Well, yesterday was another 3-hr dentist appoinment, leaving my mouth a bit sore, and I seem to have acquired an allergy BLAST, so am not feeling up to par today. In addition, next week is our Quilt Guild Luncheon and as my group is hosting and I am a co-leader, I have GOT to get my sweatshirt vest done.
So I am posting the recipe for my Spinach Enchilada Casserole as requested by MightyMom. You can make this dish as pepper hot as you want, or not--depending on your Gringo mouth factor! And for those of you who say you don't like spinach, you might be surprised how good this is. It's a little time-intensive to make, so I usually make a large casserole and then a smaller one to freeze for later. You can freeze before cooking or after.
Spinach Enchilada Casserole
6-8 flour tortillas
1 1/2 C grated Monterey Jack cheese
6 whole green onions, chopped (reserve a tablespoon or two)
8 oz sour cream (I use light)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 clove garlic
1 sm pkg frozen spinach
1 sm can chopped green chiles*
Puree the last 5 ingredients together in a blender. (It may need to be done in batches)
Spread enough of the pureed mixture to cover the bottom of a casserole dish, then layer tortillas, puree, green onions and cheese, repeating until all is used up. It will bubble up, so leave yourself some room at the top.
Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes** or until the cheese melts. Serve with reserved green onions or chives as garnish.
Goes well with just a fresh salad, or you can serve some kind of black beans, refried beans, etc. too.
*If you have access to fresh or frozen green chiles, hurray!--the flavor will be much better. This is where you can adjust to taste. You can also substitute jalapeno peppers for the green chile. I buy green chiles and have them shipped to me, then roast them in my oven and freeze them in zipper gripper freezer bags. I will pull out several to peel and chop for this dish.
**Most of the time I just microwave the casserole at 10 minutes on med high power because I am an impatient cook. Works just as well.
Tomorrow I will post the recipe for Chicken Enchiladas for those of you who just can't bring yourselves to eat spinach. It's similar, and though we eat them together, either dish can stand alone.
Enjoy!
Oh, and check out the giveaway at the top of the page--there are some really beautiful gifts you can win just for decorating your blogs! (As a beginner, and owner of a 7-yr-old computer, I haven't figured out how to do that yet, but I'm going to try).
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Christmas at Rock-Away Rest
'Twas the night before Christmas at Rock-Away Rest,
and all of us seniors were looking our best.
Our glasses, how sparkly, our wrinkles, how merry;
Our punchbowl held prune juice plus three drops of sherry.
A bedsock was taped to each walker, in hope
That Santa would bring us soft candy and soap.
We surely were lucky to be there with friends,
Secure in this residence and in our Depends.
Our grandkids had sent us some Christmasy crafts,
Like angels in snowsuits and penguins on rafts.
The dental assistant had borrowed our teeth,
And from them she'd crafted a holiday wreath.
The bed pans, so shiny, all stood in a row,
Reflecting our candle's magnificent glow.
Our supper so festive -- the joy wouldn't stop --
Was creamy warm oatmeal with sprinkles on top.
Our salad was Jell-O, so jiggly and great,
Then puree of fruitcake was spooned on each plate.
The social director then had us play games,
Like "Where Are You Living?" and "What Are Your Names?"
Old Grandfather Looper was feeling his oats,
Proclaiming that reindeer were nothing but goats.
Our resident wand'rer was tied to her chair,
In hopes that at bedtime she still would be there.
Security lights on the new fallen snow
Made outdoors seem noon to the old folks below.
Then out on the porch there arose quite a clatter
(But we are so deaf that it just didn't matter).
A strange little fellow flew in through the door,
Then tripped on the sill and fell flat on the floor.
'Twas just our director, all togged out in red.
He jiggled and chuckled and patted each head.
We knew from the way that he strutted and jived
Our social- security checks had arrived.
We sang -- how we sang -- in our monotone croak,
Till the clock tinkled out its soft eight-p.m. stroke.
And soon we were snuggling deep in our beds.
While nurses distributed nocturnal meds.
And so ends our Christmas at Rock-Away Rest.
'fore long you'll be with us,
We wish you the best.
[ Author Unknown -- from 'Buffalos Chips' (buffalos-g-jokes.yahoogroups.com) ]
and all of us seniors were looking our best.
Our glasses, how sparkly, our wrinkles, how merry;
Our punchbowl held prune juice plus three drops of sherry.
A bedsock was taped to each walker, in hope
That Santa would bring us soft candy and soap.
We surely were lucky to be there with friends,
Secure in this residence and in our Depends.
Our grandkids had sent us some Christmasy crafts,
Like angels in snowsuits and penguins on rafts.
The dental assistant had borrowed our teeth,
And from them she'd crafted a holiday wreath.
The bed pans, so shiny, all stood in a row,
Reflecting our candle's magnificent glow.
Our supper so festive -- the joy wouldn't stop --
Was creamy warm oatmeal with sprinkles on top.
Our salad was Jell-O, so jiggly and great,
Then puree of fruitcake was spooned on each plate.
The social director then had us play games,
Like "Where Are You Living?" and "What Are Your Names?"
Old Grandfather Looper was feeling his oats,
Proclaiming that reindeer were nothing but goats.
