Plants & Phavorites – Welcome Minerva

On By TimelessladyIn Phavorites, Plants4 Comments

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Minerva, the Amaryllis bulb I purchased in November, finally grew and bloomed.

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In November, I blogged about finding the bulb dressed up in a pretty gauzy bag.

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Minerva has lived up to her packaging and beautiful name. She is a medium-sized Amaryllis with gorgeous stripes running the length of her petals. Minerva was worth the two months it took her to grow and blossom.

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I grew three Amaryllis plants this year and hope to bring them back into bloom next December. I found information on how to do this at the United States National Arboretum website: How to bring an Amaryllis back into bloom.

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The United States National Arboretum is a great site to browse. I’m hoping to visit there within the next year or two.

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My Orange Sovereign Amaryllis unexpectedly formed seed pods. I checked a few sites to see if an Amaryllis is Self-Pollinating, but found the answer was no. Somehow, either by a gnat or other insect, or by moving the plant from room to room, the amaryllis was pollinated. I found some good information to follow on Youtube from the Amaryllis Man on how to grow the seed. We’ll see if I have any luck growing one of these beauties start to finish.

Plants & Quick Tip – Save or Toss? Poinsettia Plant

On By TimelessladyIn Plants, quick save2 Comments

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My Christmas Poinsettia is still looking rather fine. The plant is large with several blooming flowers, or more correctly said, “Bracts.”

It’s time to decide whether I keep the plant and try to bring it back into bloom or toss it. Need I say, I have never heard of any home gardener who has managed to coax one of these beauties to rebloom? If a reader has ever had success with bringing a poinsettia back into flowering stage, please tell us how in the comment section, and I will add it to this post.

According to Bachman’s Garden Care here are some tips to keep your poinsettia in bloom as long as possible:

“Keep the plant in your sunniest window
Keep the soil barely moist/don’t allow it to become soggy
Feed with a good fertilizer every two weeks.”

If you decide to keep the plant, rather than tossing when the colorful bracts fall away from the plant, follow these tips:

“Cut plant back to 3 – 5 inches.
Repot in a slightly larger container.
Place outdoors in 6-8 hours of light daily.
Fertilize weekly.”

For information on how to bring your Poinsettia plant back into bloom visit Bachman’s Garden Care

Pots & Pans – Bobby Flay’s Soup

On By TimelessladyIn Pots and Pans3 Comments

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In the January issue of Food Network Magazine you will find a terrific recipe for Bobby Flay’s Spanish Chorizo, Kale and Cranberry Bean Soup.

I cooked up a batch of this soup last week and it was delicious and hearty. I did make some changes though. I used leftover sparkling cider in place of the wine. I also substituted chicken cutlets, marinated for several hours in a strong vinegar, olive oil and spice solution, in place of the chorizo. After I baked the chicken and cut it into small cubes, I added it to the soup for a minute or two before serving. Next time I will use boneless thighs, the breast meat became a bit dry.

I also cooked the beans and kale separately to cut the cooking time for the other vegetables down a bit. When everything was cooked through I combined the ingredients in a big pot. Scrumptious!

Photo – Snowfall Shadows

On By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at Wordpress6 Comments

“Low-light photography can be difficult to get right, but sometimes the absence of light can make for a compelling, dramatic photograph. Experimenting with shadows can be a fun and rewarding way to push yourself to try something new with your camera and your surroundings, and look beyond the obvious shot.”

Shadowed: A WordPress Photo Challenge

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“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1

Snowfall…tranquil…hushed, an enduring remembrance of serenity for those who have stood with upturned face, encountering the caress of a snowflake’s kiss. The blanket of a gentle snowfall muffles even the loudest shouts of children sledding down a hill. The cold, though ever-present, is easily forgotten as you crumple into the soft embrace of a snow angel. The white shadows of snowfall convey a moment of peace to even the most anxious of souls.

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“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 36:7

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In the cold or the warmth, in the sunlight or shadow, may the love of God embrace you with a sense of His peace this Sabbath Day.

Projects & Phun – “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!”

On By TimelessladyIn Phun, Projects16 Comments

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Snow is pretty, but when you are two years old it often keeps you housebound. Tiny hands and feet, button noses, can’t tolerate the frigid air for long. What’s a babe to do?

Our area was caught up in the recent 2000 mile swathe of snow. We only received a light coating, but it was enough to keep the younger grandchildren and me indoors. I wanted to try snow painting: food coloring in squeeze bottles for creating pictures in the snow, but knew the little ones were too young. I decided the next course of action was to bring the snow indoors.

