Gardening in a Small Space

This is a great idea for gardening when you don't have a lot of space in your backyard.  They have planted flowers in this raised bed.  But this picture incorporates vertical gardening.  They have used two old iron gates in the middle of the raised bed to provide a structure for something to grow up.  You could plant cucumbers, sugar snap peas, green beans or even cantaloupe all of these are vining plants.  Then around the edge you could have tomato plants, pepper plants, eggplant, or onions.

This gives you an idea of a small raised bed and how to grow several different vegetables without a lot of space.

Antique Glass Bottles and Glass Prisms

I love antique bottles and jars and all of these pictures display bottles with flowers sitting in an arrangement on a table but my favorite is sitting on a window ledge catching the natural light, especially if it's a colored bottle.  These bottles with a couple of flowering stems add such a special touch.  Nothing big, like a huge bouquet but something simple and easy.

These last three pictures are a collection of antique bottles in my breakfast room windows.  In the windows that don't have bottles I have hung a collection of prisms that I have collected over the years.  These windows face the east so the morning sun hits these prisms and cast beautiful rainbows all over my walls.

When I was a young girl,  I saw the movie Pollyanna. In the movie, Pollyanna visits a crabby old lady who is sick in bed and Pollyanna sees the crystals hanging from her old lamp and takes them off and strings them and hangs them in her window and the lady loves it.  Well, so did I and that's where I got the idea. 

In new homes these days, there are windows above the main entrance into the home.  If you get direct sunlight this would be a great place to hang prisms.  Natural light, uncover windows and colorful objects in the windows brings a good feeling to your home.

I have wanted a canary for years and my husband has put his foot down, but a bird singing in your home also makes you feel good.  A singing canary can brighten any day.  :)

Salvage Transformation

You have heard the saying that one person's junk is another's treasure, for a gardner, garage sales and flea markets are goldmines.  You can find all sorts of funky but functional planters from old odds and ends. You may not want a farm theme but there are lots of galvanized buckets, antique drawers, old wheelbarrows, old wooden windows and old metal gates that have a quaint look that make great conversation pieces. All of these pieces add vertical interest to your garden.  And to be green :), you are doing your part to recycle and repurpose.

When choosing an old piece like this be sure there is room enough for plenty of soil so roots will have room to grow and you also need to be able to drill holes in the bottom so water can drain from the container.  You can see how beautiful this containers look after they have been planted. 

Another idea is old baskets.  You can always find old baskets at garage sales and they are so beautiful in the garden with flowers planted in them.  You can nail them to a fence and have flowers cascading over the side of the basket.  Looks beautiful! You will need to line baskets with the liner that you would get at a garden store to line a hanging basket.  This will keep the dirt in but you need to water something like this daily especially if there is no rain because they dry out pretty quickly.

To Katie, Happy Birthday!

This will always be a special day for me because you entered the world on this day.

 When I think of you, I think of beauty, love, peace, generosity, compassion, sweetness, kindness, humor, laughing, joy, intelligence, creativity, and funny craziness.   You add such meaning and specialness to our family.

For several months now, when I think of you, I have this mental picture that comes to my mind.  I see your little hands and arms to your elbows from when you were a little girl and your little hands are cupped together side by side and there is a little flower in your hands and your hands are extended out into the world.  The world is truly a better place because you are in it.

Happy Birthday Precious Daughter!

Always Love to you,  Mom

Prejudice

April will mark the fiftieth anniversary of Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham jail."  This is my personal opinion but if you have never read this, you need too. For years, I thought Martin Luther King was a communist.  I still haven't figured out where I acquired that mind set.  Several years ago, I was looking through my son's college English book and came across two stories that really moved me.  The two stories were, Letter from Birmingham jail by Martin Luther King and a letter by Apache chief, Cochise called I Am Alone.

After I read these two letters, I hated the fact that in my life I have judged people without knowing them, accepted beliefs and opinions of other people without researching information for myself.  I know that I don't have any concept of what minorities have been subjected too.  That's what moved me when I read these two letters. As humans, how can we treat each other that way!