Our resident wand'rer was tied to her chair,
In hopes that at bedtime she still would be there.
Security lights on the new fallen snow
Made outdoors seem noon to the old folks below.
Then out on the porch there arose quite a clatter
(But we are so deaf that it just didn't matter).
A strange little fellow flew in through the door,
Then tripped on the sill and fell flat on the floor.
'Twas just our director, all togged out in red.
He jiggled and chuckled and patted each head.
We knew from the way that he strutted and jived
Our social- security checks had arrived.
We sang -- how we sang -- in our monotone croak,
Till the clock tinkled out its soft eight-p.m. stroke.
And soon we were snuggling deep in our beds.
While nurses distributed nocturnal meds.
And so ends our Christmas at Rock-Away Rest.
'fore long you'll be with us,
We wish you the best.
[ Author Unknown -- from 'Buffalos Chips' (buffalos-g-jokes.yahoogroups.com) ]
Monday, November 26, 2007
Christmas meme
Hootin' Anni has designed a Christmas meme. Click on over to her place to get your copy, and then fill in the blanks or answer the questions.
1. Christmas is Comforting.
2. In memories, what was the best part of your Christmases past? Always--the being together.
3. Was Santa ever good to you? [describe how and what] We weren't raised to believe in Santa. (See this entry) But my parents, though poor, always managed to provide some sort of gifts. I have another great story about Christmas, but will save this for an entry later.
4. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or both? Both. We each open one gift on Christmas Eve--and they are always new pajamas, so we can sleep and have pics taken in new jammies. Of course, we usually forget to bring out the camera til later. 8^P
5. Is there something you make each and every year? [craft or recipe] We lived for 20 years in New Mexico, so we have a New Mexican menu each year: Chicken Enchiladas, Spinach Enchilada casserole, Green Chili Stew, Spanish Rice, and Tamales.
6. What are your favorite five[5] Christmas songs/hymns? I love Christmas songs, and there are only a couple that I would prefer never to hear again. (like "Last Christmas" from Wham. The only thing Christmassy about that is the title. I hate it.) No. 1 all time favorite is Nat King Cole's "Christmas Song." Behind that, in no particular order are: "Breath of Heaven" sung by Amy Grant; "Sweet Little Jesus Boy", sung by my childhood choir director; "Silent Night", sung by anyone, especially children; and "I'll Be Home For Christmas" sung by Karen Carpenter. Now, it's very important that these be the artists, because some singers just DON'T have "Christmas voices" (ie, James Taylor.) (That sounds kinda snobbish, doesn't it?)
7. Is there a new tradition for Christmas since your childhood days? They are ALL new, as we started our own traditions when we got married. We have a different tree than my parents had, we do stockings, including one for the dog, and usually put out luminarias on Christmas Eve.
Some "traditions" have been tried and discarded, but new ones have taken their places. Our first or second Christmas, J-Man decided we should have 12 days of Christmas, in which we open one gift every night til Christmas. I racked my brains trying to find 12 gifts for him--only to find, when I opened mine, he'd wrapped 12 different ornaments to give me. I thought that was cheating, myself. Not sure why that idea never made it to tradition status.
8. Describe one of your Christmas trips [whether it's across town or across country]. About 10 years ago, we got word that my nephew, who had been diagnosed with bone cancer, was not doing well. At the time, we lived 1400 miles away, and 19-year-old DD had gotten very angry with us and moved out. Somehow, we all drove back to Alabama, surviving the 26-hour trip back without murdering each other, spent some good times with family members before coming back home and resuming the separate living situation. Not one of our best Christmas memories, but a part of our past, after all. (I have to add that we all learned a lot those 9 months she was gone, and our relationships with each other attained a more adult status because of it.)
9. Do you have a special Christmas outfit to wear for the day? You mean, AFTER the pajamas?
10. Have YOU or any of your family members sat on Santa's lap? DD has (again, see above entry.)
11. What is/or will be on your Christmas tree this year? Who knows what will make the cut? We have collected Christmas ornaments from the very beginning of our marriage (see # 7 above) and DD gets one from each of us every year, also. She now has enough for a full tree, but has never put one up, what with being in college, then living in apartments, or with other girls in a rental, but coming back for the holidays, or being in finals. However, she told us she's considering buying one this year! Even with her taking all her ornaments with her, I cannot get all our ornaments on the tree every year, so I am forced to choose. I wish I had room for more than one tree--I think it would be nice to have several themed trees.
But we always have multicolored lights; strings of irridescent beads I acquired several years ago; handmade ornaments from friends and some by me, or DD as a child; ornaments from my parents' first Christmas tree, and tinsel, or "icicles" as we always called them. There are quite a few Santas on the tree, which is a family joke: seems I was always buying Santa ornaments for DD and the J-Man, til we figured out I was the one who loved Santas--particularly the Father Christmas ones. Now buying ornaments for me is a no-brainer.
12. Do you/or have you decorated your yard for Christmas? I have more indoor Christmas decorations than outdoor ones, but am slowly building up a few to balance. Last year we put up a "yard card", that reads Joy to the World, and I put up the white icicle lights for the first time (some were borrowed from a friend, since I didn't have enough for the whole front of the house.) I'm not sure whether I'll put those up again, since my knees make it difficult getting up and down off that ladder. Plus, it's COLD out there now!
