My New 30

Tired of Parenting YOUR Knucklehead Children

2012-01-08T01:51:00.005-06:00

Boo, keeping watch for the knuckleheads. Well, not your children of course, but other people's children, and more specifically children who happen to live in my neighborhood. We seem to have an awful lot of them around here these days too. I've lived here long enough - because I apparently didn't have enough sense to take advantage of all those big loans that other people got, to buy big

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm....

2011-10-27T23:11:00.003-05:00

Photo "This week was the 150th anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental telegraph. Back then, before the telephone, people could only communicate by laboriously typing messages... one letter at a time." ~Jan Leno Tell me life doesn't come full circle. .

The Gladys Files - I Am the Grouchy Old Fart

2011-10-21T21:40:00.001-05:00

Remember Gladys Kravitz on Bewitched? I'm feelin' a little bit like her these days. I know that I haven't written much lately so the few readers I did have are dropping like flies around here. Sorry about that folks - all that cooking has been keeping me very busy these days. Since leaving my Big Legal Career and working from home the past few years, it's not that I'm at a loss for material,

How Not to Do Housework

2011-08-06T23:03:00.006-05:00

So today was going to be a catch up on housework/deep cleaning day. Since I blog full time over at Deep South Dish, I tend to neglect (and ignore) the house, and well things can get clutted up and dusty. And then I see an episode of Hoarders and it freaks me out. I intended to start in the kitchen first, wipe down everything, put away everything and do a top to bottom cleaning including floors

Lip Dub - Clark Retirement Community

2011-07-16T10:06:00.001-05:00

If this doesn't make you smile, your heart isn't beating. Enjoy!

Did You Get a Push Present?

2011-07-12T12:18:00.003-05:00

This one looks about right. I want my push present. I gave birth in about 6 hours, though I had been uncomfortable and had back pains all night the night before, so it'd be reasonable to say that I was actually in labor well before that. At 3:00 a.m. I convinced my then husband to take me to the hospital, despite a phone call to them and their "doubt" that I could actually be having true

She's Going Places - Tribute to Caylee Marie Anthony

2011-07-08T19:51:00.001-05:00

From Taste of Country online "In light of the controversial acquittal of Casey Anthony, who was accused of killing her adorable 2-year-old daughter Caylee, Rascal Flatts‘ lead singer, Gary LeVox, co-penned a tribute song called ‘She’s Going Places’ to the little girl.Country parody singer Cledus T Judd got serious, along with Jimmy Yeary, to co-write this piano-driven ballad. A Nashville demo

Now. Where is that Cabana Boy?

2011-06-17T23:07:00.004-05:00

I think we need some umbrella drinks! Miss Lucy has been spending so much time in the "pool" because of this heat, I'm thinking I just need to break down and install some sort of real pond for her. She has hung around here a couple of years now so I think she's earned it. In the meantime, I stuck one of my beach umbrellas over the tray that is her pool, to give her a bit of shade in the heat

Go The F*#% To Sleep!

2011-06-16T14:32:00.002-05:00

I know. Shocking blog title isn't it? Sorry about that. I heard about this bedtime story book Go the F**k To Sleep on last night's ABC Nightline segment {click to see the video} and just knew I had to talk about it. Meant to be strictly an entertainment outlet for frustrated parents, it actually started as a joke on the author's Facebook page after dealing with his own daughter's bedtime

A Cool Dip

2011-06-14T14:46:00.001-05:00

Lawdy Mercy y'all!! It's hotter than the devil's backside down here. Even Lucy has been lounging around in the pool all day. .

This and That

2011-06-09T20:58:00.001-05:00

Well now, what's up on the homefront here? Clearly I have been very lazy busy, because I haven't been around much, have I? I heard there have been problems across the blogosphere with commenting on other blogs, or maybe it's commenting on Blogger blogs, or bloggers who blog on Blogger commenting {huh?} but all I know is I apparently fell out of that loop because I've not had those problems,

Newest Resident on the Ranch

2011-05-09T09:15:00.003-05:00

Boo was poking around a bag of dirt by the veggie garden the other day so I went to investigate to see what was so interesting to him and found this little baby cowering behind the bag. Tiny still, it fits easily into my cupped palm, and is apparently a fairly recent newborn though I'm uncertain of the sex. It was a pretty hot day, so I brought the baby over to a Pyrex pie plate filled with

Idea Thieves and a Little About What I'm Up To Lately

2011-05-05T01:38:00.007-05:00

Knock knock. Is this thing on? Anybody out there? Seriously how y'all doin'? Things have been kinda busy for me - well, it seems to be a bit epidemic with a lot of bloggers here lately based on the number of "I'm taking a break posts" I've been seeing for a few months - even from some of the bigger bloggers. I blame it on spring fever. Or maybe it's just simply life. I sometimes wonder if my

Pet Deodorizing Carpet Blend

2011-04-19T15:37:00.002-05:00

I've been using essential oils for years in my bath and around the house, and one thing I love is making my own carpet sprinkle using plain baking soda and a variety of essential oils. While I've never really factored out the cost elements of homemade versus commercial, I do know that it's a more natural alternative to commercial carpet sprinkles, plus you can get a much wider range of scents by

Latest AeroGarden Update!