I'm not throwing stones, I have been very guilty of being prejudice in the past but I am changing that.  I'm writing this for only one purpose, that we would all research information on what we believe and why we believe it and stop taking information over the news or from other sources as the truth.  I am surprised at the hatred I see in people toward people who are Muslims or people who are middle eastern.  That hatred is no different from the hatred directed at the black people years ago. Yes, there are blacks, Muslims, whites and all races who have done acts of violence.  You cannot pin that on one race.  When I read the letters by Cochise and Martin Luther King, Americans have done more than their share of violence and still do, mostly for the sake of greed and control.

Jesus said, Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself!

Herbed and Spiced Goat Cheese Balls

I got this recipe from Martha Stewart.  I love got cheese and I always have herbs so this is a very tasty and fast appetizer.

You can use any number of fresh herbs, spices and nuts to coat these creamy bites. Rosemary and chopped nuts or walnuts, cilantro and creshed mild Aleppo chili pepper. The goat cheese balls may be formed and refrigerated unseasoned in an airtight container for 1 day.

1 1/4 pounds soft goat cheese
1 tablespoon finely chopped flat leat parsley
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh thyme
2 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted
1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Form 1 tablespoon size of the goat cheese into small balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Refrigerate the balls for 10 minutes to set slightly.

In 5 separate bowls, place the parsley, chives, thyme, pecans, and pepper.  Roll about 6 balls in each of the 5 coatings and set aside.  To make the paprika band, sprinkle the paprika in a straight thin line on a cutting board.  Straighten the edges of the paprika with a knife.  Roll 6 of the balls down the line for form the paprika strip.  To make the curry dot on the 6 remaining balls, place the curry in a sieve, cover half the ball with a wide knife and sprinkle the frry over the other half.

Pour the olive oil onto a serving platter.  Sprinkle the oil with red pepper flakes.  Arrange the goat cheese balls on the platter and serve with toothpicks on the side.

Spring Has Sprung!!

Time is flying by and today is officially the first day of Spring!  As I have gotten older, I really like the winter months and I would still like to have a few more fires in the wood stove.  This winter, I didn't work in the yard and garden like I normally do and last week after my first day in the garden, seriously, I could hardly move.  I stayed inside the next day and read and then worked two more days and did fine.  That first day was pretty bad!  And I have to say, my husband helped me a lot. 

I was talking to a dear friend and she was telling me that Epsom's salt will help with aching muscles.  One cup of Epsom's salt in a tub of hot bath water will help tremendously.  Don't soak any longer than 10 minutes because the salt pulls out toxins and if you soak any longer the toxins will reabsorb.

These are pictures from our little homestead.  The garden ready for planting, the peach trees blooming, the panzies have revived from the winter bite, the rosemary bush is all in bloom and the bees are busy singing their song, and last but not least is mama kitty snuggled by a lavender bush taking her afternoon nap.

I'll start planting next week.  I imagine I will be using a lot of boxes of Epsom's salt.  :)

Bustani Plant Farm

I love this place!  Bustani Plant Farm has the best quality and the most unusual plants in Oklahoma. Every year they have several new plants that you have never heard of before but they have already been tried and tested for our Oklahoma climate to see if they can survive our weather.

Bustani is owned and operated by husband and wife team Steve and Ruth Owens.  Years ago, I watched Steve on Oklahoma Gardening and he was a wonderful host and was very knowledgeable.  He left the show and then I heard he had opened a plant farm near Stillwater.  I knew I wanted to visit.

There will be a Spring Opening Weekend starting Thursday, April 11 thru Saturday, April 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day.  From Oklahoma City take I-35 north and exit on highway 33 at Guthrie.  Go 22 miles east until you come to highway 177.  Turn left or North on 177 and travel 6 miles toward Stillwater to 44th.  Look for the Kubota tractor dealership then turn right or east on 44th and go 1/2 mile.

Believe me, you will love this place.  Plan your trip to the farm and take plenty of cash or your credit card because you won't be able to resist.  You can also get online and go to their website and request a catalog.  www.bustaniplantfarm.com

I have said this before, for me, going to a nursery is like going to the store hungry, I can never leave empty handed and our grocery budget suffers pretty bad.  :)

Beautiful Garnish

I thought this was a beautiful garnish.  With Easter coming, birthdays, showers or a special event wouldn't  this be beautiful on your buffet table.

