Friday, December 30, 2022

Lamb chop dinner


I grew up in cattle country. Beef was king!.
Never had mutton or lamb in the house. Tolorated wool, because it was warm.
So lamb of any sort is a novelty to me. This year, I tried lambs shank. I was told it would stink while and after it cooked. Not true.  I look forward to my next venture with this meat source.
Here is a meal plan that includes the broiled lamb recipe I posted a while back.


Sunday, December 18, 2022

December 18th carx

My card for December 18th.

Family Christmas 2022

David and Jamie came up for the day.
When we walked , he was helping Heather with some finishing touches on our new trikes. It took a bit longer than expected but they are done

I love it. 
My knees not so much to the seat was raised and I will try again this afternoon.
Jerry's bike is just as nice 
Bailey and Corbin rode them home for us, with Bailey keeping an eye on Liam while he ride his bike with them. Corbin had a bit of a time on GP's bike because one brakes handles lost the cable. We were wondering why he was going so fast down the hill.

It was a very good day for each of us 

December 17th card





Friday, December 16, 2022

My December 15th card

My December 15th card.
I received  the snowman in a swap about 6 or 8 years ago.
The sentiment ia from a card I received last year.
The card base is from a pack of color cardstock from Walmart. I have a slightly smaller card inside that  is from the same pack and is orange, the local school colors





Thursday, December 15, 2022

My December 13th card


I got a bit behind in making cards, this week.
I have been catching up on them today.
Here is my December 13th  card.



Sunday, December 11, 2022

December 10th card


My December 10th card.
The sentiment is from an ad we got in the mail this past week.
The image is from a Cricut Cartridge called The 12 adays of Christnas, I think. I cut them our over 6 years ago.


Sunday, December 4, 2022

My December 3rd. Card


My December 3rd. Card.

My December 2nd card.



The card I made for December 2nd.
The tree came from part of a picture in our local power company monthly magazine.  

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Sunday, November 13, 2022

Updater for November 2022

Well, it's been a while since I wrote to any of my blogs.
Autumn has been interesting.
I started September with COVID. I am still weary and tired all the time but getting better.
My house is full of clutter. I am more able to keep up with the dishes but my craft stuff is everywhere and I am working on getting that under control.
I have scaled back on decorating for any of the holidays, this year and even Christmas is not going to be as busy ad in years past. Part of that id due to a kitten and a young dog who constantly tussle with each other all the time.
My garden this year, was a bust. We, that is daughter and I, put one in, but we dind't get enough out if to have more than a taste of some fresh vegetables.  A few tomoates and a handfull of Okra was about it. I do hope to do better next year.

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Monday, July 11, 2022

Mid Month check in

Well! We made it half way through the year. And our first heatwave.
It was brutal. Highs in the upper 90's. High Humidity and just downright hard to move around in this heat.
The garden is doing well. Needs a bit of weeding. But we got rain almost every day the week of Independence Day. Enough that I didn't need to go check on it. We will need to check it this week and see if anything is ripe. We got a few small (suppose to be small) tomatoes.  If it's cool enough this evening, I will try to pull the weeds out of at least one box. We don't usually go there until around 6:30.  That will give me about an hour before it gets too dark to do much else.

I have been keeping a few plants on the front porch. I had to move the tomatoes, twice. First I just moved them off the porch, then I had to move them away from the porch The 4 O'Clocks' from the side of the porch started to crowd them a lot.  I moved them to behind Josh's camper and in front of the Green House. Jerry is going to have to help me keep an eye out, for ripe tomatoes. 

I picked up a CPAP today. I will start using it, tonight. 

We were gifted a huge amount of fresh Vegetables. Cucumbers, Zucchini's and Squashes. I peeled up a few of them and put them in a bowl with some salt on each layer. They are soo good. and I have been saing a few seeds from each one, to plant for next year.  I want to get an earlier start on next years' garden. 

I have worked on a couple of  cards, but haven't finished either one of them. 



Billie C.

Friday, June 17, 2022

Mid June 2022 update

It is the Middle of June, with a full moon, in a small house in a small town in Tennessee...