Okay, that's it--with some editing by me when I was more awake. Your turn!
If you would like to fill out this meme, go to Hootin' Anni's--she's got it all arranged for you to just copy and paste the questions!
Thursday, November 22, 2007
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Today, I came home from work and watched a few minutes of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade before going to sleep. Now I will toss a load of clothes in the dryer, move the window A/C unit from the guest room to the garage, boil some eggs, set dishes in the fridge to thaw and chop some veggies to dip.
Tomorrow I will go pick up the turkey, swing by the Fresh Market for oranges and check for fresh brussel sprouts, and rush home to put it all together. Our daughter will drive in from Virginia, and we will try a couple of new recipes, working side by side in the kitchen, while J-Man tries to sneak bites and Tandi does her best to coax us to drop a morsel or two. We will laugh and hug and enjoy each other's company and eat just a bit too much. Then we'll meet another couple and go to a play, where DD will probably be seated safely between her parents, an adult in the eyes of her self and the world, but always our child.
Later we'll go home, maybe have some coffee and another slice of pie, and J-Man, who is a morning person, will stumble off to bed, while DD and I, who are night people will sit up and talk or watch a late movie (Miracle on 34th Street if I get MY way) and drift off to sleep, one of us waking the other to go to bed.
Saturday morning she will leave, and we will start counting the days til we get to see her again. There are always too many, but we are thankful for the days we do get to spend with her.
I hope all of you are having a wonderful, warm, and love-filled holiday today. In fact, I wish it for you every day.
Tomorrow I will go pick up the turkey, swing by the Fresh Market for oranges and check for fresh brussel sprouts, and rush home to put it all together. Our daughter will drive in from Virginia, and we will try a couple of new recipes, working side by side in the kitchen, while J-Man tries to sneak bites and Tandi does her best to coax us to drop a morsel or two. We will laugh and hug and enjoy each other's company and eat just a bit too much. Then we'll meet another couple and go to a play, where DD will probably be seated safely between her parents, an adult in the eyes of her self and the world, but always our child.
Later we'll go home, maybe have some coffee and another slice of pie, and J-Man, who is a morning person, will stumble off to bed, while DD and I, who are night people will sit up and talk or watch a late movie (Miracle on 34th Street if I get MY way) and drift off to sleep, one of us waking the other to go to bed.
Saturday morning she will leave, and we will start counting the days til we get to see her again. There are always too many, but we are thankful for the days we do get to spend with her.
I hope all of you are having a wonderful, warm, and love-filled holiday today. In fact, I wish it for you every day.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Arts and memories
I've had several nights off in a row, and though I didn't get as much done as I'd hoped (no one has THAT many hours in a day), we did get to a play Friday night. The State Theater of North Carolina is nearby and their season runs from about April or May to December. Two weeks ago I won tickets to "Smokey Joe's Cafe" from our local radio station, and while there, heard about the YouTHeater putting on "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." So Fri. I ran over and bought tickets for that night's performance.
We were not disappointed. The kids did a wonderful job, and the man who wrote the songs and play took a unique approach. He used the children running around and the "townspeople" mingling as an opportunity to change the stage and it was done so smoothly, you didn't realize til later what was going on. He also staged "tableaus" in which the group would freeze in one stance, and though he didn't have a horse, the way in which Ichabod Crane was snatched and disappeared was eerie and very nicely accoplished. I hope they perform this again in a few years--I'll definitely go see it again.
I am so glad our Theater Group runs workshops for children and involves them in the regular plays as well as special productions. With the schools cutting back on arts and music, I believe our public school children are missing out on so much. How can school boards spend so much on sports and neglect this aspect of life? Because creativity is such an important part of my life, I feel it should be offered to these young, imaginative minds before they get to be too "cool" to play-act, or paint, or make things any more. Seeing those children up there, from first-graders to high school seniors, made me smile.
It reminded me so much of when DD was doing theater. She started in church and school plays when she was 8 years old, and at one point, wanted to be an actress. I sweated that one out, and she went into law instead--inspired by a mock trial she and classmates were a part of. Through high school, she took drama, and majored in drama at the University. (There is no pre-law curriculum; all you need is an undergraduate degree.) She and her friends were involved in community theater, and we always made it to the shows--even the one which required she kiss another girl. Gulp.
I was not prepared for that one, and she didn't tell me ahead of time. Several of her friends were peeking out from backstage to see how I would handle it, though she didn't look my way. Okay, I admit it: I am a conservative through and through, and this was hard to swallow. And in one play, one of her friends (whom we'd known since SHE was 8 years old) had to remove her blouse. She was a little bit nervous doing this in front of us, and actually turned her back to our part of the audience.
I remember when DD directed "A Doll's House". The seats were at stage level, and it was so realistic, I had to bite my lip to keep from joining in the onstage arguments! That was a VERY small theater. In fact, they used our Christmas tree as a prop--and we never got it back. Oh, well--our little contribution to live theater.
I have helped DD shop for props, and contributed more than that one item, too, though I got the others back. I kind of miss being that involved in plays, because I am not talented enough to act or direct or be a stage manager, and DD's performances and productions opened my eyes to a whole new world.