This is a sun-dried tomato cheesecake but you could do this on top any savory or sweet cheesecake or jello salad that had a creamy topping or I have a Sunday Lemon Pie recipe that has a whipped cream topping that this would look beautiful on.  If your interested in the pie recipe it's my on my blog, April 2, 2010.

These garnishes are green onion stems, chives and mint leaves, edible pansies, nasturtiums, and marigolds.  My pansies are revived from the winter and are looking beautiful.  I can't wait to try this and wanted to share the idea with you.

Smoky Red Pepper Soup with Collard Green Pistou

I had a pile of recipes I had torn out of magazines that had laid on my desk forever.  I decided if I didn't get these recipes tried within the next two months they were going in the trash. I was happy when I went through them and found this recipe. 

Two dear friends had taken me out to lunch in January to a tea room and I had the best red pepper soup with gouda cheese.  It was wonderful!  So when I saw this recipe, I knew for sure I would be trying this.  It has smoked paprika which gives the soup a taste of bacon.  I love the soup.  I don't know if it is exactly like the tea room.  I would like to try theirs again. 

The recipe for this soup also calls for coriander and I didn't have any at the time so I made it without it.  I also added one tablespoon of sugar.  I like tomato basil soup with just a tad of a sweetness and I thought I would want to do the same with this soup.  And I did like it better with the sugar.  Oh, and I added about 1/2 cup of whipping cream instead of 1/4.

You can also make a collard green pistou which is similar to a pesto.  When I made this the stores in Chickasha all had wilted greens which I didn't want to use so I didn't make it.  I have a friend coming for lunch next week and I plan on trying the pistou with the soup.  Can't wait to try it because I know it will add that extra bit of marvel to the taste.

3 tablespoons of butter
6 large red bell peppers, chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
l large sweet onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons of smoked paprika
1 teaspoon of ground coriander
5 cups of vegetable broth
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup whipping cream

Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat; add bell peppers and next 2 ingredients.  Saute 12 to 15 minutes or until onion is golden.  Stir in garlic and next 4 ingredients.  Cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes.  Add broth and bay leaves; bring to boil.  Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer stirring often, 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Discard bay leaves.
Process sou with hand held blender until smooth.  Stir in cream and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Cook over medium heat 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated.  Serve with Collard Green Pistou. 
You can use a regular blender and process until smooth.  Just let the mixture cool slightly before blending in a regular blender.      Makes 8 cups

Collard Green Pistou
You can use turnip, kale, or mustard greens in place of collard.

2 cups firmly packed chopped fresh collard greens
2 garlic cloves
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of pepper

Cook collard greens in boiling salted water to cover 4 to 6 minutes or until tender; drain.  Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process and drain well.  Process garlic in a food processor until finely ground.  Add greens, olive oil, and red pepper; process 2 to 3 seconds or until finely chopped.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Drizzle over soup.      Makes 1 cup

This soup is actually better after it sets for one day.  You can also freeze this soup.  Make the soup per directions just don't add the cream.  When ready to eat.  Thaw the soup to room temperature add to saucepan and add cream and warm thoroughly.

Chem Trails

These are trails in the sky that look like a trail of smoke coming from the back of an airplane.  When I was a kid I would see them coming from jets that fly really high in the atmosphere but those trails dissipate in a short time.  The chem trails go on and on and on that is how you can tell the difference.

I had heard various opinions about what people thought these trails were but I never really knew for sure what was going on.  If you have been a reader of my blog very long you know I live in the country.  I have been noticing for several years how one day a plant or tree would look beautiful and the next day it looked dead.  When we first moved to the country during growing season almost once a week someone was crop dusting.  I would say that in the last 7 years that has almost come to a stop.  So I really couldn't figure out what was happening.  In the summer about 3 years ago, I was up at 5 in the morning taking the trash to the curb and there was a strong chemical smell.  It was so bad I covered my face and ran to the house.  I told Gary about it and was trying to figure out what the smell would be that early.  No one was spraying.  That has happened several times to me.   Finally, last year I went the OSU ag office in Chickasha.   It's not the county extension center but they grow experimental crops.  I talked to the guy in charge and he basically blew me off, saying as long as you live in the country these things are going to happen and it's probably somebody spraying.  I knew that wasn't right.