2011-04-15T18:00:00.010-05:00

AeroGarden at about 8 weeks! Time to harvest! Like so much else in my life that doesn't demand immediate attention, the poor little AeroGarden has been a bit neglected. I forgot that you are supposed to raise the lamp hood. Oops. The basil, as it often does, is going crazy, but the lettuce is growing even faster! As you see, several parts of both the lettuce and the basil had to kind of lay

Damn You Auto Correct!

2011-04-05T09:24:00.002-05:00

If you own a smart phone chances are that it auto corrects - meaning when you type a word the phone doesn't recognize, it offers up what it thinks might be the right word, and if you don't delete its suggestion, it replaces the word for you. Chances are, if you have a smart phone, you have probably typed a text, hit send and then later saw where it changed a word, to one you never intended it to

Southern Azaleas

2011-04-01T12:37:00.004-05:00

Azaleas in the south are certainly an indication of spring. They are in bloom everywhere right now, but unfortunately, their blooms are very short lived, and the first burst of spring showers usually strip them right off the branches. We had a storm pass through here a few days ago, and I actually covered my big azalea with sheets just to keep the flowers around a little longer! This one

My AeroGarden Update

2011-03-26T20:58:00.003-05:00

March 26th - almost Week 4 Okay I am SO loving the AeroGarden 3. I could totally get into having a shelf with 3 or 4 of a variety of these going with flowers, herbs, and salad lettuce. Except for checking the water and adding the nutrient about every 2 weeks, it's a pretty much maintenance free garden. Everything is nice and green. It's bug free. And very healthy. No worries about light -

Happy Spring Y'all!!

2011-03-20T21:53:00.003-05:00

Spring has officially arrived, though I guess a few of you still have winter hanging on by her fingernails. About the time y'all get your spring cranked up, we'll probably be sweltering down here. It's been a gorgeous couple of weeks though. Today it was in the mid-70s with a heat index already up to 78, and it felt it, but it's not 90 or 100 so I'll take it! The birds, bees and butterflies

Southern Colloquialism of the Day

2011-03-17T01:56:00.003-05:00

A little insight into the way us southerners talk, taken from a little pocket sized book called "The Complete How to Speak Southern," by author Steve Mitchell, who dedicated his books to "all Yankees in the hope that it will teach them how to talk right." Today's word is Jevver. Jevver - Did You Ever As in "Jevver hear anything so dumb in yer whole life?" .

The Ongoing Saga of The Annoying Leaf Burning Neighbors

2011-03-13T16:42:00.012-05:00

I swear, just looking at this pile burning makes my lungs hurt. The past few days were just downright gorgeous here and I spent most of Friday and Saturday working in the yard, turning beds, moving around plants, raking and getting ready to plant. The hubby and I raked the front yard and carried those leaves to the curb for trash pickup, but the backyard is much larger, and has lots more

Little Sprouts in the Jiffy Greenhouse

2011-03-11T02:10:00.006-06:00

Maybe I'm a simpleton, but it really excites me to see a little seedling sprout up from seed. Granted, it's certainly much easier (but more expensive) to start off with well established plants sold in those little cell packs at the home store than to remember to get seeds started. And then there's the whole issue of having a safe space to set up seed pod trays inside - away from curious cats,

My AeroGarden

2011-03-06T03:19:00.005-06:00

This past Christmas my sister gave me an AeroGarden and I finally got around to planting it a couple weeks ago. I was of the Age of the Terrarium (remember those?) so I'd been a bit curious about these, but never got around to checking one out. Wish I had set it up right after Christmas because it was so easy to do, but thinking it would be involved, I sort of pushed it to the side until

Late Winter Pre-Spring is Springing!

2011-03-03T16:06:00.011-06:00

Flowers in bud I think this is an evergreen type of bridal wreath A potted plant that was gifted to me last year coming back. I kept it covered during the freezes - not sure what it is though! Hoping for some lemons this year - I've had a bee hanging around so fingers are crossed! This deciduous Bridal Wreath Spirea has leafed out the past two weeks and will be blooming soon

Psychic Pollution

2011-03-01T03:25:00.010-06:00

The past week or so has been wonderful. Amazing even. The sun has been shining. The temperatures mild and spring-like. I felt great. Energized. Even happy. I hadn't been pummeled with cigarette smoke the second I walked out my back door. Yes, all of my Other Annoying Neighbor's smoke. (I know, nothing like a "reformed smoker" huh?) Two of them on one side smoke out in their garage with the

If I'm Catholic and I Steal is it Okay...