Well, I'm not a song writer, at all. (Thanks Rubber Ducky, Ah, the memories) We are just past the Full Moon, a Super moon, and I did Not go outside to look at it.  It was too warm and I just didn't feel like going outside in the dark just to look at the moon. Although I do think that the full Moon may have helped the garden grow. Last week we had small plants and this week we have bigger plants and we have tomatoes on the vine. The pumpkin plants doubled in size over the past week, as well and so did the cucumbers. Really, just about everything has finally decided it is going to grow. including the weeds. But then again, it also got HOT. In the mid 90's HOT. Too hot for me to want to stay outside for more than a few minutes HOT.  And, it's humid. sticky, can't seem to cool off sticky HOT. So we have been staying inside under the air conditioner in the window and eating sandwiches and doing a lot of chair sleeping.  Did I mention it has been HOT?
The dogs are doing well for all this heat. Rascal has been playing with and teasing Barney with a toy that was left behind last year by nephew Josh and his wife. They "Officially" gave the tire to our dogs on their visit last week. Their own dog has a new favorite toy, a squeaky one.  She injured her hind foot just before they left their last spot, (They work at a traveling carnival). It got worse while here, and after taking her to a local(ish) vet got bad news. She is going to have to lose the whole leg.  She has that done today, in Minnesota at the State University Vet hospital.  She is their "baby" and this is a very trying time for the two of them.  I will try to remember to update once I hear how the dog is doing.

I have 8 Elephant Ear leaves under the kitchen window. and it seems that the 4 O'clock wasn't even growing last week, is now the largest It's been in the last three years. I planted it three years ago. The same plants, on the other side of the porch didn't come up this year. I planted Johnny Jump-up's in four  identical pots for my plant hanger and they are all doing well. They were also a bit slow in starting off, this year. I started a Rosemary from a cutting I took back in November or December and babied it along in water for a long time. I finally put it in soil in May and it is thriving well, now.  I know I shouldn't be watering it each day but I am keeping it moist for just a bit longer. Then will wean it down to watering just a couple of days each week, after this HOT Spell is past. Same for the Bamboo. I put it into a larger pot and removed a few of the smaller shoots, and started them in smaller containers, as well.  

Our lawnmower has broken down, again. We have it in a repair shop, well, really the ack yard of someone who repairs law mowers and we are still waiting to hear if it can be fixed, and how much that is going to cost us. Should know by the end of this week on all of that.  Our Grandson mowed our lawn for us in May and Josh got antsy and mowed our yard, while he was here. His camper (aka his house) is parked in our driveway for the next couple of month while they are working. They need to buy a truck or van to pull it with as well as pay for the surgery on the dog.  The camper is a much older model but for it's age does not look all that bad. 
We really have not made any plans for Independence day, yet. A lot will depend on just how hot it is that day. More than likely though, we will just not even go watch the parade, if it's hot and we don't go to the park and "Mingle " with the crowds there, no matter who is on the stage.  We just don't enjoy that sort of stuff any more. 

Well, I think that catches me up, for the first part of June. Will write more later, I am sure.




Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Sunday, April 17, 2022

April 17, 2022 Easter


Today is Easter Sunday.
I didn't do any decorating for this holiday, this year.  I put up two "Flower" posters but they are not strictly Easter. Just flowers. We had Dinner at Heathers. Ham, which I brought a lot of home with me, since they do not eat left-overs and there was a lot of ha left on the bone, and I got the bone as well, for a pot of beans I want to make on Tuesday. We colored eggs last night, at her house. 
WE got the Greenhouse put together and put in it's place by the house, but I may move it to the back later. I filled 36 plastic cups with some potting  soil and seed starter mix, and planted some seeds into each cup. They are now in the Greenhouse, sitting in my wagon, waiting to be put on the shelfs. That is my plan to work in in the morning. watering, checks and setting on the shelves. 
After Dinner, just before we left Heather's home. She wanted to know more about the community garden. She wants to help me get the set up and see what she can learn to grown, and she would like to see each box filled. I told her one of the main things we need right now. is filler and soils to plant in. Each box has very little left in them. A lot of soil is needed. She may know someone who can help with that. And no only wants to grow but what we don't need donate to the food bank and, and anything I grow, I want to donate  to the Senior Center.  There are w few more seeds to buy. Onion and zucchini are what I remember she put on the list. She said corn and I an mot adverse to growing corn, but we need some land tilled in order to do that. maybe some potatoes as well. 
I found a small electric tiller that runs off of a battery that is reasonable priced and I am trying to talk Jerry into buying it for me.  Heather mentioned that Mother's day is only three weeks away. So, maybe I will get it for that day.  
It took me two years, but I got the large sind chime restrung. I lost the tound stricker from it, ut the sind paddle has been working just fine for stricking the chimes on it.  I never did get the cards made, but I have that on my list to make later and can give them out, next year.




Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Friday, April 15, 2022

April 15, 2022


It's been a week and it's not over, yet.