I have also wondered why so many people are getting Altzheimers.  Three people on the street where we live have it and I am always hearing of some one being diagnosised with it.  I'm thinking, what's going on???

Well, I have said all this to say PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO, youtube.com/watch?v=MBz4Zcx3ZKU.  When I saw it, it answered most of my questions. Humanity needs to be informed of what is being done to us and I hope you will pass this information on to your family and friends.

On Thursday there was so many trails I couldn't believe it.  I wouldn't go outside.  I had opened my windows to get fresh air in and later than evening the chemical smell became apparent so I pulled all the windows down.  Even today, I was working in the yard and chem trails were everywhere.  I had some things I needed to get down but after I was out about 4 hours I started smelling the chemical and came in the house and closed my windows again.

I hope you will become aware of these and starting watching how often this is happening.

White vinegar vs Roundup

I hate to even say this, now that I know what Roundup does, but I have used it for years.  But never again!  Yes, Roundup kills weeds and that is what I thought but it is a terrible chemical and does much more to the soil than just kill weeds.  It comes close to sterilizing the soil.  IT'S BAD!

I'm finding more and more, if I will research and wait there is almost always a natural alternative to almost everything.  From treating a sickness to gardening and a lot of things in between.   At the end of the growing season last year, I heard that white vinegar was as good as Roundup in killing weeds.  I was so glad to hear that because over the winter prior to last summer I had read about Roundup and how bad it was so last summer I didn't use it and I couldn't stay on top of the weeds. 

Over the winter, I tried some vinegar on a patch of weeds just to see if it would work and it worked beautifully.  Not only does it zap the weeds, I don't have to be concerned about being exposed to a chemical and all the bad effects to the environment. 

I was out yesterday and did a lot of spraying.  I just put the vinegar in a spray applicator that you would use for spraying Roundup and sprayed all around my garden area.  It worked great and the vinegar smell kept my cats at bay, which was wonderful.   

New tablecloth

Well, not really a new tablecloth.  I was going through some things and found this old quilt and thought I would use it as a tablecloth for a while.  I'm going to get some fake lilac flowers to go in my white pitcher on the table.  I'm going to love that look. Very country and that's where I live!

Always Love

Sometimes this is very difficult to do!

Baby Ideas

The window treatment for a babies room is so adorable.  There are so many cute little stuffed animals these days for newborns. In the example, they used a hand towel over a tension rod but you could use a cute little receiving blanket or a plush baby blanket and then tie it back with your choice of stuffed animal.  Really cute idea!

I've seen this idea before, attaching a special baby dress to a quilt.  Again, I'm all about pulling those keepsakes out and this is a beautiful way to display your children's special baby clothes.  You could display it in a bedroom where your grandchildren sleep when they visit and they would love the story"of this being there mom or dad's baby clothes."

The Four Agreements

It's going to be a rainy Saturday in Oklahoma and if you like to read I would like to suggest this book.  The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  It was given to me by my oldest daughter and she loved the book and wanted me to have a copy.  I had never heard of the book or the author but I was immediately hooked once I started reading it. 

It spoke to my life because the four agreements are: Be impeccable with your word, can't get any better than that. #2 Don't take anything personally, do I ever need to hear that.  I try not to let my feelings get hurt but they often do.  #3 Don't make assumptions, a biggy for me. REAL BIG for me.  I call it speculations but it's the same thing.  I can not underline it enough for me, DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS......ASK QUESTIONS.  When we make assumptions or speculate the majority of the time we are wrong!  I need to say again, DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS.  #4 Last but not least, Always do your best, I learned this from my parents, if you do your best that's all anyone can ask for. 

The author has very skillfully written about these agreements in a way that will cause you to look deep within your own heart. It will help you.