2011-02-21T17:28:00.001-06:00

If I'm Catholic, and I steal is it okay... since you know, there's that whole confession thing? First, before I offend anybody who happens to be Catholic, let me say that I was raised Catholic, so I'm not here to pick on the Catholic faith. I am of the Catholic faith (or at least I was until I became a heathen by marrying my current husband outside the church, but anyway...). You see, one day

Beautiful Sunday and Southern Colloquialisms of the Day

2011-02-13T16:32:00.008-06:00

What a gorgeous beautiful Sunday it has been! It was so peaceful around here today. No screeching children outside. Nobody burning anything. No thumping stereos. Nobody sitting outside smoking heaven knows what and hacking their lungs up for all to hear. No loud people partying outside with loud music. Just a few birds singing and rarely even a car driving by. Peace. Quiet. The sun was shining,

I Enjoy...

2011-01-23T23:17:00.003-06:00

Photo: Wikipedia I have started so many posts lately that haven't seen the light of day. I have a thought, sit down and at least start it so that I don't lose my thought, and then I never get back to the post to finish it. I don't know why I can't seem to just let my thoughts and my fingers fly and be free for pete's sake. Perfectionist tendencies are so restricting. I guess I've grown more

Turning 30

2011-01-17T11:16:00.002-06:00

The Big 3-0. It's one of those milestones in life. For me those milestones started really with Sweet 16. You were officially not a little girl anymore. You could finally shave your legs. Wear makeup. Get your drivers license. Get a job. Date. And, then there was 18 - because you were graduating from high school. Growing up. You could finally leave your parents house and get your own

Here's Your New Health Care Plan in Action

2011-01-04T12:40:00.002-06:00

Photo: Emergency Dentist 24/7 I gave birth naturally. Not a single drug, at all. I felt the pain. I remember the pain. It hurt like hell, but I had my reasons for wanting to go that route back then and I'm glad that I did. Tooth pain, however, is probably the worse pain that there is. It hurts from your jaw, up through your eyeballs and into your brain. Yes, I say the pain is worse than even

Happy New Year and Why the Heck do We Sing That Song Anyway?

2010-12-31T22:49:00.002-06:00

“Here's a toast to the future, a toast to the past, and a toast to our friends, far and near. May the future be pleasant; the past a bright dream; may our friends remain faithful and dear.” – Anonymous Originally written by Robert Brown, a Scottish poet, Auld Lang Syne is a Scottish poem turned song that loosely translates to mean "times gone by," or "old times." It's used as a song to

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T02:57:00.000-06:00

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign:Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Grief. Today I Get to Celebrate

2010-12-19T13:10:00.002-06:00

Grief. It's an odd thing. And we all seem to handle it in different ways, though most people will lovingly pat your shoulder and tell you that you eventually move on from it and get past at least the deepest part of the grief anyway. Life is for the living they say. 13 years ago today my Mama died. It was devastating to me for years, and most of that came from my anger at how unfair it all was.

Salsa Dog

2010-12-08T17:00:00.003-06:00

Haha, I assume this is for real, but either way - loved this!!

On the Way to Health with a Chili Cheeseburger Fix

2010-11-30T17:00:00.002-06:00

10:30 p.m. last night I sent my husband to Sonic to get me a chili cheeseburger. Yep. Sure did. And, for somebody just coming off of a stomach virus/bug/whatever, I know that sounds really odd, but... right in that moment, when I had an instantaneous serious craving for a chili cheeseburger, I knew that the bug had passed. And I knew I had to have a chili cheeseburger. Now. It's true! Cross

The BRAT-7 Diet or How to Get Rid of Those Pesky Thanksgiving Dinner Calories

2010-11-28T17:46:00.002-06:00

Photo Credit Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends! We had a lovely time visiting with my sister and her husband who drove down from Illinois. How my southern born and raised little sister ended up with a fella from way up there is still beyond me (not that there's a thing wrong with that), but he is nice enough and they've been together some 13 years or

Clutter Control

2010-11-16T15:51:00.004-06:00

Photo I am absolutely convinced that every single one of you who pops by here are impeccable housekeepers. I just know you are. Course, there are really only probably about 3 of you out there these days LOL! Well, I, on the other hand, am not. It is not that I don't love a clean, neat, organized, everything in its place, fresh smelling and dust free home - I absolutely do. And when I was a

Spooky Tales - A Not So Ordinary Day

2010-10-28T16:13:00.001-05:00

Something about that house just gave her the creeps. She always credited it to the bad memories of growing up in the midst of that secret whiskey disease kept hidden, but nothing more really. Apparently there were stories, though she had never known about them until only a few years ago, when they were all sitting around late one night telling ghost stories. Her sister talked of flickering

