enjoy!

enjoy!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Welcome To Spring Finally!



I guess its time to change my page from St Pa ttys to something else,
 since it long gone now for another year. Happy Spring! it has been a long time coming.
 I have been busier than busy and haven't taken the time to say Hi and so glad you are checking me out.  I am expecting new furniture for my computer _ family room tomorrow, it came in a couple of weeks early so I washed down every thing in the room getting ready for the happy day. My other furniture was old and our grand son wanted it so he got it..It didnt look bad but for some reason on the one side the material was showing wear and any way I wanted new furniture.. I have been busy visiting Bill he is recuperating nicely, they had him so medicated with vicodin he could hardly function due to the pain he has been experiencing so our Doctor wanted him off the evil pill and on to a different multi pill and what a difference he is back from the unknown if you know what I mean..

Bills younger cousin Robin came down to visit him Saturday.
 Even though it wasn't long enough it was so great that he took the time to do so. He lives in Georgia and was here on business up in the northern part of our state. So now Im hunting down pictures of the family on Bills computer to send to him and I also want to thank Robbie for taking the time to come down to visit as well and thanks so much for all the goodies you brought they were all really enjoyed.
Posting a few pictures taken the past few days.



We had rain last night I put the table out but not the chairs that go with it, they take up to much room. If I need them we can get them out.




That's my Irises and crocuses coming up,
 so exciting to see everything popping out of the ground..


I thought you would want to see my Orchids, I love Orchids.


Filled up one of my fountains and the water didnt freeze over night.


The moon from early in the morning.


Taken from inside I just happen to like the cloud formation.


More work I picked up more mulch the other day 12 bags so far.
 I told you I have been busy.
 Photo might be a little hazy taken from inside.
 I haven't washed the out side yet from all the winter dirt and grime.


The new flower garden, waiting for more flowers to be planted
 as soon as the weather warms up and no fear of frost.


General Tremont
My niece Sue named him and I think that works.
 He looks kind of like a General, no offence to any one..


The room waiting for the new furniture.

I know your wondering what about that one curtain panel its longer. Its actually the same size as the rest of the room, the manufacture must have labeled it wrong. 
 I hide it in the back of the couch so its not noticable, it works!  I was to lazy to take it back..


My Shelf in the computer room looks nice to me.
 Its always nice to do a change its been a while.


Time to close for now I have 18 sandwiches to make for our Church Lenten supper for tonight,
 besides going to visit Bill.
 Im one busy Lady and so thankful I can do it.













Thursday, March 17, 2011












Sharing an Irish Recipe


30 minute Shepards Pie
Rachel Ray

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds potatoes, such as russet, peeled and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream or softened cream cheese
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1/2 cup cream, for a lighter version substitute vegetable or chicken broth
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
  • 1 3/4 pounds ground beef or ground lamb
  • 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup beef stock or broth
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire, eyeball it
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas, a couple of handfuls
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl. Combine sour cream, egg yolk and cream. Add the cream mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth.

While potatoes boil, preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil to hot pan with beef or lamb. Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 minutes. If you are using lamb and the pan is fatty, spoon away some of the drippings. Add chopped carrot and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat 5 minutes, stirring frequently. In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Thicken gravy 1 minute. Add gravy to meat and vegetables. Stir in peas.

Preheat broiler to high. Fill a small rectangular casserole with meat and vegetable mixture. Spoon potatoes over meat evenly. Top potatoes with paprika and broil 6 to 8 inches from the heat until potatoes are evenly browned. Top casserole dish with chopped parsley and serve.

Thanks For Looking


Diane Louise

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Good Morning!
Rain in my home town today.
Abbie is having trouble waking up.


I Hope to finish this short Blog befor noon..
I always have so many things to do to keep me busy, that's what happens when your fussy and want every thing done and in order.
I must brag Im so lucky I have amazing neighbors.
 I have to share one neighbor brought me a fresh plate of home made fudge the other day and another one brought me a plant yesterday.
Now I feel bad I haven't made anything lately to share with them at all this year.