So this weekend, when DD comes down for Thanksgiving, we are planning to go see this play at our community theater:
Since DD only has a day to spend with us, and I have to work Mon. Tues. and Wed. nights, I don't intend to live in the kitchen while she's here. Instead, Honeybaked Ham is cooking my turkey, some of the sides, and the desserts, and I'll add a few items to the menu. So, we'll eat early on Friday, and then the three of us will go enjoy a comedy thriller. Maybe we'll come back to hot mulled cider or hot chocolate and discuss the plot and the performances before going to bed. We might reminisce about DD's dramatic past, remembering past good times, and making memories to be thankful for in the future.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Christmas tips and ideas
Okay, I know I just posted a bunch of Autumn photos, and Thanksgiving is still to come, but Christmas is just around the corner, and I can't help thinking about it. Isn't that the way it is with most crafters? We are already thinking about the next event, the next holiday, the next season, so we can be prepared. Or not.
No, I haven't put up a tree yet, though I've seen two in the neighborhood--decorated already! It takes me a couple of weeks to get all the decorations in from the garage, and placed and the tree decorated, and then a month to get it all sorted, organized, repacked and put away again. Currently I have 13 large plastic bins of decorations
But AfricanKelli has a great post with some budget-saving tips for the season, and she has invited you to share your ideas, too. I've noticed some of you visit her blog, too, but maybe others of you don't know her. She's a terrific gal, just turned 28, works in the health care field, only she sets up health care for our poorer neighbors, like Bolivia, etc. She just finished her first triathlon, is very crafty, loves to bake, and writes a fun blog.
I'm going to re-write here the things we have done in the past to save money, to use what we have, just in case you don't get a chance to visit her blog.
Last year, I bought some very pretty large Santa and snowmen mugs at the dollar store and filled them with snack bags of mug mixes. If you google search, you can find lots to choose from. Attach the directions, and the recipe so more batches can be made, and you have a great gift for co-workers. Some only need water, other recipes need more added. My friends kept the simpler ones at work, so they would have them for quick sugar fixes or quick soups. (I think they also wanted to keep the goodies for themselves, too, since I made one-serving batches!) Peach cobbler in a mug was a big hit.
For some elderly neighbors, I put together soup mixes in pint jars (this one is ours) with the spices in a snack bag, and anything else non-perishable that was needed. In the box was also a little plastic Christmas snack plate, also purchased at the dollar store, filled with homemade cookies and covered with plastic wrap. Then I found these later on, and will fill them with cookies this year to give away.
This year, I'm going to make my co-workers some of those coasters like I made earlier in the year, only in Christmas fabrics. They are quick and easy to make up, and I have LOADS of Christmas fabrics that I'm getting tired of looking at. (Pardon the grammar.)
As for wrappings, well, I haven't bought new wrapping paper in several years. For out-of-family gifts, like the mugs, I will use paper, or the colored netting I found a bunch of at a yard sale a couple of years ago. Tied with a pretty ribbon, it's as nice as any paper. I also recycle gift bags, if they are in good condition, because they are so inexpensive anyway and because, well, you can reuse them.
In the immediate family, we wrap our gifts in fabric from my stash, and not necessarily Christmas fabric. Under the tree, it all looks beautiful and festive.
I provide plenty of safety pins, ribbons, lace, rickrack, buttons, etc. for embellishing.
J-Man has only the use of one hand, so wrapping and unwrapping are difficult for him. See the bag with the Christmas tree on the front? I made that as a gift bag for him, first to wrap his gifts in, and then to receive them in. I try to make a couple more each year, and they are always washable. Either the embellishments are washable, too (inside out) or they are made to be detached. Tags are made from recycled Christmas cards, or paper and rubber stamps from my stash.
Another option: take holiday cookie cutters and trace for a pattern. Then cut a pair of them from felt, whipstitch together, stuff with batting and attach a ribbon for hanging. (You can attach the ribbon while whipstitching the front and back together. They can be used as gift tags, ornaments, whatever. Our quilt group, who is hosting this year's holiday luncheon for the guild, is stuffing snowmen a little fatter and using them as pincushion favors. If you really want to go at it, cut the shapes from Christmas plaid, say, atitch all together on your machine, stuff them and attach the ribbon for hanging, if not already secured.
Now it's your turn. How are you going to stay within your budgets this year? Any suggestions for the rest of us? Add your comments here, or click on over to Africankelli's blog and add them there.
I'm eagerly waiting to read your suggestions and -money-saving ideas.
Edited to add: At J. Hittle's, you can order sewing supplies at wholesale, without having to buy in bulk. Every weekend, they email with the new specials of the week. A place where you can get fabric really inexpensively is Thousands of Bolts. Thought some of you may not have heard of these sites.
No, I haven't put up a tree yet, though I've seen two in the neighborhood--decorated already! It takes me a couple of weeks to get all the decorations in from the garage, and placed and the tree decorated, and then a month to get it all sorted, organized, repacked and put away again. Currently I have 13 large plastic bins of decorations
But AfricanKelli has a great post with some budget-saving tips for the season, and she has invited you to share your ideas, too. I've noticed some of you visit her blog, too, but maybe others of you don't know her. She's a terrific gal, just turned 28, works in the health care field, only she sets up health care for our poorer neighbors, like Bolivia, etc. She just finished her first triathlon, is very crafty, loves to bake, and writes a fun blog.