We had some windy and heavy rains, and I have forgotten which evening that was. Tuesday, I think.
Jerry had a Heart doctor's appointment on Monday. A couple of med changes. But his heart sounds good and the blood tests look good as well. He has a Ultra sound on Monday, and then another visit with the Cardiologist.  He is still retaining water, so he's on more diuretics. I am thinking that is why his back has been hurting the last few days, It maybe rough on his kidneys. That is one of the questions he is going to ask.

Tuesday, besides the storms, was un-eventful. I started putting the Greenhouse together We got it about half way done and had to stop for the evening. I was getting cold and tired and the weather was not looking good either. We had rain,, just not as much as we had the night before. 
Wednesday, Senior Center, and two new people came in and Dell joined in the Rummy game.  And stayed after lunch to play some more. His daughter joined in putting puzzles together and we may have talked her into joining the card games as well. I was too sore from working on the Greenhouse to work on it so it had to sit for a while. I moved it around to the side of the house to get it out of the way.
Thursday, We finished the Greenhouse. I could do all but the peak of the thing. I am just too short and I can not raise my left arm that high, any more. We left it in the front yard over-night. Weighted the bottom poles of it with rocks to keep the wind from taking off with it.
Today (Friday) Jerry had a different Doctor's appointment, for a shot in his eye. These shots are going to be for the rest of his life. I rode with him, this time. He usually has SETHRA take him, but since it is Good Friday, they are not working outside of Dialysis and Cancer treatment people. So we had to drive in. When we got back and rested a ew minutes,  Jerry fixed one of Heather's push mowers, and then used it to mow where I am keeping the greenhouse, After moving it. I was trying to string a wind chime when he started asking me where it was going. I dropped what I was doing, and not gracefully, but we had it out, and cooled off. then I Moved it where I wanted it. Then he had to move it back out, and mow some more, then put it back. I cut some plastic cups in half. to use for seed starting cups. I cut 36 of them enough for 3 trays worth. the trays are really the tops off of some Deli trays or cake trays from the store and each one holds 12. I planted a few of each of the seeds I have. I still have 6 packets to get a few seeds from and see if the will sprout or not.  I did this, on the porch and put the trays in my folding wagon, to make it easier to get them from the porch to the greenhouse. We were taking Heather's mower back to her, so I just parked the wagon in the greenhouse and will put the trays on the shelves in the morning.

tomorrow, we are going to be busy. In the morning we are helping doing some cleaning of the building where the HAM Radio club has it's quarterly meets.  Just before Noon, He is taking me to the community gardens and I will stay there for about an hour. The weather is getting better, so who knows if we are going to get anyone to show up or are they all going to Easter Egg hunts.  There is a Garden information meeting at the Building the Senior Center is in, but I am not going to it, this time. Unless we get finished quickly at the Gardens. Then I might consider going to that.  Baily has to work until 4. So we will go up to Heather's around 6 to color eggs with her family. We all have lots of fun doing that together each year. Sunday, we will spend most of the day at her home,  If Jerry's legs get to hurting him too much, we will come home early.



Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Sunday, April 10, 2022

April 10, 2022

Just a few updates.
Gardening is starting later this year, due to come very cold weather. We had a heavy frost last night and a hard feeeze Friday night. It looks like we might have yet one more night in the upper 30's in about 10 more days, that is as far out as the weather can predict and they are not right very often. I am in hopes that they are not right on this one, as well.
The Greenhouse is about half way assembled.  I hope to finish it tomorrow and then get some seeds started.  I want to test some seeds and start some for my garden boxes at the community garden. Just not sure how many I will be able to do, right now. 

Both my Hubby and I have had a few minor health issues to deal with over the last few weeks. We hope we have everything under control.  WE do hope to get some good news, Health wise, soon.


Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Friday, April 1, 2022

video on rose cuttings in water

I got some rose cuttings from around the Senior Center and have put them in water, in hopes of making rose bushes.  I am trying the way it was done in this video

It is NOT my fideo.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re3Bd9zBmZ0

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Sunday, March 27, 2022

March 27, 2022

It has been a while, hasing it?
I wish I could say I have been trying new recipes, but I have not. I did makea loaf of bread in the bread machine but it was not my best, so I am going to tweak the recipe before I post it.

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Monday, March 14, 2022

update

I have been keeping busy. We have been going to the Senior Center every weekday for three weeks, now. I am taking class on using a Chromebook and in the end I will get to keep the one I am using. .After this course is over, I will be starting my gardens for this year. I am still working out where I am going to plant what., and how to keep my gardens nice and neat, even in the hat of summertime.