Maybe one of these days Ill take a ride to the old neighborhood and go to my favorite bakery and bring them back one of their famous cheese cakes,
Im over due.


Of course I ate some.. Yes it was delicious.

Today is a women's group I belong to at our church my turn to serve. I didnt make anything I am bringing tiramisu from the local grocery store.
I  had it befor and it's amazing, Im also bringing chocolate cup cakes with green frosting in honor of St Patrick's Day.
 Tonight starts the Lenten soup suppers at church! every Wednesday they have soups, sandwiches and desserts for the next six weeks its a great time to go and be a part of.
Every week its a different group that prepares the goodies. This year my turn comes up March 23rd Im bringing sandwiches. Also this year Im not the comity chair just a worker and sharer and that's fine with me I have more than enough going on in my life.

For those who would like an up date Bill is slowly making progress. I talk to him on his cell phone several times a day and he has his computer with him. I go to visit him at least 5 times a week. And our family tries to go as much as they can with their busy lives. Steve will be picking him up and bringing him to the Doctor tomorrow Ill meet them their.
 It will be the first time in two months he is finally able to do what we all take for granted. Its good to have him out of the hospital.
Thank you for all the letters, cards, e mails, phone calls and well wishes posted by our loving family and friends.
  Bill and I cant thank you enough they have meant so much to us.

While I was typing my feathered friend payed me a visit.
I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take his picture.


The story of the picture below is one that I must share.
After Bill went into the hospital my picture rotating frame stopped on Bills picture and hasn't moved on to the next one.  I just left it their, I didnt know what that meant but I could unplug it and plug it back in but I like the Idea that he is keeping watch so I wont be changing it any time soon.
 Just thought I would share this with you.


Thanks For Looking
I have a lot I should be doing or Ill be late.

Diane Louise


Saturday, March 5, 2011

Survival In The Country..



I have been busy snapping pictures of our fine feathered friends. Its not quite Spring  and they need help with the feeding for the winter and we are always happy to accommodate, although we feed them  year round. Yesterday I was able to go out and do some work in the yard what a joy, I missed that. Now today is another story, the temperature dipped over 20 degrees. its cold, rainy and very windy so no out side work for me today.

Time for me to go out their and put seed into the feeder.
 he or she is trying to get it out of the opening  for the birds.

On the electrical wires looking down at the bird feeders.

Waiting their turn! its amazing how they line up on the bushes and wait and take turns.

A Dove looking in my window. Taken last week befor the snow melted.
We are expecting snow again!! I hope not, we have had enough.

He has a peanut in his mouth that he was going to hide.
They hide them all over everywhere.

Waiting their turn at the feeders, or was that when they were hiding from Mr Hawk below.


Geese flying over head, I love when they do that.

Some of the photos above, were taken befor the snow melted this week.

Bill if you wondered is finally out of the hospital after eight weeks of being a hospital prisoner. We are so thankful for all our family who has spent endless hours driving back and forth for the visits to the hospital. Especially for Steve who has been here to help I cant thank him enough.We do not miss the long drive and stress of the traffic also wondering and worrying will we accidentally get on the wrong express way, that's happened a couple of times. Traffic is going way over the speed limit and many roads merging all at once. We wont miss the street blocks and having to turn back because we cant get through due to a record breaking snow storm. Or because their is an accident and the police have the main street blocked off. We wont miss the crazy drivers who make their own rules of the road and the home less people who block traffic and come up to the cars begging.

Bill will not miss some of the hospital help who shouldent be working in a hospital at all.. because its a big bother for them to be kind to very sick pacients.
 He will miss some of the very kind and copassionate Nurses and Aids who went out of their way to make his long stay their as plesant and comfortable as they could.

Thank you to them and they know who they are.

 Thanks For Looking

Diane Louise