I'm going to re-write here the things we have done in the past to save money, to use what we have, just in case you don't get a chance to visit her blog.
Last year, I bought some very pretty large Santa and snowmen mugs at the dollar store and filled them with snack bags of mug mixes. If you google search, you can find lots to choose from. Attach the directions, and the recipe so more batches can be made, and you have a great gift for co-workers. Some only need water, other recipes need more added. My friends kept the simpler ones at work, so they would have them for quick sugar fixes or quick soups. (I think they also wanted to keep the goodies for themselves, too, since I made one-serving batches!) Peach cobbler in a mug was a big hit.
For some elderly neighbors, I put together soup mixes in pint jars (this one is ours) with the spices in a snack bag, and anything else non-perishable that was needed. In the box was also a little plastic Christmas snack plate, also purchased at the dollar store, filled with homemade cookies and covered with plastic wrap. Then I found these later on, and will fill them with cookies this year to give away.
This year, I'm going to make my co-workers some of those coasters like I made earlier in the year, only in Christmas fabrics. They are quick and easy to make up, and I have LOADS of Christmas fabrics that I'm getting tired of looking at. (Pardon the grammar.)
As for wrappings, well, I haven't bought new wrapping paper in several years. For out-of-family gifts, like the mugs, I will use paper, or the colored netting I found a bunch of at a yard sale a couple of years ago. Tied with a pretty ribbon, it's as nice as any paper. I also recycle gift bags, if they are in good condition, because they are so inexpensive anyway and because, well, you can reuse them.
In the immediate family, we wrap our gifts in fabric from my stash, and not necessarily Christmas fabric. Under the tree, it all looks beautiful and festive.
I provide plenty of safety pins, ribbons, lace, rickrack, buttons, etc. for embellishing.
J-Man has only the use of one hand, so wrapping and unwrapping are difficult for him. See the bag with the Christmas tree on the front? I made that as a gift bag for him, first to wrap his gifts in, and then to receive them in. I try to make a couple more each year, and they are always washable. Either the embellishments are washable, too (inside out) or they are made to be detached. Tags are made from recycled Christmas cards, or paper and rubber stamps from my stash.
Another option: take holiday cookie cutters and trace for a pattern. Then cut a pair of them from felt, whipstitch together, stuff with batting and attach a ribbon for hanging. (You can attach the ribbon while whipstitching the front and back together. They can be used as gift tags, ornaments, whatever. Our quilt group, who is hosting this year's holiday luncheon for the guild, is stuffing snowmen a little fatter and using them as pincushion favors. If you really want to go at it, cut the shapes from Christmas plaid, say, atitch all together on your machine, stuff them and attach the ribbon for hanging, if not already secured.
Now it's your turn. How are you going to stay within your budgets this year? Any suggestions for the rest of us? Add your comments here, or click on over to Africankelli's blog and add them there.
I'm eagerly waiting to read your suggestions and -money-saving ideas.
Edited to add: At J. Hittle's, you can order sewing supplies at wholesale, without having to buy in bulk. Every weekend, they email with the new specials of the week. A place where you can get fabric really inexpensively is Thousands of Bolts. Thought some of you may not have heard of these sites.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Autumn in North Carolina
We've had a warm spell lately--today the temperature was a mild 72 degrees. But there's a cold front coming tonight, complete with rain and wind, and tomorrow's high will only be in the 40's. I really needed to get out and plant the last of my spring bulbs, but I just kept thinking how so many of those gorgeous leaves would be on the ground tomorrow. That should make some beautiful shots in itself, but I wanted just a few more pics before that happened. I mean, can you get too much autumn color? So here are a few of my favorite shots from the day:
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Just for laughs 2
The boss of a small company called a spontaneous staff meeting in the middle of a particularly stressful week. When everyone gathered, the employer, who understood the benefits of having fun, told the burnt-out staff that the purpose of the meeting was to have a quick contest, those theme was "Viagra advertising slogans."
Dividing into groups, the only rule was that they had to use past ad slogans from other products to capture the essence of Viagra and its benefits.
About 7 minutes later, they turned in their suggestions, and created a "Top Ten List". After all the laughter and camaraderie, the rest of the week went very well for everyone.
Here is their Top Ten List:
10. Viagra, It's "Whaazzzzzz Up!"
9. Viagra, The Quicker Picker Upper!
8. Viagra, Like a Rock!
7. Viagra, When it absolutely, positively has to be there tonight!
6. Viagra, Be all that you can Be!
5. Viagra--Reach out and Touch Someone
4. Viagra, Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman!
3. Viagra--Here's the Beef!
2. Viagra, We Bring Good Things To Life!
And the unanimous #1 slogan:
1. This is your penis. This is your penis on drugs. Any questions?
Dividing into groups, the only rule was that they had to use past ad slogans from other products to capture the essence of Viagra and its benefits.
About 7 minutes later, they turned in their suggestions, and created a "Top Ten List". After all the laughter and camaraderie, the rest of the week went very well for everyone.