The Tribulations of Travel

2010-10-20T13:28:00.003-05:00

Well, I haven't been around this poor little blog for 20 days! Is anybody still hanging around? Now, granted, 10 of those days I was running around back and forth to California for a couple of blogging events, so I guess my creative juices weren't flowing much the other 10. I got to go to my first blog conference ever in San Francisco - more specifically a food blog conference. I didn't sleep

Old Fashioned Mortgage Burning

2010-10-01T01:09:00.002-05:00

Or, for you younger folks, I just paid off my mortgage. Back in the day, when folks bought a home, they generally stayed put right there in that very neighborhood, where they had babies and raised their kids all the way through high school and college. That's the way it was in the neighborhood where I grew up. And then, one day, hopefully not too long after that, they finally made that last

Now This is Love

2010-09-26T12:34:00.003-05:00

Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo. Share When you have a few minutes to burn {I know, I know, does anybody really have that anymore?} or just need a break from whatever you are doing, come back and give this a listen. I dare you to try to watch this without a tissue though. Oh just go ahead and grab one or else you'll give yourself a ice cream headache tryin' not to cry like I did.

I'll Take Your RV and Your Unkempt Backyard & Raise You...

2010-09-23T19:28:00.001-05:00

... a Front Yard Playset, Tent, Party Table and Throw in FOUR Supersized Garbage Bins. Pssst... might as well warn y'all right away on this one. Sweet Mary has left the building and her alter-ego Lizzy Beth has shown up for another segment of Southern Style Hissy Fit. It's really the fault of two other bloggers that I bring you this. Well, not really. I had already planned this post when I

Welcome ... um, Fall?

2010-09-22T12:17:00.001-05:00

Today {cough} in case you didn't notice {cough, cough, cough} the change {cough, cough} in my banner up there already {cough, cough, cough}, is the official end of summer {cough} and the first day of fall {cough, cough}. The calendar may say so, but you wouldn't know it since it's right at 90 degrees here right now as I type this. And, just in case you didn't notice by all that hacking up

Oh the Irony....

2010-09-18T13:21:00.001-05:00

Yes, that's a bacon, double egg and cheese bagel and what I was enjoying for brunch yesterday - and when I say enjoying, I mean really, really enjoying - when the doorbell rang and the UPS guy handed me a box of... ☟ These. Sigh. .

You Talkin' to Me??

2010-09-15T17:42:00.002-05:00

I don't know why, but this picture cracks me up every time I look at it. I just had to share it. I mean, c'mon... you can't help but laugh at this little guy! It's, of course, a praying mantis who jumped out at me the other day when I brushed against a bush. I have such a collection of bugs in my yard that it's crazy, but this is the first time I have seen one of these. It took multiple shots

Aromatherapy Around the House - Basic Room and Fabric Spray

2010-09-14T00:10:00.002-05:00

Just sharing another one of my homemade aromatherapy favorites! I'll admit that I have always been a fan of Febreze fabric and air spray, and boy don't they have some scents out these days. I remember when there was exactly one! I love the way it smells, but seems this chemical sensitivity I appear to have developed the last few years, disagrees with it here lately, so I use it more sparingly

Bubble Cat

2010-09-09T22:22:00.003-05:00

I was unpacking a box in my office and left a stack of bubble wrap on the desktop when I left the room. I walked back in, and I found my sweet little girl Cali perched comfortably on top of the bubbles, sharing it with a stuffed cat that I keep on my desktop - which is what you see sort of poking out from underneath her by that red ribbon. Isn't she adorable? Cali is a very sweet cat, though

The Evolution of My Backside

2010-09-02T15:58:00.004-05:00

Yes, I mean My Ass. Hope that I doesn't offend anybody too bad, but the truth is I do swear sometimes. I don't intend to. I don't set out to. But it happens. Usually when I'm frustrated. Truth is you're liable to see more of that happening around here, cuz let me tell you ... I have had some frustration here lately. So there - the truth is out, but y'all already figured I ain't no angel,

I Traumatized My Puppy

2010-08-23T23:43:00.002-05:00

Or, at least I thought I had. What did I do you ask? I took Boo to the groomer for a bath and to have his nails trimmed. I did this not because I can't bathe him myself, I can. And I do. But I cannot, no way, shape or form, get him to allow me to trim those nails. I've tried and he acts as if I am about to cut his foot off! And, he tries to bite me. Heck I even tried to put a little bit of

Stop the VLOGs Already!

