/IMG_2225.HEIC" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug and his dad</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We celebrated Sunday at Doug's parent's house with a massive dinner, chicken fried steak, country gravy, black eyed peas, squash casserole, and the most delicious banana pudding...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">all prepared by our kids. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It was a good 'ol southern Sunday supper FEAST!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL1ndzfXVW9wHZrdukZzYsMJEsPZgA1K-43VCHDmvnYUhzt3gZUiGZ2OQuW1oclnJIACxSWJIdqJP2z7_HKdT-LB1UZanmcgg98nno_EzvpI_-c3h84lgPaa3pYRyBMWuhpp7S9xJH-q4N1jw46Jnp5DxGAbC5Cu9ZShU6vVobDBr8DQ4eKy32h_IbJ8/s2048/7C7E1256-3144-4E35-AE3C-63C4659509F2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbL1ndzfXVW9wHZrdukZzYsMJEsPZgA1K-43VCHDmvnYUhzt3gZUiGZ2OQuW1oclnJIACxSWJIdqJP2z7_HKdT-LB1UZanmcgg98nno_EzvpI_-c3h84lgPaa3pYRyBMWuhpp7S9xJH-q4N1jw46Jnp5DxGAbC5Cu9ZShU6vVobDBr8DQ4eKy32h_IbJ8/w640-h640/7C7E1256-3144-4E35-AE3C-63C4659509F2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And then on Saturday, we did it all again </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">for Doug's birthday!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">All the kids were home and we had a wonderful celebration with food, drinks, and <i>two cakes!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaZlvUUM9dxNvfQeBzRo4GBWdc9-VJh9AeHvAR_htDhI4m29sdqPVYk-Kxq3VNwxFV7kfrnVfU49IsP1wq7jukNPnx1oAVAV_H22m9zGrT8Lo30GykQfztrqoQVm78vhe-636tyoDEasLX4BZRPUZF2iuM6aEQwcX-rk5oHA8WNUFtMNH6CxWkGYrRyk/s2097/IMG_2335.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1627" data-original-width="2097" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaZlvUUM9dxNvfQeBzRo4GBWdc9-VJh9AeHvAR_htDhI4m29sdqPVYk-Kxq3VNwxFV7kfrnVfU49IsP1wq7jukNPnx1oAVAV_H22m9zGrT8Lo30GykQfztrqoQVm78vhe-636tyoDEasLX4BZRPUZF2iuM6aEQwcX-rk5oHA8WNUFtMNH6CxWkGYrRyk/w640-h496/IMG_2335.HEIC" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My whole heart in one picture!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">(even if they do drive us a little crazy!)</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGymuqrEtZblhpxTD6JedqR1219XhYkZif8o7tD0l_zRjhFnM-YCXvs0CkYrY7QbDjogC159cFjM3xVz5RnW1oU3p-sP1GzzICK6UvhOcT-SGkk7GHQIRdkViBGdIFuahhC62mxF-eUdhDug1ng8ZKr_oI5W6qnIJ40n_t7lGGx8cKEO7AGKzUCaxtJw/s2448/IMG_2334.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGymuqrEtZblhpxTD6JedqR1219XhYkZif8o7tD0l_zRjhFnM-YCXvs0CkYrY7QbDjogC159cFjM3xVz5RnW1oU3p-sP1GzzICK6UvhOcT-SGkk7GHQIRdkViBGdIFuahhC62mxF-eUdhDug1ng8ZKr_oI5W6qnIJ40n_t7lGGx8cKEO7AGKzUCaxtJw/w480-h640/IMG_2334.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Doug, you're like a fine wine </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">that just gets better with age...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and sometimes you make me a <i>little tipsy!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hope you've had a wonderful week,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">we love celebrating <b>YOU</b>!</span></div></div></div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-5281215560517202042023-06-14T15:44:00.001-05:002023-06-14T15:44:52.213-05:00UGH, cats!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I hate cats.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I've always hated cats.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">They make me itchy, scratchy, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and make my eyes water.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I dry heave if I see a litter box.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So when my daughter found two little kittens dumped by our neighborhood burn pile, and then hid them in our garage for three days before I found out...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;">to say I was less than thrilled was an understatement.