Here is their Top Ten List:
10. Viagra, It's "Whaazzzzzz Up!"
9. Viagra, The Quicker Picker Upper!
8. Viagra, Like a Rock!
7. Viagra, When it absolutely, positively has to be there tonight!
6. Viagra, Be all that you can Be!
5. Viagra--Reach out and Touch Someone
4. Viagra, Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman!
3. Viagra--Here's the Beef!
2. Viagra, We Bring Good Things To Life!
And the unanimous #1 slogan:
1. This is your penis. This is your penis on drugs. Any questions?
Friday, November 09, 2007
Crafting meme
Libby, at A Simple Girl, was tagged for a craft meme, and open-tagged anyone else. As this one caught my fancy, I'm going to play along.
1. When did you start to make and create crafts?
I remember making dresses from scraps of cloth for my Toni doll when I was about 8 years old, and I once furnished a little "house" for my Cracker Jacks plastic sailor boy using bits and pieces of items. Other than that, I'm not sure I really made anything else until I was in my 20's. Oh, I took Home Ec about 4 years total between 7th and 12th grades, but didn't do too well. I remember still making simple skirts in senior year while the other girls were making coats. My mom bought me a sewing machine for high school graduation and I made a few dresses in nursing school and when I first got married, but they weren't that great, and J-Man kind of discouraged that hobby.
2. Why did you start creating? Darned if I know. I loved reading, stank at sports, and was always a solitary child. I guess this was a natural segue into Things To Do When You're Alone.
3. Why do you create? Maybe it fulfills a long ago need to have something all my own, something that belongs to me. After all, I was the oldest of 4 kids, daughter to a steel worker, and money was tight. Rooms were shared, clothes were homemade or hand-me-downs, and privacy was at a premium. Then again, maybe it's
an attempt by an ordinary person to explore her unique-ness. But always, it's satisfying. Sometimes I feel like the little kid's voice at the end of the credits for The X-Files: " I made that."
4. What do you create? I still make things with bits of fabric: Quilts! Table runners, table toppers, wall-hangings, lap quilts, and bed quilts. I'm still a novice, but I can look at my early projects and see how I've improved. Then, of course, I look at other quilters' works and see how much I NEED to improve.
5. Has this changed since you began crafting? Ohh, yeah. First I started sewing simple skirts, shorts, and later, scrubs. Then a fellow nurse taught me to crochet and I did that for a while. Tried macrame, but that bored me. Needlepoint--also boring. Latch-hooking, ditto. Crewel--nice and did several pieces, then came cross-stitch. Cross-stitching was a lot of fun, but was a strain on my eyesight.
Michael's was offering calligraphy classes, so I signed up for that.
J-Man even gave me one of those small tilt tables and I did some certificates for my daughter's elementary school, but moved on to other crafts. I recently gave my pens and inks and supplies to a fellow nurse who started playing around with calligraphy. He was thrilled, because they were better pens and tips than he, as a single father, had bought for himself.
I took a few beading classes, and I still love to work with beads. I have done one project that incorporated beads and plan to do more. Then I got into rubber stamping, though not scrapbooking, and made my own Christmas cards and other projects for a few years. I miss that, and plan to make more time for that next year, once I'm no longer a group co-leader in my guild. I still have bins of paper, and an old medicine cart with little drawers all filled with stamps, scissor, inks, glitter and all kinds of goodies.
I took my first quilting class at a community education program back in the 70's, before, or maybe just as, quilting began to catch on. I'd decided my first quilt would be a Double Wedding Ring for my sister's wedding, all done by hand. (Yes, I hear the laughter echoing through blogging halls!) We'll save that story for another post.
Didn't do anything more with quilting until 1995 or 96, when J-Man's Christmas gift to me was the money for a quilting class at my local shop. It was a much better class, and I made a sampler lap quilt for my daughter, hand pieced and hand quilted. I was hooked, for life.
Okay, that's the end of that meme. Anyone else out there want to play?
1. When did you start to make and create crafts?
I remember making dresses from scraps of cloth for my Toni doll when I was about 8 years old, and I once furnished a little "house" for my Cracker Jacks plastic sailor boy using bits and pieces of items. Other than that, I'm not sure I really made anything else until I was in my 20's. Oh, I took Home Ec about 4 years total between 7th and 12th grades, but didn't do too well. I remember still making simple skirts in senior year while the other girls were making coats. My mom bought me a sewing machine for high school graduation and I made a few dresses in nursing school and when I first got married, but they weren't that great, and J-Man kind of discouraged that hobby.
2. Why did you start creating? Darned if I know. I loved reading, stank at sports, and was always a solitary child. I guess this was a natural segue into Things To Do When You're Alone.
3. Why do you create? Maybe it fulfills a long ago need to have something all my own, something that belongs to me. After all, I was the oldest of 4 kids, daughter to a steel worker, and money was tight. Rooms were shared, clothes were homemade or hand-me-downs, and privacy was at a premium. Then again, maybe it's
an attempt by an ordinary person to explore her unique-ness. But always, it's satisfying. Sometimes I feel like the little kid's voice at the end of the credits for The X-Files: " I made that."
4. What do you create? I still make things with bits of fabric: Quilts! Table runners, table toppers, wall-hangings, lap quilts, and bed quilts. I'm still a novice, but I can look at my early projects and see how I've improved. Then, of course, I look at other quilters' works and see how much I NEED to improve.