Displaying Silver

Not long ago, I blogged on using my mother's silver ware.  I decided to take it out and polish it all up and to use it for everyday because the flatware I have used since getting married had gradually disappeared over the years.  :)  I have enjoyed using it so much.  It is beautiful and shiny and family and friends have noticed.  I feel pretty special using something so nice everyday.

When I was putting the silverware in the drawer, I didn't really have a place for the soup spoons and the teaspoons so I put them in a crock on the kitchen counter top.  When I saw this idea, I loved the pieces of crystal being used to put nice silver in.  It is a beautiful display and I'm all about getting keepsakes out and using them.  I also recently got out my mom's silver tray and used it to display a collection of things.

I would like to encourage you to think of keepsakes or your nicest of things and think of ways you can use and enjoy them.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Fast and Easy Spinach Salad

I love spinach salad and this is very easy to put together and very tasty.

This is ingredients for one salad.


3-4 cups of baby spinach
several slices of purples or sweet onion, ringed
2 slices of crispy bacon, crumbled
1 hard boiled egg, sliced
3-4 pickled beets, sliced

I buy a Brianna's Poppy Seed dressing which is really good for my spinach salad.
I don't always put bacon in my salad and you can buy fresh beets and slice them instead of pickled beets.  The pickled beets are sweet and if you are watching your sugar you may want to use fresh.  This salad can be a meal by itself. 

Fish Sandwich

This turned out to be a rummy sandwich.  I buy wild frozen cod fillets at Sams.  They are individually wrapped and the fish is very good.  This is how I made them.

2 whole wheat sandwich rolls
2 cod fillets
2 pieces of American cheese (optional)
home made tartar sauce

To cook this fish  - Salt and pepper on one side.  Mix 1/2 cup of corn meal to 1/2 cup of flour and put in a zip lock bag and mix well.  After you have seasoned fix drop in one fillet at a time and coat well with the flour mixture.  Then place in a hot skillet with about 3 tablespoons of oil.  Brown lightly on each side then place in a greased pie plate and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. 

While the fish is cooking.  Make your tartar sauce.  1/2 cup of mayo, 1/2 small onion chopped fine, several dill pickles chopped fine.  Mix well. 

When the fish is almost cooked.  Toast your sandwich roll then cut cheese in half and place on one side and put tartar sauce of the other side.  When the fish is cooked cut the fillet in half and put it on the sandwich roll.

I have made these before and left off the cheese and put chopped iceberg lettuce with slice tomatoes and that was very good also.

Creative Ideas

I think this is a very attractive way to chill wine either on a buffet table, bar area or a table set up for drinks.  I have seen a container very similar to this one at Hobby Lobby several times.  Makes a very
 stylish ice bucket.

This is such a clever idea.  Scarfs are such a popular item in people's wardrobes these days.  I thought this would be a cute idea for gift wrapping.

And last but not lest, I loved this idea.  Taking a child's art work and putting a frame around it.  They decorated the frame with buttons and put two handles on each side and made a serving tray. This would make a child feel really special to have his or her art work displayed in such a way.  I've seen jars of buttons for sale at garage sales.  You could leave the frame plain but I really like it embellished with the buttons.  You could use penny's.  Just use your imagination.

I Love This Idea of Stacking

I do love this idea.  I have two green cake stands that are different sizes and I have stacked them on top of each other before and displayed items that were not food.  Like picture two.  But I love the vase on top of the top cake plate.  The first picture is a great idea where they combined different size plates and cups.

In thinking about using the top picture, I thought this would be a great idea in catering or on a buffet table with desserts.  Use delicate china and have a couple of tiers of usual chocolate candies mixed with some delicate candies.  Sometimes guests would like a small piece of something sweet. 

Go to garage sales or especially estate sales and you can pick up some lovely dishes for not a lot of money or you may have your own. I love looking for beautiful old dishes at sales because I love the way they look and you can use them so many different ways for special occasions.  The top picture has a little doll sitting on the plate.  You could use a beautiful lilac blossom or Easter is coming soon a tiny little bunny.  There are lots of things you could incorporate with the candy or small dessert.