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I gathered some watercolor paper and put a roll of painter’s tape on the back to secure it in a shallow storage lid. I placed the trays outdoors hoping the clouds would open up and — ‘Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow!’

While the tray was collecting the snow, I mixed up some Wilton brand food coloring: red, blue and yellow. Store these in the fridge. This will keep the food coloring solution cold and let the fun last longer.

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The babes napped as the snow flurried down, in a few hours the trays had accumulated enough to begin painting! I brought them inside and put bibs on the babes; the food coloring is concentrated and can stain clothing. Let’s Paint!

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The babes quickly picked up how to hold the squeeze bottles upside down. They had a great time and became really exuberant with their dipping and swirling of the paint bottles.

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When we were finished I whisked the finished snow paintings into the garage to allow the snow to slowly melt and deposit the food coloring on the watercolor paper underneath.

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A few hours later I scooped off the colorful snow, let the excess water run-off into the sink, and left the paintings in the trays to dry overnight.

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The paintings turned out great! I can’t wait to show them to the babes tomorrow. Happy Snow Painting!

Cross posted in Whatja’ Doing?

Quick Tip – Potted Plants Dressed Up

On By TimelessladyIn Quick Tip6 Comments

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My African Violets (Saintpaulia) are beginning to flower. After spending the summer vacationing on the screened-in porch, they are rewarding me for the outdoor sojourn with many buds and blooms.

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When blossoms cover the crown of the plant, I bring them into the living room to show off a bit. Since I grow the violets in ordinary plastic pots, I like to dress them up for their time in the spotlight by placing the plain pot in a fancy container.

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One of the problems I often run into is the outer container is a bit too deep for the plastic pot. I don’t want to run the risk of breaking the brittle leaf stems against the upper edge of the pot so I try to find a way to raise the bottom of the pot an inch or two.

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I’ve found the quickest, least expensive and easiest solution is to grab the roll of aluminum foil and crumble up an insert to fit in the bottom of the pot.

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Voila’! The inner pot is now at the perfect level.

Purpose – Amazon Smile

On By TimelessladyIn PurposeLeave a comment

No, Amazon Smile does not indicate a LARGER than life grin. Amazon Smile is a charitable program available through Amazon.com that contributes 5% of your purchase price to a favorite charity. I am mentioning it as a blog post because most people don’t seem to know about his terrific opportunity to give through your purchases at Amazon.com.

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If you shop through Amazon.com, please take a moment to check out Amazon Smiles.

Pots & Pans – Fidget Pie

On By TimelessladyIn Pots and Pans10 Comments

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One of my goals for 2015 is to sort through all the outdated magazines I have stored in my closets. Some issues of Victoria are over twenty years old. I know there is a market for vintage magazines, but I have been down that road in the past, and it’s not worth the aggravation to me. Instead, I’m determined to take a look at each page before I recycle them.

At night, while watching television, I do double duty and leaf through the contents. The beautiful photographs are fading, but there are still good ideas to be found. One of these is a recipe for “Fidget Pie.”

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There are only a few ingredients in Fidget Pie, a fact I love, and better yet, it is a good way to use leftover ham.

•1 pound potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced (about 3 and I use Yukon Gold)
•Salt and pepper to taste
•4 chopped fresh sage leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
•1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
•3 cups diced cooked ham (12 ounces)
•1 medium onion, thinly sliced
•1 pound cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced (about 3)
•1 1/4 cups chicken broth or stock
•Pastry for single crust 9-inch pie

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Butter a deep, 2 quart casserole. Layer potato slices in the bottom of the casserole. Season with salt, pepper, sage, and nutmeg. Continue layering and seasoning. Cover with pie crust. Cut vents for steam to escape. (I used premade piecrust) Bake at 425 for 15 minutes ( I added 15 more minutes to this and covered with foil for those minutes, I find potatoes take longer to get soft than most people realize. Remove foil for last hour.) Lower the temperature to 350 and bake for 45 minutes more.

I used a deep dish and did not need to put it on a tray to catch overflow and drips.

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A good step by step recipe with lots of tips can found at Welcome Company.

The pie smelled sensational while it baked. The juices did stay very thin as the recipe suggested. Will I make it again…you bet! It is a delicious meal for a wintry night. The recipe is also very budget friendly.