I have been baking muffins for a few weeks, after a friend posted a simple and easy muffin recipe that is just enough for a small, 6 cup muffin pan.

I cup self rising flour (Or baking mix)
2 Tablespoons of Mayo
1/2 cup of milk.

Mix together, divide between the cups and bake at 350F for 20 to 25 minutes.
You can add in things to this. If you want it savory, add in a 1/2  teas[ppm pf garlic and or Onion powder and 1/3 cup of grated cheese, or any herb blend you prefer. 
If you like a sweet muffin, add in 1/4 to 1/3 cup of Sugar, 1/2 cup of dried fruit or chopped up fresh fruit and 1/2 teaspoon of any spices that you think goes well, with your fruit.





Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Thursday, March 3, 2022

March 3, 2022


Weekly notes.
We are enjoying spending some extra time at the Senior Center. Playing cards and on the two days I have computer class we also play either cards or Corn Hole with Linda. I am learning more short cuts to get things done with the Chrome book, and teaching those short cuts to others. I Enjoy doing these things and I hope We can figure out away to have a follow up class for everyone every once in a while.
Jerry bought me a folding table so I can "craft" in the living room. I had one, but he needed a table for his HAM radio and I offered him mine. I was using a piano bench, but it was too low and too small for me to be comfortable while I tried to craft either cards or to paint any rocks. It is a bit close to the heater, but we are almost out of the heating season and I can deal with that. Rascal is still being a bully on Rocky and Barney still gets between them both, to stop it. Rocky just puts up with it. and tries to walk away, until Rascal "pushes" him around. At 16, Rocky just does not what to play any more. He eats, sleeps and goes outside to relieve himself.  That is about all he does, any more. Barney, on the other hand. Will still play. He still chases a ball, hoards all the toys and will play Tug Of War with Rascal when the tope toy is inside. 


Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Catching up

I am writing to all my blogger groups. Just an catch up notie

We are doing well.  WE have a new pup. His name is Rascal and he is 7 ninths old now. We got him near the end of September so I may have written about him, before.

We have Daffodils  out in the yard, I thought they were Surprise Lilies since they didn't bloom the first year  we moved into the house, and they didn't bloom last year, either. They bloomed this year and are lovely . a nice bight spot of Yellow out in the yard, and a couple of days later, the Dandelions  started to bloom, as well. Even though we have had a few grey days, it is warm enough to keep the door open for a little bit each afternoon.

Rocky, our oldest day, is 15 and we can tell he is feeling his ager, now. He sleeps most of the time and it can be a struggle on these rainy days for him to get up, to go outside. We re constantly on Rascal to "Leave Rocky Alone" as he tries so hard to get Rocky to play with him. Barney, who is 10, has slowed down a little but at least he can play with Rascal with a tow rope or chase the ball into the kitchen just tad faster than Rascal can, to get it first. 

Jerry does most of the cooking during the week, snice he retired just over a year ago. I asked him to do that, because otherwise he would sit in his chair all day while I was doing housework. He is retired, not ill and needed reasons to get up out of that chair. He does cook well, but the baking is still in my court.




Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Whipped topping from dry milk

Whipped Topping
You never know when a crepe craving will strike, so it pays to be prepared! ;-) You can use shelf-stable powdered milk to make whipped topping in a pinch.
Add equal parts ice-cold water and powdered milk to the bowl of your stand mixer. Whip the mixture until it's nice and fluffy. Then add a little sugar, a splash of vanilla extract, and continue to beat until the mixture has thickened. Use it to dress up crepes, waffles, pie, and pretty much anything else!


Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

DIY Chocolate Syrup

I was craving "Chocolate" it didn't matter if it was a chocolate bar, a cookie or cake or even Chocolate Gravy (Yes that's a thing in the south) I would have even settled for some good, old-fashioned Chocolate milk like my mother use to make. I found her syrup recipe in some old files and even though I didn't make it, just recalling how it tasted and how to make it helped sooth my cravings for Chocolate.


chocolate syrup

1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup water
2 cups sugar
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Mix the cocoa powder and the water in a saucepan. Heat and stir to
dissolve the cocoa. Add the sugar, and stir to dissolve. Boil for 3 minutes
over medium heat. Be careful not to let it get too hot and boil over! Add
the salt and the vanilla. Let cool. Pour into a clean glass jar, and store
in the refrigerator. Keeps for several months, but trust me it will be gone
before then. Yields two cups.
 