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No one would take them and</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">our local shelter is at maximum capacity.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So meet the newest Creamers:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>OPAL</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6wnIBT2lWfLuJBcrf-9_RlApOa4so6yaMTBcOxCkLqzte5u7oiEf50mf5FhF9nhd7V59_e02ZxHKgCy_6IhyKORMoV3X1oisClLufFm7W8XsmX7ewp7qJZDfnJ6X09Uuac5ZrHb22DYKO1hWtuLCtM6d6qOdcXRJ6iena65bC6Xdvm_D-4mxUKb4/s2448/IMG_2135.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6wnIBT2lWfLuJBcrf-9_RlApOa4so6yaMTBcOxCkLqzte5u7oiEf50mf5FhF9nhd7V59_e02ZxHKgCy_6IhyKORMoV3X1oisClLufFm7W8XsmX7ewp7qJZDfnJ6X09Uuac5ZrHb22DYKO1hWtuLCtM6d6qOdcXRJ6iena65bC6Xdvm_D-4mxUKb4/w480-h640/IMG_2135.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and<b style="font-style: italic;"> PEARL</b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6eX786Iq5IbJABaZw7nvrB49GeEwyU9yLNJyvRaXYTqYXZNwllutG117Hwyg6CYJNcFH2WoL15KaniKDeigxEl039KCn_tmzyrpWw3-jrLb7nXKrOjqbQ_J0ajHQoHYckC1Y8KgU0T2n6qYD-X4rZd_c_OI2tpIoJkvuFEcd8qbHePQMY8_Xu5cc/s1880/IMG_2134.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1880" data-original-width="1293" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6eX786Iq5IbJABaZw7nvrB49GeEwyU9yLNJyvRaXYTqYXZNwllutG117Hwyg6CYJNcFH2WoL15KaniKDeigxEl039KCn_tmzyrpWw3-jrLb7nXKrOjqbQ_J0ajHQoHYckC1Y8KgU0T2n6qYD-X4rZd_c_OI2tpIoJkvuFEcd8qbHePQMY8_Xu5cc/w440-h640/IMG_2134.HEIC" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you need me, I'll be popping Benadryl </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">like PEZ candy and trying not to dry heave!</span></div><br /><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-22930343002683439132023-06-12T16:19:00.004-05:002023-06-12T16:19:35.549-05:00Beauty in the Ordinary<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">They say we, "eat with our eyes first." </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And while a basketful of homegrown green beans can be lovely, purple and yellow ones feed my soul </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">as well as my body.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtu7MMw4Y8Qa8ZO6SmsgKnIouJUmrdSuKMoplX-T3ZrtwasnpJnd50Z8RXVVUEjpMk-BKf2u8VKUCYSJY70x00tMIDVG7vwKPHCCze0eJn_IduIJTHl6MyENFEJKQ5waSMyfh8P95UqQZDuZWbqEmnl8VYQ9x9gcx8eAEmDZ2K322_Z1mogfSSRN-/s2448/IMG_2163.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtu7MMw4Y8Qa8ZO6SmsgKnIouJUmrdSuKMoplX-T3ZrtwasnpJnd50Z8RXVVUEjpMk-BKf2u8VKUCYSJY70x00tMIDVG7vwKPHCCze0eJn_IduIJTHl6MyENFEJKQ5waSMyfh8P95UqQZDuZWbqEmnl8VYQ9x9gcx8eAEmDZ2K322_Z1mogfSSRN-/w480-h640/IMG_2163.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A basket of yellow heirloom tomatoes sitting on my kitchen counter may be boring to most people, but to me it is like a priceless sculpture. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'll stare at it a day or two before processing them because they're so lovely!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtBErJdyL3OdnEfBYgwFqTJGmxlcfM8ljAZaIQkN_-irU4-3dDdXwsQMCyATDj3gax4_L-J-uWssqne3VZrYrnw8auaAN-r1RY6B3VrbprPA5ur0I2I2rUwiEYtypDbr8CC0MYntCs2pNEiA1zr66HYv2uT_KRsp7GSzz0LOqcM8QsV1NMjeGDHXr/s4032/IMG_2148.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtBErJdyL3OdnEfBYgwFqTJGmxlcfM8ljAZaIQkN_-irU4-3dDdXwsQMCyATDj3gax4_L-J-uWssqne3VZrYrnw8auaAN-r1RY6B3VrbprPA5ur0I2I2rUwiEYtypDbr8CC0MYntCs2pNEiA1zr66HYv2uT_KRsp7GSzz0LOqcM8QsV1NMjeGDHXr/w480-h640/IMG_2148.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And even walking into my ordinary, unorganized, non-Pinterest pantry, I see the beauty of the contents of these jars. The seeds that I started in January are going to be feeding us all year long.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkohJMp4wbEbxycH_gHcUMUszJXdlTr97rt9adRtGyyZEdajT8TVyxpI9Ymz_AkeQ1b7ywS9f3jm1HFs9hSUsZseszH1OJZDp_2oBXKWhIHEA5A3i_x7lNA-6nh07Kj6erdVvMeDPXfVrdfBeuZgm4JTPjGINdH9N4R_ZD_fIgu0RReh9_7SCbiv3/s2448/IMG_2169.