2010-08-20T02:23:00.014-05:00

Knock. Knock. Is this thing on? Okay. First it was just a few of y'all. Now more and more of y'all are starting to do these video logs on your blogs. TOO many more. So stop it already would ya? A blog is a web log. A WEB LOG. Blog. A journal, if you will. Of writing. On a website where users reflect, share opinions, bitch and moan, and discuss and comment - in writing. Nobody ever said

The Gremlins Won

2010-08-18T11:22:00.001-05:00

Remember that post I did a little bit ago about instincts? Well, here's one instance where I didn't heed the warnings and had to learn my lesson the hard way. For months now, my laptop has had gremlins. I don't know what it is about laptop PCs but they are the worse these days! I have purchased 3 of them in the last 5 years and granted, while they were not the most expensive on the market, they

The Case of the Disappearing Blogger

2010-08-12T00:04:00.001-05:00

Sometimes when I'm watching tv, I'll sit with the laptop in my lap and just surf around the internet and blog hop. {Like I got nothing else I ought to be doing or anything, like folding those sheets over there} Anyway, on occasion, I'll run across a blog along the way that seems to have just suddenly gone stagnant for months, sometimes even years, and I always wonder... where do those bloggers

Growing Watermelon

2010-08-10T19:50:00.003-05:00

Just like most of my gardening efforts here, I have no expertise beyond trial and error on growing watermelons, and this post is really pretty much for next spring, since watermelon growing season is over now. Though it might be for just a little bit of showing off too. Maybe. Just a little. You see, it is the first watermelon I have ever grown in my nearly 53 years of life. (Yes, I have a

P-E-T Code

2010-08-07T17:30:00.003-05:00

I often compare having a critter pet, particularly a puppy {or a toddler or teen dog, say, oh, under the age of 3}, to having young children, though young mama's roll their eyes at me when I say so. But honestly there really are a few similarities, especially with a spastic active breed like this one, who appears to have some sort of terror terrier in him. Good grief these dogs have some energy

Free Open House at Sam's Club

2010-08-06T11:17:00.001-05:00

I couldn't believe it when I saw a school bus pass the house yesterday! Already the kids are back in school. Course we have a bit of time before fall arrives, but sure seems like summer flew by to me! I'll bet the kids feel the same way. What a great time for Sam's Club to offer people a chance to check out their stores. You can be a guest at Sam's Club this weekend, stock up and save on back

Trusting Your Instincts

2010-08-03T10:16:00.002-05:00

I stepped outside last night with the puppy for his bathroom run and could hear the storm off in the distance. I saw it earlier on the local news weather broadcast, that big, angry red blob across the map. Noticing that the patio table umbrella was still open I thought for a second "I should close that," and then in just that very same split second, dismissed the thought and went about to tend

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

2010-07-28T18:29:00.007-05:00

Um... not so much. At least not in the blogging world. At least not when you go stagnant on your blogging. And it hasn't just been over here either - I went almost a week between posts even at my recipe blog, Deep South Dish. I can't really blame it on recent events, though that has contributed indeed - at least for this past week or so - though admittedly, I guess even before that, I've had

She Was a Good Dog

2010-07-22T16:47:00.005-05:00

R.I.P. Miss Sally7/22/10 Age: About 12 She really was a good dog. Calm and docile and never one to complain, even to the end of her life. Yes, today, we had to make that fateful trip to the vet. You know the one. She's in doggy heaven now and I will sorely miss her. Already do. ~

Jimmy Buffet - When the Coast is Clear

2010-07-12T23:11:00.000-05:00

Most of you probably know this by now, but this past weekend, Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reef Band, hosted a free concert down here in Orange Beach, Alabama. Okay, so his sister has a restaurant there in Gulf Shores (LuLu's), but the truth is, we could sure use a few more celebrities to jump on the band-wagon and do this to bring some business down here. This song was not originally written

I Get it. Don't You?

2010-07-07T23:08:00.000-05:00

Little Veggie Patch Update

2010-07-04T23:25:00.003-05:00

Hope that everybody is having a great 4th of July weekend and remembering that besides a mid-summer celebration of backyard barbecues, patriotic concerts, and firework shows, it really is all about the commemoration of the passage of our Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed the independence of the United States from Great Britain and its king. The document, primarily written by Thomas

Aromatherapy Around the House - Carpet Sprinkle

2010-06-27T02:25:00.003-05:00

I've talked here about my love of essential oils before and I have been collecting them for years, keeping them in this lidded wooden box in my master bathroom. It's my little treasure box! I am definitely a bath kind of gal and they certainly find their way into my tub soaks, but, did you know that essential oils are also handy as an insect repellent, aromatic room spray, in the laundry room,

The Great Rescue

2010-06-18T11:42:00.001-05:00

I barely slept a wink last night, but it was a good thing. I know that sounds crazy but those of you who read here regularly will completely understand. First though, I gotta back up a bit, so grab a cup of coffee and sit awhile. While I know that 90% of you might not have the time to read this entire post - I promise if you love animals, I think that you'll love this story. You may recall my

Wordless Wednesday - My Garden Buddies

2010-06-16T00:03:00.001-05:00

Look in My Heart and Let Love Keep Us Together

2010-06-11T17:19:00.001-05:00

Guess Where I'm Off To? Top Ten Songs in 1975 #10 Thank God I'm a Country Boy by John Denver #9 One of These Nights by The Eagles #8 Laughter in the Rain by Neil Sedaka #7 Fame by David Bowie #6 Shining Star by Earth, Wind and Fire #5 My Eyes Adored You by Frankie Valli #4 Before the Next Teardrop Falls by Freddy Fender #3 Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John #2 Rhinestone Cowboy by

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-09T12:18:00.001-05:00

When it's difficult to find words...