5. Has this changed since you began crafting? Ohh, yeah. First I started sewing simple skirts, shorts, and later, scrubs. Then a fellow nurse taught me to crochet and I did that for a while. Tried macrame, but that bored me. Needlepoint--also boring. Latch-hooking, ditto. Crewel--nice and did several pieces, then came cross-stitch. Cross-stitching was a lot of fun, but was a strain on my eyesight.
Michael's was offering calligraphy classes, so I signed up for that.
J-Man even gave me one of those small tilt tables and I did some certificates for my daughter's elementary school, but moved on to other crafts. I recently gave my pens and inks and supplies to a fellow nurse who started playing around with calligraphy. He was thrilled, because they were better pens and tips than he, as a single father, had bought for himself.
I took a few beading classes, and I still love to work with beads. I have done one project that incorporated beads and plan to do more. Then I got into rubber stamping, though not scrapbooking, and made my own Christmas cards and other projects for a few years. I miss that, and plan to make more time for that next year, once I'm no longer a group co-leader in my guild. I still have bins of paper, and an old medicine cart with little drawers all filled with stamps, scissor, inks, glitter and all kinds of goodies.
I took my first quilting class at a community education program back in the 70's, before, or maybe just as, quilting began to catch on. I'd decided my first quilt would be a Double Wedding Ring for my sister's wedding, all done by hand. (Yes, I hear the laughter echoing through blogging halls!) We'll save that story for another post.
Didn't do anything more with quilting until 1995 or 96, when J-Man's Christmas gift to me was the money for a quilting class at my local shop. It was a much better class, and I made a sampler lap quilt for my daughter, hand pieced and hand quilted. I was hooked, for life.
Okay, that's the end of that meme. Anyone else out there want to play?
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Productive day
Just finished roasting 10 pounds of green chiles ordered from New Mexico Catalog and received a precarious 2 weeks ago--or was it 3? I kept them in the fridge, but still had to throw away about a dozen. But oh, the house smells so good right now.
I did this once before, a couple of years ago, but didn't write down the directions, and when I started roasting them, J-Man was on the computer, so I just had to wing it.
First, I put on my gloves! It's way too easy to forget and rub the corner of your eye or something, so I keep several pair of gloves available for handling the chiles. Then I wash them, and, taking a sharp knife, cut slits in the skin down the length of the chili.
Next, I layer them on a cookie sheet
and put them in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes, turning them as needed, until they "blister".
Then I place them in a gallon-sized freezer bag, to lie flat on the shelves until all are frozen.
Ta-dah! 12 bags of chiles, ready to pull out individual ones as needed for green chile stew, spinach enchilada casserole, whatever. I will probably give DD a couple of bags when she next comes down.
This morning, I took Tandi over to a new groomer's, recommended to me by a friend. Remember the experience with the last groomer? Well, this was a whole different ballgame.
I checked the place out last Saturday morning on the way home from work. Lauri was very helpful, very knowledgeable, and seemed very competent. Her philosophy is that if it takes 6 weeks to get Tandi groomed, so be it. She won't push my pup any farther than she can handle.
So today I took Tandi over there for a short visit. There must have been 6-7 dogs, all crowding up to the doggie gate, trying to get a look (or a sniff) at the new kid on the block. Tandi was excited at all the potential playmates, and had no problem milling around with them, playing with the stuffies and squeakies available, and checking out all the equipment. She even permitted Angie and Lauri to pet her and hold her, though she was just a bit anxious. I went off and left her for about an hour and all went beautifully. She was wearing her big doggie grin when I came to get her, and didn't scramble over me trying to get out the door. SUCH a change from our last groomer. This one looks to be a beautiful fit! So tomorrow, I take her back for grooming, and they really think they'll be able to get it all done.
They let the dogs run around as they want, as long as they behave, and just work on them all day long. If and when one gets a little stressed, they stop, scoop up another and go from there. There are fenced areas outside so the dogs can run and play, and they'll separate the large dogs from the small ones so no one gets trampled. Even when it rains, they have a fenced in, covered patio the dogs can play on. And it won't cost me an arm and a leg, either. I'll try to post pics tomorrow of my little furbaby, all nicely fluffed and puffed!
I did this once before, a couple of years ago, but didn't write down the directions, and when I started roasting them, J-Man was on the computer, so I just had to wing it.
First, I put on my gloves! It's way too easy to forget and rub the corner of your eye or something, so I keep several pair of gloves available for handling the chiles. Then I wash them, and, taking a sharp knife, cut slits in the skin down the length of the chili.
Next, I layer them on a cookie sheet
and put them in a 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes, turning them as needed, until they "blister".
Then I place them in a gallon-sized freezer bag, to lie flat on the shelves until all are frozen.
Ta-dah! 12 bags of chiles, ready to pull out individual ones as needed for green chile stew, spinach enchilada casserole, whatever. I will probably give DD a couple of bags when she next comes down.
This morning, I took Tandi over to a new groomer's, recommended to me by a friend. Remember the experience with the last groomer? Well, this was a whole different ballgame.