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="2448" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCkohJMp4wbEbxycH_gHcUMUszJXdlTr97rt9adRtGyyZEdajT8TVyxpI9Ymz_AkeQ1b7ywS9f3jm1HFs9hSUsZseszH1OJZDp_2oBXKWhIHEA5A3i_x7lNA-6nh07Kj6erdVvMeDPXfVrdfBeuZgm4JTPjGINdH9N4R_ZD_fIgu0RReh9_7SCbiv3/w640-h480/IMG_2169.HEIC" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">True contentment, for me, consists of finding beauty in the ordinary. To shift my thinking from a consumer mentality to one of being thankful for what I have right in front of me.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OFgFaCKkZ-3ei1OIPfDwXjDvPiXdvdK8KoY5bak2oXzXVSDqU4WlqnGJsXavjGLLo7l1rU0D35iKyjiS-xwZHoOI3KkyBVZw95fl9YUMe003J6GDi9dFpVjNU2P-oTgozRPAGwvVPLXSKA3No1erej9g3DjFtItNPwulM1PMcPaNJbj4r84GBIIz/s2183/IMG_2057.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2183" data-original-width="1832" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OFgFaCKkZ-3ei1OIPfDwXjDvPiXdvdK8KoY5bak2oXzXVSDqU4WlqnGJsXavjGLLo7l1rU0D35iKyjiS-xwZHoOI3KkyBVZw95fl9YUMe003J6GDi9dFpVjNU2P-oTgozRPAGwvVPLXSKA3No1erej9g3DjFtItNPwulM1PMcPaNJbj4r84GBIIz/w538-h640/IMG_2057.HEIC" width="538" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Our chaotic home, family dinners, hand picked bouquets, a hot cup of coffee in the morning...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and drinking it with my two dogs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmbb0FfaPh6Ay4NYH5S5kq4_hGLltQ8j-VHgLUs9Eg1kzIYWqfWQ84uSO0rqGvc5y16eRHMbDjdKoapWZ_uEx4YWHspMOHim_oTIHa_ZrneaLMhGAYJa_BIzfhyLqPQEoP-vIsjjYGD8RxIvfdeJ_y7Bv4nAJxA4_OITs6_dG3dT2R7hY5V3hJuUe/s4032/IMG_1870.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmbb0FfaPh6Ay4NYH5S5kq4_hGLltQ8j-VHgLUs9Eg1kzIYWqfWQ84uSO0rqGvc5y16eRHMbDjdKoapWZ_uEx4YWHspMOHim_oTIHa_ZrneaLMhGAYJa_BIzfhyLqPQEoP-vIsjjYGD8RxIvfdeJ_y7Bv4nAJxA4_OITs6_dG3dT2R7hY5V3hJuUe/w480-h640/IMG_1870.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: center;">The ordinary is quite beautiful </div><div style="text-align: center;">if we choose to see it that way.</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-46914396409496556202023-05-26T14:21:00.000-05:002023-05-26T14:21:00.140-05:00Summer Time Means Salsa Time!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am a tomato nerd, I admit it and I'm not ashamed!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Who wants to grow plain red, round tomatoes when you can grow every color and flavor profile? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I currently have 2-3 plants each of 15 different varieties, and when I say my bacon tomato sandwiches are a religious experience...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>I MEAN IT!</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But when those first fruits start filling up my kitchen island, my family wants salsa.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And I make it for them.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">By the GALLONS!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No, literally, gallons.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm-qH7sZEm8a91lhXb7_EZ8bt0SLM6gNbRF1T6kYsyVs-EFKYQI0zvrj5z1uds1eTFQFjUNwYkJSxvDddbS_vw5lN7RCCPHIKn56guWpVjPUVUElwrY2cftnxHr6pTX-n2nn1o7YqZz2umXqgNYHh2ssI8U6Vwf9f2ptFZ9grhMz9C_NSdhnmJbd6/s4032/IMG_2052.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVm-qH7sZEm8a91lhXb7_EZ8bt0SLM6gNbRF1T6kYsyVs-EFKYQI0zvrj5z1uds1eTFQFjUNwYkJSxvDddbS_vw5lN7RCCPHIKn56guWpVjPUVUElwrY2cftnxHr6pTX-n2nn1o7YqZz2umXqgNYHh2ssI8U6Vwf9f2ptFZ9grhMz9C_NSdhnmJbd6/w480-h640/IMG_2052.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I've shared how I make my salsa </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">on this platform before.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There is no unit of measurement except </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">a pizza pan and your heart.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Everything comes from my summer garden except the spices, and we eat it on absolutely everything!