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Phavorites & Prose – The Invention of Wings & Goodreads

On By TimelessladyIn Phavorites, ProseLeave a comment

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I am reading Sue Monk Kidd’s novel,The Invention of Wings, based on real-life Abolitionist Sisters Sarah Grimke and Angelina Grimke Weld. The book is based on the story of the early Abolitionist movement and told through the eyes of Sarah and Handful/Hetty, a slave born and raised in her father’s home. Both Sarah and Angelina, part of the Abolitionist Movement, lived to see the end of slavery.

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I’ve enjoyed The Invention of Wings, and as always, I am thinking ahead to my next terrific “read.” A site I use to find books to buy or borrow from the library is Goodreads. If you search out a book you’ve read on the Goodreads site, you will find in the right corner of the page, other books that are similar. I’ve used these recommendations several times over the past year, and have only read one story that disappointed due to subject.

Goodreads Best Books of 2014 is a great site to check out.

“Goodreads is an Amazon company and “social cataloguing” website founded in December 2006 and launched in January 2007 by Otis Chandler, a software engineer and entrepreneur, and Elizabeth Chandler.The website allows individuals to freely search Goodreads’ extensive user-populated database of books, annotations, and reviews. Users can sign up and register books to generate library catalogs and reading lists. They can also create their own groups of book suggestions and discussions.” ~ Wikipedia

People & Pleasure – Cellist David Abramsky

On By TimelessladyIn People, Pleasures4 Comments

A week or two ago, while searching Youtube for music videos to embed as my “Song of the Day”, by luck, or perhaps better said, “By God’s Blessing,” I came across this lovely piece of music by David Abramsky.

I love the sound of the cello, and this song, and the images in the video, capture a sense of reverence that uplifts my spirit. Even better, in searching out a little more about this musician, I came upon his testimony: David Abramsky’s Testimony. Please take a moment to read this account of how Mr. Abramsky turned to Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

David Abramsky’s music is available on CD Baby and Amazon.com.

***Just an added note…I purchased the CD, “Clothed in Glory,”  and I am thrilled with the music. “Be Thou My Vision” is one of the songs on the CD.

Purpose – Plucking the Moon & Stars in 2015

On By TimelessladyIn Paths, Purpose11 Comments

WordPress Photo Challenge: “Possibility. Opportunity. Potential. As another year gets underway, let’s celebrate the new.”

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“It’s the first photo challenge of 2015, and the theme is ‘new.’ Cliché? Perhaps, but clichés develop for a reason. For many of us, the year’s beginning is time to take stock of the past and plan for the future; this week, let’s get excited about those plans by celebrating what’s new.”

I know, I know…another cliche`, but sometimes cliches` are “Just what the doctor ordered.” (Discerning in advance much eye-rolling here from post readers.) Yes, I’m going to say it…one of my goals is “Reaching for the moon this year” (More eye-rolling and cheesy grin too!)

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

Why let your heart be earthbound my friends? Reach for the heavens, open your heart to the Father of Creation. Raise your arms to the sky and let your first goal be praising the Lord every day. Hallelujah!

“Let us lift up our heart with [our] hands unto God in the heavens.” 

Lamentations 3:41

Photograph taken at Turkey Point Lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay.

Past & Phuture – Retrospective 2014 & A Good Blog

On By TimelessladyIn Past, Phuture5 Comments

I love to read the blogs of others. Clicking the “like” box and posting comments is one of my weekly, if not daily, JOYS! I recently read a post on the Priorhouse Blog and viewed the terrific “Year in Review” slideshow: Priorhouse’s Year in Review. I was inspired by the creativity, and the idea, and commented on the post that I was going to try and follow the lead and also create a year in review video.

If your curiosity is piqued by the photographs you can find corresponding posts in the monthly archives located in the bottom right sidebar.

Thanks so much…Onward 2015!

Praise & People – George Beverly Shea/ C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S

On By TimelessladyIn Quirkiness2 Comments

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 way

C 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

Product – Red Mill 10 Grain Cereal

On By TimelessladyIn Product6 Comments

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Over the course of the past year I have discovered a brand of products I love; Bob’s Red Mill grain cereals have become my go-to breakfast even in the height of the summertime. My day starts off great with a little self-nurturing through a bowl of hot cereal. It doesn’t hurt the cause that the 10 Grain cereal I choose to buy reminds me of mornings at my grandmother’s home, waiting on her cracked wheat hot cereal.

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The cereal takes 7 – 10 minutes to cook on the stovetop; the wait only serves to make my anticipation build. I’ve never been disappointed. I add a pat of butter and brown sugar to mine, and cool it with a splash of milk.