2010-06-05T03:46:00.006-05:00

A bird is mired in oil on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast on Thursday, June 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) The Cajun and his dad and brother went shrimping in our Mississippi Sound a few days ago, a result of the Department of Marine Resources opening the shrimp season early. They hoped to give the shrimpers an opportunity to catch some shrimp before any form

Wordless Wednesday

2010-06-02T21:04:00.001-05:00

Memorial Day - National Day of Remembrance

2010-05-31T01:24:00.007-05:00

Amidst the 3-day weekend, time off from work and school, family gatherings, picnics, auto racing, movies and outdoor cookouts, let us not forget the true meaning of Memorial Day, and so I leave you with these tidbits to share with your family. I hope that you find it helpful in marking this Day of Remembrance & Respect. The Memorial Day website says: "Memorial Day used to be a solemn day

Stopping to Smell the Gardenias

2010-05-27T14:49:00.003-05:00

Housework to do. Errands to run. Posts to edit. Weariness and fretting over the oil spill in the Gulf. Much to do. I really had no business putting about in the yard and taking the time to just sit on the wooden swing and be still. But I'm glad I did. It's a beautiful, sunshiny day, bare wisps of clouds hang high in the bright blue sky and it's actually momentarily cool, at least on my swing

Harvesting Blue Lake Green Beans

2010-05-21T10:34:00.006-05:00

I harvested the first of my green beans today! Those heavy storms we had over the weekend and earlier this week, one after the other, pretty much had beat them up, and they were near about laid over in the garden, so I figured it was time to check them. A couple of good waterings from Mother Nature can work wonders for plant growth over spigot watering I'm telling ya! Just a few ounces under

First Tomato

2010-05-14T02:30:00.002-05:00

I've picked the first tomato from my garden. It's a patio variety that I'm growing in a container. I have a certain ritual that is a must with my first tomato out of the garden every year. I eat it sliced, with only salt and pepper on it. I want to savor that first tomato fresh from the garden flavor and nothing else. Let me tell you, it is simply heaven. ~

Fantastic Foot Soak

2010-05-06T00:36:00.005-05:00

I Tivo episodes of The Doctors, a television show that is produced by one of Dr. Phil's sons, Jay McGraw. It's really an interesting show where I pick up all kinds of health tips and information, am educated about things I never knew before, and often, get some pretty cool, homemade beauty formulas. The Cajun even loves the show - well, maybe not the beauty tips so much, but all the other stuff.

Heartbroken ...

2010-05-02T16:49:00.008-05:00

I was next going to bring you a post here at My New 30 for a beauty regime I recently started implementing, but today my heart is so heavy I can't even begin to express to you in words how heartsick I am - these past few days have left me in a constant state of being on the edges of tears. The picture above is one taken by a local photographer, Beth Skrmetta. Her family runs shuttle boats to

Tomato Blossom Rot and Epsom Salt

2010-04-28T12:11:00.004-05:00

First things first. Should anybody have the mistaken belief that I am any kind of gardening expert, may I please first refer you to my Gardening Expertise Disclaimer. Back? Good. Now that we've got that out of the way... So, you've carefully planted your tomatoes into a perfect soil blend you mixed up yourself and into environment friendly raised beds, or nice, roomy planters, and tenderly

Topsy Turvy Upside Down Tomato Planter - {re}Redux or Year Two

2010-04-25T20:44:00.003-05:00

Topsy Turvy at Two Weeks The tomatoes in the Topsy Turvy planter didn't perform well at all last year despite my many efforts. It is a heavy planter that needs a pretty strong support, and I didn't have any place to hang it except for under the eave of the house. While I'm pretty sure that it got enough sun, it was definitely not happy and never produced a single tomato. Note: Do not

Planting Grid Update and My Turtles

2010-04-22T22:05:00.012-05:00

Time for a planting grid update. Several pepper seeds I planted never took, or else they were dug up by those pesky squirrels who seem to be having far too much fun digging in my garden on a daily basis. Plus, I added a few other things. I do still have the garden gates up around the edges of the gardens, which seems to be doing the job to keep the puppy from plowing through them like he was.

Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood Cookbook Review

2010-04-17T15:57:00.002-05:00

Share Yes. If you read this website or my other website at Deep South Dish on any kind of regular basis, you already know that I am a sucker for books, especially new cookbooks, and in particular new southern cookbooks. Well... my most recent cookbook purchase is Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood and I love, love, love this cookbook. I first made the Hot Corn Dip, which is a definite

General Mills and Pssst… Introduce Budget-Stretching Cookbook

2010-04-14T11:02:00.001-05:00

Looking for recipes to stretch your food dollar? How about a cookbook with 200 recipes, none costing more than $5 to make? “The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook” by Erin Chase, a MyBlogSpark member and creator of 5DollarDinners.com, prepared her first $5 dinner in August 2008. She turned it into a three-fold mission: • To make dinner for her family every night for $5 or less! • To prepare healthy

Soil Refresh for Year Two Raised Bed Square Foot Garden

2010-04-13T20:07:00.002-05:00

Share I have been so busy chasing squirrels, avoiding my "smoky" leaf burning neighbors, and making Trisha Yearwood dips, that I'd forgotten I had not put up a post about the soil mix I used to refresh my raised beds this second year of my attempt at square foot gardening. Thanks to a reader who wrote to ask what I had used, I am getting this post up finally! {Thanks Tracy!} One thing

Blue Lake Bush Style Green Beans and Those Pesky Squirrels

2010-04-07T21:35:00.013-05:00

I have been struggling with squirrels this season. They just will not stay out of the fresh soil in my veggie garden. I don't know that it's necessarily that they are digging up my plants or seeds, or digging to bury their own food, but it's about to make me crazy! I put down some thorny rose bush trimmings but find that I apparently need many more to cover up all of the squares. (If anybody

My Neighbors Make Me Sick and Whatever Happened to The Golden Rule

2010-04-05T13:08:00.009-05:00

click to enlarge My neighbors are making me sick, and not in the sense that you are probably thinking right now! {smile} Now, most of my regular readers know that while I do consider myself to be Christian, for the most part, I do not press religious aspects on this blog since all of my readers may not be religious! But there is one ethical principle that I think applies across the board to

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T00:29:00.000-05:00

God, give us eyes to seethe beauty of the Spring,And to behold Your majestyin every living thing - And may we see in lacy leavesand every budding flowerThe Hand that rules the universewith gentleness and power - And may this Easter grandeurthat Spring lavishly impartsAwaken faded flowers of faithlying dormant in our hearts, And give us ears to hear, dear God,the Springtime song of birdsWith

2010 Square Foot Garden Planting Grids and Garden Notes

2010-03-30T14:09:00.010-05:00

I have been busy with the food blog and with trying to work outside, between the neighbors burning leaves that is - so not much posting occurring over this way lately. I recently posted a wonderful Strawberry Buttermilk Sherbet at Deep South Dish, so if you haven't seen that, be sure to check it out. Oh, and check out that All American Burger too - hello yum! Makes me want another one just

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion Review

2010-03-22T22:01:00.006-05:00

Share Congrats to Joni at Wellness Essentials - your number came up. Who says the early entries never win? Joni was the second commenter for this giveaway. Congrats Joni - I'll be anxious to hear if it helped with your heels! Be sure to respond to my email with your mailing info and we'll get your lotion to you asap. Enjoy. As most of y'all know, I have this little cooking blog over

Year One Raised Bed Square Foot Gardening Quick Link Summary

2010-03-19T11:47:00.018-05:00

It is about the most gorgeous day we could possibly have in South Mississippi and I am going to {try to} take off from blogging for a weekend - yes even over at the food blog - so that I can get outside, soak in some Vitamin D, and start getting my veggie gardens ready for planting. Now that I'm about to move into Season Two of my Raised Bed Square Foot Gardening efforts, I thought that I

Modern Day Peeping Toms. Is Somebody Watching You?

2010-03-18T17:23:00.002-05:00

Many, if not most of us, use wireless networks pretty regularly these days. And, a standard accessory on most laptops and many desktops now are built-in web cameras. Imagine my surprise when watching the Dr. Phil Show recently I heard an expert on the show discussing that one of the fastest and easiest hacks that can be done, is to hack into someones computer webcam! I knew it could be done, but

dōTERRA Essential Oils Review and Giveaway

2010-03-11T15:33:00.002-06:00

Can I say - I am SO excited about this product and giveaway? I am!! Most of you already know about my love of essential oils. I use them most often in my baths after a long day in the garden to soothe my aching muscles (or after a lapse in exercise when I decide to return to it), for aromatic soaks when I'm feeling a little under the weather, and mixed with carrier oils as neck and chest rubs.

Henry Field's Nursery - $1 Flat Shipping!!