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPAKto4JXN8LAt14ZCRZvfyycyilKMP8H5rWdfb0gTkx_FHAFdCOgrFpZbdNGVtCxkQRLhgS_3FKwdXMRdEcsxhmmz7YIfodL2S_Zvi9pdi28wtb9K1c5Oa3J6XA-J-FNlBjn7-kwaLgJszgfmAZk4Ea8Wn_KWvtnRHaaydy73Ufcku007xp2iKJu/s4032/IMG_2062.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPAKto4JXN8LAt14ZCRZvfyycyilKMP8H5rWdfb0gTkx_FHAFdCOgrFpZbdNGVtCxkQRLhgS_3FKwdXMRdEcsxhmmz7YIfodL2S_Zvi9pdi28wtb9K1c5Oa3J6XA-J-FNlBjn7-kwaLgJszgfmAZk4Ea8Wn_KWvtnRHaaydy73Ufcku007xp2iKJu/w480-h640/IMG_2062.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#CreamerGarden Salsa</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">On a large pizza pan:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3/4 full of ripe heirloom tomatoes</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1/4 full peppers, any kind, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">but we like bell and jalapeno</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1/4 full of onion</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">and as many garlic cloves </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">as your heart tells you to add.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Place pan under the broiler until skins </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">of vegetables are wrinkled and blackened.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Peel skins off of tomatoes and chop to desired consistency in your food processor.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">With the tomatoes I also add:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> 1/2 large raw red onion</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">a large handful of cilantro, stems and all.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, a healthy squeeze of lime juice, and Mexican oregano...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> as much as your heart tells you to add.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Pour into jars and enjoy on </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>EVERYTHING!</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJ6hYYV93Zwa7k2OfATMNhgVdpCpfKSzFHuVS_h7igTUymJDpS5ns565F0cFAW4-j02z6oFX2OphKcR9-9ofRPtm2BQIfRML-j65sd6c4rfX9dDH3lNfcb4JH2GTNTULT_LAWX_SvOFw1V1Dsg1ONhw88-_INrpIaGxCLWuBJXpf_kWOcB9ce302D/s2448/IMG_2064.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJ6hYYV93Zwa7k2OfATMNhgVdpCpfKSzFHuVS_h7igTUymJDpS5ns565F0cFAW4-j02z6oFX2OphKcR9-9ofRPtm2BQIfRML-j65sd6c4rfX9dDH3lNfcb4JH2GTNTULT_LAWX_SvOFw1V1Dsg1ONhw88-_INrpIaGxCLWuBJXpf_kWOcB9ce302D/w480-h640/IMG_2064.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Happy Summer and check out all the things growing in my garden at</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#CreamerGarden on Instagram</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-88153405732003282822023-05-22T09:00:00.001-05:002023-05-22T09:00:00.139-05:00Growing Medicine<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Not only am I growing vegetables and flowers in my garden, I'm also growing <i><b>MEDICINE.</b></i> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Medicinal herbs, that is.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">My favorite by far is Holy Basil.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">I've been drinking it in tea daily, but I want to make it into a tincture to last through the winter months when I can't grow basils.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;">Tinctures are liquid, highly concentrated herbal extracts made by soaking herbs in alcohol, vegetable </span><span style="color: #4d5156;">glycerin</span><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;">, or oil.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #4d5156; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4rpWBMWnsXiBKC9-Bi6g2fJZZwpP_vZrIj46JBaohLxWtMitxSqIY3dr3UXGopUxKYk_S1U_Qt0n4CBVLGwzQ1ar4PnOvyjsWhy7CJMyeHIwCIcTNLfG9GglSjFdC6nCkeCkfI7otn_0R189edDMxr5T2B0f7TF1eYPqFa9mdTfsUp3zHeBdnz0a/s2448/IMG_2011.