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I experimented with the recipe for breakfast muffins I found on the back of the package. These would be good for breakfast on the go. They are a tad heavy and dense, but if you were flying out the door in a hurry, it would be wonderful to grab one for a nutritious breakfast. If I make the muffins again I might add some blueberries.

I’ve noticed there are also flour, grain mixtures, and additional cereals offered by this terrific company. I hope to try quite a few over the course of 2015. Give a package of Bob’s Red Mill cereals a try. They are economical and last a loooooonnnnnggg time. I store mine in the refrigerator after I open it. Happy Breakfast to You!

Pets & Quick Tip – Cat Toy Refresher

On By TimelessladyIn Pets, Quick Tip2 Comments

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At this time of year, those of us with pets often think of them at Christmas, and purchase or make them a new toy. My pets have several catnip-stuffed toys I have crafted for them over the years. After several weeks of play, the smell and volatile oils of the catnip begins to diminish.

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To remedy this, and refresh the toy with new catnip pizazz, I place the toy in a bag with a few sprigs of catnip and shake it up, also smooshing the catnip and toys together a few times, while in the bag, between my palms.

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My cats are very appreciative of the little bit of additional catnip applied to the toy.

You can grow your own catnip and dry it to use all winter, or easily purchase catnip in pet stores or supermarkets.

Photo Challenge – Swallowtails, Zinnias and Bumblebees, Oh My!

On By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at Wordpress18 Comments

“Away with the colors of Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. Show us what “Yellow ” means to you.” Photo Challenge at WordPress – December 19th

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My first thought for this challenge was to choose a photograph of yellow flowers. I have dozens, hundreds, maybe thousands of flowers on disc. Many of the photos have been taken in my own gardens, others at local public gardens in the area I live.

I decided instead to combine a favorite flower, zinnias, with a yellow swallowtail butterfly. Perfect. I love swallowtails. Lately, the weather and environmental issues have diminished their ranks, but hopefully their numbers will rebound in our area soon.

I love zinnias, and especially am entranced by the yellow ring of flowers surrounding their center. I always give this ring of small flowers, technically called “disc flowers” my own whimsical name of fairy ring flowers. This is where the butterflies find the nectar that they drink.

Zinnias have “Heads composed of both disc and ray flowers, with disc flowers tightly packed together in the head’s “eye,” while enlarged ray flowers function as petals radiating outward from the eye.” Composite Flowers – Backyard Nature

Here’s a closer look at the yellow “fairy ring” of zinnia disc flowers, this time hosting a Skipper butterfly.

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I loved this photograph so much I used it as a reference for a 5 x 7 watercolor, and posted the finished results on this blog: Skipper on a Zinnia

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Another visitor to the zinnias is a bumblebee in a fuzzy yellow jacket. Gorgeous insects all!

This post is definitely a tad out of season, but perhaps you are like me, and at the threshold of winter enjoy being reminded that Spring is only three months away.

Perspective – Grace Amid the Chaos

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective10 Comments

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(This photo is terrific used as desktop wallpaper)

Christmas day is a week away. If you are like me, most of your shopping is complete, but perhaps you also suffer from the disease that takes hold of me at this time of year, “The Second-Guessing of Gift Choices,” disease.

“Will so-and-so like this color? Will this gift seem too thoughtless? Should I have given a ‘real’ gift instead of a gift card?”

I’m sorry to say that sometimes I give into the agonizing thoughts and run out to buy “Just One More Perfect Thing!”

This is the time of year when it is hard to maintain a gracious demeanor and mindset: terrible traffic, lack of parking spaces, rude and pushy shoppers, endless spending, too many cookies to bake, too many cookies begging you to eat them. (Did you know home-baked cookies are delicious even when eaten right out of the freezer?) This year, I’m going to audibly remind myself to be gracious and repeat the word ‘Grace’ until I can maintain it in the midst of stressful situations, even if I have to growl a little bit first: “Grrrrrrace! I think I can…I think I can…I think I can!

Here are a few wise words from Charles Spurgeon on grace towards other Christians, but we can easily substitute grace toward all mankind.

““We shall, as we ripen in grace, have greater sweetness towards our fellow Christians. Bitter-spirited Christians may know a great deal, but they are immature. Those who are quick to censure may be very acute in judgment, but they are as yet very immature in heart.

He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more. He overlooks ten thousand of their faults, because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature, and, therefore, he is not disappointed when he does not find it.

~ C.H. Spurgeon