 


Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Monday, January 24, 2022

Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
Ole Country Bakery, Brooksville, MS
1 cup raisins
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal
Place raisins in small kettle; cover with water and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Drain. Set aside.
Cream shortening, sugars, eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Mix soda, salt and baking powder. Add flour, oatmeal and raisins. Mix well.
Scoop desired size onto cookie sheet; flatten. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden.
Author: Geneva Nightengale
from the Nov. 2001 issue of Today in Mississippi


Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Oatmeal Animal Crackers


Oatmeal Animal Crackers
2 cups sugar                            1/2 cup shortening
2 cups old-fashioned oats       1/2 cup hot water
1 tsp baking soda                    1 tbsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt                               2 to 2 1/2 cups flour
            In a large bowl, combine the sugar, oats, baking soda, and salt. Cut in the shortening until crumbly. Add the water and vanilla. Stir until blended. Add enough flour to form a stiff dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into rectangles or use a floured cookie cutters. Using a floured spatula, transfer to greased baking sheets. Place 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 F for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Makes about 4 dozen

Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Re: 01 18 2022 dinner


Mini meatballs in spaghetti sauce over spaghetti noodles with cheesy rolls. Yummy

I add spices to spaghetti sauce. Mainly garlic and onion. I added roasted garlic and herb Gril Master to the meatballs before  rolling them into small balls, then cooked them over medium heat in a cast iron skillet. Removed the meatballs and poured out the hamburger grease, returned the meatballs and added 16 ounces of Spaghetti sauce. Brought to a boil, then turned down to low. Meanwhile, I put water on to boil, added a bit of salt in the water, broke the noodles in half, then put into the boiling water. After 5 or 6 minutes, I added two spoonfuls of the boiling water to the sauce srirred it in and turned off the heat to the sauce. I turned off the heat under the noodles. And let them sit while I took me meds.

While I was cooking the meatballs I took a cup of flour, added 1/2 rap salt, 1 tsp baking powder to the flour and mixed it in. I ghen rubbed in 1/4 cup of shortening, added an egg and 1/2 cup buttermilk, quickly mixing g it together then added 2/3 cup of shredded cheese and mixed in well. Spooned into 6 greased muffin tin cups, filling each cup almost full, and popped into the toaster oven set at 375. For 25 mnutes.  It came out just as the noodles finished cooking and cooled on the rack, for the few minutes I was in the other room.

It sure was good.
1 Attached Images


Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b
    


-----Original Message-----
From: Billie Crossman <bcrossman57@gmail.com>
To: mountainrose57@aol.com
Sent: Tue, Jan 18, 2022 6:38 pm
Subject: 01 18 2022 dinner

Mini meatballs in spaghetti sauce over spaghetti noodles with cheesy rolls. Yummy

I add spices to spaghetti sauce. Mainly garlic and onion. I added roasted garlic and herb Gril Master to the meatballs before  rolling them into small balls, then cooked them over medium heat in a cast iron skillet. Removed the meatballs and poured out the hamburger grease, returned the meatballs and added 16 ounces of Spaghetti sauce. Brought to a boil, then turned down to low. Meanwhile, I put water on to boil, added a bit of salt in the water, broke the noodles in half, then put into the boiling water. After 5 or 6 minutes, I added two spoonfuls of the boiling water to the sauce srirred it in and turned off the heat to the sauce. I turned off the heat under the noodles. And let them sit while I took me meds.

While I was cooking the meatballs I took a cup of flour, added 1/2 rap salt, 1 tsp baking powder to the flour and mixed it in. I ghen rubbed in 1/4 cup of shortening, added an egg and 1/2 cup buttermilk, quickly mixing g it together then added 2/3 cup of shredded cheese and mixed in well. Spooned into 6 greased muffin tin cups, filling each cup almost full, and popped into the toaster oven set at 375. For 25 mnutes.  It came out just as the noodles finished cooking and cooled on the rack, for the few minutes I was in the other room.

It sure was good.

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Peanut Butter Fudge

My Hubby Loves Peanut Butter fidge. Given the choice between Peanut Butter and Chocolate fudge, he will pick the Peanut Butter one every time.

Peanut Butter Fudge 
Recipe can be cut in half.
Add a dash of Vanilla, if desired
 
2 C Sugar
½ C Milk
Place in heavy saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil and keep on a low boil for 3 minutes. Exactly.
Remove from heat and quickly stir in 1 Cup of Peanut Butter. Pour into a buttered dish, and let cool slightly before cutting into bite size pieces.


Billie C.

 I Live in Tennessee.
Garden zone 7b