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4rpWBMWnsXiBKC9-Bi6g2fJZZwpP_vZrIj46JBaohLxWtMitxSqIY3dr3UXGopUxKYk_S1U_Qt0n4CBVLGwzQ1ar4PnOvyjsWhy7CJMyeHIwCIcTNLfG9GglSjFdC6nCkeCkfI7otn_0R189edDMxr5T2B0f7TF1eYPqFa9mdTfsUp3zHeBdnz0a/w480-h640/IMG_2011.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To make Holy Basil tincture:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rough chop enough Holy Basil to fill a jar 3/4 full.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pour (at least 80 proof) vodka, gin, or brandy over the herb to cover.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cap, label, and set in a dark/cool place </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">for six to eight weeks. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shake mixture up every now and then.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzeHjvI9Kv6jPeZHvejhFAblBzhnIgVtECWicgnSPkZR0VpPTwHorGu3KcdztbMYCD_af52YPnw2MfPaeX1E5O05V3Wo-KnU11MiClqb-OljK-qZTWALQKR9z5ItnjPwpiU3Qm4OR9oQW6IbxtIr4l6VTXcSRN6TU5vj_F6W1PXCOJJbVYTeX5HNK/s2448/IMG_2012.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="1834" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzeHjvI9Kv6jPeZHvejhFAblBzhnIgVtECWicgnSPkZR0VpPTwHorGu3KcdztbMYCD_af52YPnw2MfPaeX1E5O05V3Wo-KnU11MiClqb-OljK-qZTWALQKR9z5ItnjPwpiU3Qm4OR9oQW6IbxtIr4l6VTXcSRN6TU5vj_F6W1PXCOJJbVYTeX5HNK/w480-h640/IMG_2012.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the end of your six-ish weeks, strain out the plant matter and decant into dark glass </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">dropper bottles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take 10-20 drops in a glass of water daily.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Holy Basil has compounds that alleviate anxiety and depression, increase mental clarity, help to decrease age related memory loss, and fight inflammation in the body.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All of that goodness and healing,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">just growing right outside of my back porch!</div></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312369991961823342.post-80473384094122509502023-05-20T16:00:00.005-05:002023-05-20T16:00:21.785-05:00Tomatoes in Season...and in Sandwich!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Just look at that basket and tell me why anyone would want to grow just an ordinary round, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">red tomato?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOenm2fC-gUTli9ediU97aZcUZnZBOQN8GEnD-EBui3GEwwSDRlCx4-y5mql_jS6HXz-Rqa4Sz9-5ikZl6eMAnDKHIZgEvxUMkjOpHGb3NsnN_Vd1ROYJcLA0t4wkUjXsMXmdX9y-9oYPWmEY1dBsHk8n0FopYgRTtTABw2U8MTYHngOhr5Byhad7/s2275/IMG_2003.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2275" data-original-width="1796" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOenm2fC-gUTli9ediU97aZcUZnZBOQN8GEnD-EBui3GEwwSDRlCx4-y5mql_jS6HXz-Rqa4Sz9-5ikZl6eMAnDKHIZgEvxUMkjOpHGb3NsnN_Vd1ROYJcLA0t4wkUjXsMXmdX9y-9oYPWmEY1dBsHk8n0FopYgRTtTABw2U8MTYHngOhr5Byhad7/w506-h640/IMG_2003.HEIC" width="506" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And then just look at that sandwich and tell me </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">why anyone would want to eat </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">anything else all summer?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnJ2xo86gKYGXpr2-wcT3hT6IeCFJdD4aCQrEucXXWGfrmbmfNIEINg8O1FXr9V8Y2BzplrcCP48cgHxqR9vaTEg3kEgsGEGchQAQ4ttn0pzFFrr-kojmvJ7W3F39wsFIDnXDd-SdOYQ5IsIdQv-UjFW60hGYp8jeZ8dhKl2HSLmaIe0W5OyymDNW/s4032/IMG_2006.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnJ2xo86gKYGXpr2-wcT3hT6IeCFJdD4aCQrEucXXWGfrmbmfNIEINg8O1FXr9V8Y2BzplrcCP48cgHxqR9vaTEg3kEgsGEGchQAQ4ttn0pzFFrr-kojmvJ7W3F39wsFIDnXDd-SdOYQ5IsIdQv-UjFW60hGYp8jeZ8dhKl2HSLmaIe0W5OyymDNW/w480-h640/IMG_2006.HEIC" width="480" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54488/49/B2FDC23EF9CC6EFC58D378B3A1491923.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px;" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0