I ran across this Youtube video yesterday. The images reminded me of long ago days and products. The Sea Monkeys advertisement made me laugh. I had forgotten about those crazy monkeys. Turns out, for all of us who craved our own sea monkey pets, they were nothing more than brine shrimp. Enjoy!
Category: Quirkiness
Quirkiness – Tree Decor & Strange “Selfies”
I have mixed feelings about “selfies.”
Definition. Selfie. “A picture taken of yourself that is planned to be uploaded to Facebook, Myspace or any other sort of social networking website.”
~ Urban Dictionary
At times “selfies” make me laugh, in other instances they seem the definition of self-absorption. Whatever the case may be they are a good way to convey your location and mood. This strange “selfie” of me was so true to who I am, I decided to post it. It is also a good way to show one of my favorite spots in my backyard. The small brass mirror, with its magical moon, is a constant draw, an inanimate pied piper if you will, for my grandchildren. I hope when they are grown they will remember gazing in this mirror and relive their surprise and fascinated joy as their own image looked back at them. Perhaps the experience could be called a “selfie” of their earliest memories.
Brass mirrors and other chachkis: (True spelling: tchotchke – trinkets or baubles of little value) are easy to work in amongst the ivy or can be hung on any tree with a small nail or tack. These little knickknacks are easy to find at flea markets, thrift stores and yard sales. Give it a try and make someone smile at their unexpected reflection.
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Quirkiness – Wacky Wednesday/Creating Cairns on Block Island
I recently composed a mantelscape using “beachy” items in honor of summer and the many seashore areas we have visited. I created a cairn (stacked rocks) with a few pebbles I brought home from Block Island, Rhode Island. I have created many a cairn on the Block Island beaches and admired hundreds more of these impromptu works of art built by the talented stone stackers who roam the bluffs, rocks and sand of this beautiful place.
“A cairn is a man-made pile (or stack) of stones. The word cairn comes from the Scottish Gaelic: càrn (plural càirn).” ~ Wikipedia
Here are a few of the cairns I have photographed over the years on Block Island. As you can see cairns can be stacked quite tall…
Or very small…
Some have a picturesque backdrop…
While others adorn the muddy clay at the base of the bluffs…
Some stand alone…
While others stand en masse in a madrigal choir of stone.
There are even a few who have gotten married! (See note about this photograph at end of post)
Block Island cairns are created with the beautiful rocks and pebbles found on Block Island Beaches.
I composed and photographed the bride and groom photograph on Block Island a few years ago. I have used it many times as a wedding or shower greeting card. Please feel free to copy and use the photograph for non-commercial uses. It looks terrific mounted on a piece of black cardstock and then double-mounted on a white 5 x 7 greeting card. The photo is a standard size and should be easy to have reproduced anywhere they print out digital photos. Better yet, try your hand at creating your own bride and groom photograph from natural items…so much fun!
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Phavorites – Poldark on PBS
I’ve been enjoying Poldark on PBS. You can catch up through On Demand or view many clips and scenes on YouTube.
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Problem-Solving – Easy Garden Trellis
If you have some old frames on hand you have the makings of a perfect trellis. My cucumbers are growing at a quick rate, and I knew it was time to place some kind of support near them. Years ago I had seen some photographs of old frames strung with string and used as a trellis.
I found two large frames in the basement, knocked the damaged pictures out, nailed in a couple of brads (slender nails), and strung them with string.
They are functional and attractive in the garden beds. I used some dollar store hooks between them as a bit of support. Two frames are not necessary, one alone would also work to support the vines. I wish I knew who had the original idea to give them a little credit, but to track the idea’s origin down is probably near impossible. Happy Gardening.
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Photograph – Shadowland Selfie
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Wall.”
I love shadows on the walls. This week I wandered into an upstairs room and found my geraniums, backlit, and casting amazing shadows on the wall. Of course I had to enter into the Shadowland.
Adieu for today my friends!
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Peace – Shining Stars
This week I came upon a post in memory of Kayla Mueller. Please take a moment and read about this extraordinary young woman. A Letter to Kayla.
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Photograph – Camellia
“He said “Love…as I have loved you.” We cannot love too much.” ~ Amy Carmichael
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People – Martin Luther King
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Perspective – Ephesians 4:32
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Praise & People – George Beverly Shea/ C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
George Beverly Shea (February 1, 1909 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea was often described as “America’s beloved gospel singer”and was considered “the first international singing ‘star’ of the gospel world,” as a consequence of his solos at Billy Graham Crusades and his exposure on radio, records and television. Because of the attendance at Graham’s Crusades, Shea has sung live before more people than anyone else in history.”
Growing up, this was one of my very favorite Christmas albums…yes, you heard me right, an album. We had an old stereo, about the size of a small desk, and I remember curling up in an overstuffed chair and singing along with all my favorites. George Beverly Shea lived to be 104 years old, surely a life lived for the Lord.
“Put Christ Back Into Christmas
When I was but a youngster, Christmas meant one thing
That I’d be getting lots of toys that day
I learned a whole lot different when mother sat me down
And taught me to spell Christmas this wayC is for the Christ child born upon this day
H for herald angels in the night
R means our redeemer
I means Israel
S is for the star that shone so bright
T is for three wise men, they who traveled far
M is for the manger where He lay
A is for all He stands for
S means Shepard’s came
And that’s why there’s a Christmas day.”Songwriters: Eddy Arnold, Jenny Lou Carson
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Pots & Pans – Party Favorite – Rollo Pretzel Bites
This is a repost of a favorite party bite of my family and friends. Try it! Very easy to make and guaranteed to please.