I checked the place out last Saturday morning on the way home from work. Lauri was very helpful, very knowledgeable, and seemed very competent. Her philosophy is that if it takes 6 weeks to get Tandi groomed, so be it. She won't push my pup any farther than she can handle.
So today I took Tandi over there for a short visit. There must have been 6-7 dogs, all crowding up to the doggie gate, trying to get a look (or a sniff) at the new kid on the block. Tandi was excited at all the potential playmates, and had no problem milling around with them, playing with the stuffies and squeakies available, and checking out all the equipment. She even permitted Angie and Lauri to pet her and hold her, though she was just a bit anxious. I went off and left her for about an hour and all went beautifully. She was wearing her big doggie grin when I came to get her, and didn't scramble over me trying to get out the door. SUCH a change from our last groomer. This one looks to be a beautiful fit! So tomorrow, I take her back for grooming, and they really think they'll be able to get it all done.
They let the dogs run around as they want, as long as they behave, and just work on them all day long. If and when one gets a little stressed, they stop, scoop up another and go from there. There are fenced areas outside so the dogs can run and play, and they'll separate the large dogs from the small ones so no one gets trampled. Even when it rains, they have a fenced in, covered patio the dogs can play on. And it won't cost me an arm and a leg, either. I'll try to post pics tomorrow of my little furbaby, all nicely fluffed and puffed!
Monday, November 05, 2007
Beware this Movie
Just got an email from a friend about a movie being released Dec. 7, entitled "The Golden Compass." I checked it out on Snopes.com, and it's true. This movie is based on the first of a trilogy written by a British atheist, who stated the purpose of his books was to "kill God" in the minds of children.
Here is the link:
http://snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
Now, I like the Harry Potter books, and I don't have a problem reading them. But this man does not believe in God, hates C.S. Lewis and the "Narnia" books, and this first movie is a watered-down version of his first book. They get worse.
Please pass this on to those with children or grandchildren so they will be forewarned about this movie.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Blogthing pasttimes
| You Belong in Fall |
 Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you |
| Your Love Life is Like Casablanca |
 "Kiss me. Kiss me as if it were the last time." For you, love is never finished. If you've loved someone once, you'll always love them. You're an old fashioned romantic... even if your relationships don't end up as romantic as you'd like. Your love style: Traditional and understated Your Hollywood Ending Will Be: Complicated and ambiguous |
You Are a Blue Flower |
 A blue flower tends to represent peace, openness, and balance. At times, you are very delicate like a cornflower. And at other times, you are wise like an iris. And more than you wish, you're a little cold, like a blue hydrangea. |
| Your Career Personality: Detail-Oriented, Observant, and Hard-Working |
 Your Ideal Careers: Designer Family counselor Independent store owner Interior decorator Museum curator Nurse Preschool teachers Social worker Stay at home parent Teacher |
| You Are a Traditional Christmas Tree |
 For a good Christmas, you don't have to re-invent the wheel. You already have traditions, foods, and special things you bring out every year. |
Thursday, November 01, 2007
The Day After
Wow. The last 3 days just did me in. (Okay, that's not really me above, but it's how I felt!) I got up at 7:30 to let the dog out and feed her, then went back to bed and didn't crawl back out until 10:30. THEN it was almost 3pm before I finally took a shower and got out of my pj's. Most of the stuff is in from the yard, but not packed away, and the inside of the house is utter chaos. Supper tonight was leftover spaghetti, but neither of us cared, as we were both lethargic.
Not so my Tandi. She is so ecstatic at being done with all the intrusions into her ordered little world, she has cavorted and pounced and given me big doggy grins all afternoon. Poor thing. Little does she know there will be a tree in the dining room next month. I don't think I'll tell her just yet.
On the positive side, I answered a trivia question about The Addams Family correctly, and won 2 tickets to "Smokey Joe's Cafe" put on by our local theater group--who also happens to be the State theater group. I believe the only performance we can attend now is Sunday afternoon, so it will be a nice little break in the Great Halloween Packup.
Here are a few photos of the night:
The "flying saucer" taken after the lights fell off. Oh, well, it was supposed to be a crash site, anyway.
Fearless Leader alien peering in the window, with frightened pumpkin looking out. This is the scarecrow you saw in earlier pics, now attired in the alien mask and a cape from his former wizardry days. That poor scarecrow probably won't last more than one more season. Those multiple personality changes are wearing him out, I think.
Decontamination tunnel.
The one who almost got away.
Fair warning! (click on the pic to read the sign)
The Alien Autopsy. Tastes pretty good, but it's a lot of work. Not sure I'll do this again anytime soon.
Monster toes.
Kitty Litter Cake
Centerpiece. (Nurses out there, do you know what the "vase" is?
Drowning pumpkin's bag leaked, so he became Suffocating pumpkin (and fishy friends).
Pinocchio Pumpkin.
I didn't get to do all I wanted for the yard, but next time I won't plan a party the same night. It's just too much for one person to get done in one day. However, I enjoyed and appreciated those who came.
Now I can't hold my eyes open one minute longer!
Aftermath
Well, all didn't go quite as I had hoped, or planned, but it was nice anyway. Got to visit with some friends and try some new food and stress out over preparations. I will post photos tomorrow, once my batteries (and the camera's batteries) are charged again.
Good night, all!
Good night, all!
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