2010-03-10T11:30:00.011-06:00

FANTASTIC Spring ShippingSpecial at Henry Field's! Spring is FINALLY officially around the corner y'all! Yay!! Don't know about you, but I am ready to see some flowers, instead of all this gray, dull deadness that surrounds me now. What a fantastic offer this is from Henry Field's Nursery. Looking for shrubs, seed starter, vegetable seeds, flower bulbs, tomato seeds, apple trees, garlic,

Sore Muscle Aromatherapy Soak and Rub with Essential Oils

2010-03-09T15:30:00.005-06:00

With spring and gardening season right around the corner {finally!}, I thought that I would share with you my very favorite, and most often used, aromatherapy muscle soak and rub. These recipes are adapted from one of my favorite Aromatherapy book. Soothing Aromatherapy Sore Muscle Soak Courtesy of My New 30 1 cup of epsom salts 3 drops lavender essential oil 2 drops rosemary essential oil 2

Welcome Spring!

2010-03-07T17:34:00.005-06:00

A look back on last spring - some of these are beginning to peek out! We have had an incredibly gorgeous weekend here in south Mississippi and I think for the first time in a very long time, overnight temperatures will be out of the 30s, yay!! Even though I have several blogging projects I should have been working on, I had to get outside this weekend. It is unfortunate that one of my

Bird Hitches Subway Ride

2010-03-06T17:56:00.001-06:00

Hilarious! And what's nearly as funny to me, is that the people on the subway don't seem to find this all that unusual.

Congrats to the Fiber One Prize Pack Winner

2010-03-04T17:32:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Fiber One giveway and congratulations to Doreen, the winner of the gift pack. I've sent you an email Doreen, so be sure to respond to that within 48 hours to claim your prize!! I hope that you enjoy your gift pack. Stayed tuned y'all - another giveaway is coming soon! In the meantime, I hope you'll pop over and check out the recipes at Deep South Dish.

Just Adorable!! Japanese Erasers

2010-03-02T21:48:00.010-06:00

Ice Cream! Share When I was working - yes, even in the seriousness of the legal world - I always kept fun, kid stuff on my desk for myself. A tiny, plush pink poodle I picked up at Toys R Us, sat right on top of my computer to remind me of my girlie side. A slinky sat next to my computer and would come out when I was writing and contemplating; a little squishy ball when I was a bit

Congrats to the Baconnaise Prize Pack Winner!

2010-03-01T22:01:00.003-06:00

Congrats to Vickie B, the winner of the Baconnaise gift pack from J&D's!! Bonus entries people. I've sent an email to you Vickie - please respond within 48 hours with the requested information to claim your prize. I hope that you enjoy the gift pack as much as I have and again congratulations!!

Updated! Martha Stewart's New Everyday Food: Fresh Flavor Fast Cookbook - Review

2010-02-26T14:00:00.009-06:00

It's hard to believe that it's been three years ago that Martha Stewart had her first Everyday Food: Great Food Fast cookbook come out. I purchased that first cookbook on a pre-order back then and I'm a current subscriber to the magazine Everyday Food and enjoy it also. Since I tend to rarely follow any recipe verbatim, but instead get inspired by recipes and then develop my own, I have found

Fiber One 90 Calorie Chewy Bars Review

2010-02-25T00:15:00.004-06:00

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! Check back on Thursday for the winner... good luck!! The first thing I thought when I saw this bar was WOW! A bar that has 20% of the daily recommended value of fiber? Really? Must absolutely taste like cardboard for sure. Let's face it - a lot of bars do - but especially those that are loaded with the beneficial fiber that NONE of us ever seem to get enough of ... but we

Mid-Week Freebies, Bargains and Money Savers

2010-02-24T15:45:00.013-06:00

Mid-Week Freebies, Bargains and Money Savers BRAND NEW! Heard about Kirstie Alley's new weight loss program - Organic Liaison? Get in on the ground floor with a VIP 10% DISCOUNT! Please log onto www.OrganicLiaison.com and use Coupon Code: GETHIN2010. This offer expires 3/31/2010 < -- This opens to a splash intro feature - or you can skip directly to a video from Kirstie and then view additional

Review - Baconnaise, Bacon Salt, Bacon Pop and More! @DeepSouthDish

2010-02-22T17:31:00.015-06:00

Note: The giveaway is CLOSED. Congrats to the winner! Recently I had the opportunity to try out some of the J&D's bacon products and frankly I was super excited! While they are becoming more widely available now, I had not yet experienced any of these products, though I had heard of them from J&D's and others tweets on Twitter. Justin and Dave, the namesakes of J&D's, are truly living the

Heavily Discounted Taste of Home Cookbooks!!

2010-02-22T13:53:00.003-06:00

Don't know about y'all, but I'm a fan of the Taste of Home recipe site simply because the recipes are from everyday home cooks from around the country just like me! In fact, the recipes there can be very inspirational in giving me ideas for the development of my own recipes. I receive their email which always outlines some great recipes to try and often some specials they are offering in their