This remains one of my favorite recipes for a treat. Everyone loves the delicious bits of pretzel, chocolate and pecan. Try them…they are super-easy!
Rollo Pretzel Bites are a great recipe for the absolute perfect bite. There are only three ingredients involved: Square waffle type pretzels called “Snaps.”
Rollo candies, a bag or a roll. A bonus with the roll type is you do not have to unwrap each piece of candy.
The third ingredient is pecan halves.
I used my toaster oven set on a very low temperature, around 275. I arranged the pretzels on the pan.
A Rollo candy is placed on top of each pretzel…
Then I put the pan in the toaster oven and watched until the bottom of the Rollo began to spread out and melt. It only took a few minutes.
To finish them off I laid one pecan half on the top, smooshed it down gently, and there I had it…in just a few minutes…the perfect bite. Yum!
They are a bit pricey to make since pecans are so expensive right now, but definitely worth it.
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Pots & Pans – Cheesy “Crack” Bread
Doesn’t that look like a yummy appetizer. Believe me…it is delicious! It’s called “crack” bread. Now, I don’t know if it is called crack bread because you cut diagonal slices in it, thus forming “cracks,” or, could it be that it is totally addictive and hard to stop munching once you start? Whatever the reason for the name, it is easy to make, inexpensive and enjoyed by young and old alike.
I found a terrific recipe at Recipe Tin Eats. If you like pieces of garlic in your recipes then please take a look at this recipe. If you are like my family, perhaps you will prefer a softer version of the garlic butter and use Adobo seasoning or garlic powder to flavor your spread. In any case, please check out Recipe Tin Eats blog page.
Flickr Photograph courtesy of Robyn Anderson – Creative Commons license
Here is my adaptation of the recipe.
Ingredients
1 crusty loaf of bread
¾ cup shredded Mozzarella cheese (or other melting cheese)
(optional) 1/4 cup fresh grated Asiago Cheese
Garlic Butter
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp Adobo seasoning or garlic powder (not salt)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (more or less works fine, also a lesser amount of dried can be used, but fresh is definitely better)
3/4 cup fresh grated mozzarella cheese
I used a round bread, next time I’ll go for a more oblong shape. Make several one inch diagonal cuts with a sharp serrated knife, turn bread and slice up the other side, creating diamonds. Slice almost through, but not quite. Place bread on a piece of heavy duty foil. Melt butter, careful not to burn, and add garlic powder or Adobo. Spoon butter in between cracks.
After you’ve filled each crack with a bit of butter, stuff in some cheese, sounds easy, but it is a little tedious and time consuming.
Wrap in the foil. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven. If needed, you can refrigerate for a few hours until ready to bake.
Now here is where I had the BIG problem, and the reason why I can’t show you the finished loaf. When I unwrapped my cheesy bread, the whole thing fell apart when I tried to place it on a serving platter. I think I sliced the diagonal cuts too far down. So instead of my finished loaf, I am showing you a Flickr photograph courtesy, of Robyn Anderson.
Delicious!!! And the bonus…it reheats easily in the toaster oven and tastes even better. Happy Crackin’
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Phlowers – Ikebana
“Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is more than simply putting flowers in a container. It is a disciplined art form in which the arrangement is a living thing where nature and humanity are brought together. It is steeped in the philosophy of developing a closeness with nature.”
~ Ikebana International
Here are a few examples from Longwood Gardens recent exhibition of the Art Of Ikebana.
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Phrightening – Spider Mites
Halloween! A perfect day to re-post a “how-to” on identifying and eradicating those horrifying SPIDER MITES from our plants. It’s also a timely post considering many of us bring outdoor plants inside at this time of year. Unfortunately, there are often some unwelcome “stowaways” hiding amid the leaves and foliage.
Spider Mites, they are a pest I hate to see indoors or out. They are microscopic in size, and usually, they have caused quite a bit of damage before you are even aware they are on your house or garden plants. Here is some good information on what a spider mite can do to your foliage. Spider Mites
This week I noticed some yellowing leaves on my Mandevilla Vine. Because I have had problems with spider mites in this area of the basement in the past, they were tops on my list of possible pests. Instead of peering at each stem individually, I used my quick and easy solution. I sprayed the entire plant with a mister. Sure enough, the webbing the spider mites leave behind on the leaves caught the droplets of water and glowed in the sunlight. Since I want to keep all my pest control organic, I have found that the best approach to controlling spider mites is to spray the plant with water every day. This keeps the spider mites under control until it is warm enough for me to take the plant outside and really douse it with a hard spray of the hose. Daily sprays of the hose for a week or two will obliterate the spider mite colony. This technique also works on aphids. The only other solution is to spray with dangerous chemicals or toss the plant in the garbage heap.
Spraying the infected plant with water will allow you to see how badly infested your plant has become. It is a good idea to spray all your houseplants to see if there are any errant mites on surrounding greenery.
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Philm – Belle
“Belle” starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw
If you enjoy Jane Austen era films, rent the movie “Belle,” which is out now on DVD. I loved it. The movie is based on the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle. She was the bi-racial daughter of an English aristocrat and a slave. A ruling on slavery by her uncle, Lord Mansfield, is credited with helping to bring about the eventual abolition of slavery in England. You can read an extensive and interesting history of Dido, and the time in which she lived, in Wikipedia.
Below is a painting of the real “Belle” and her cousin Elizabeth.
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Preparedness & Proverbs – Wisdom on Wednesday
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Photograph – Silent Sunday/Simplicity
Image application courtesy of Photocat.
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Phun – Swings
I will never be too old to swing.
