Sloppy Joes

Not the bar silly!

1 1/2 lb hamburg

16 oz ground sausage

1 chopped onion

1 chopped pepper

8 oz tomato sauce

1/2 c water

1/2 c ketchup

1/4 c packed brown sugar

2 T cider vinegar

2 T mustard

1 T chili powder

1 T Worcestershire

1/2 t salt

1/4 c flour

Cook the hamburg, sausage, onion and pepper. Drain. Put it back in the pan and throw in the rest of the stuff. Let it cook a while then trow it on some toasted buns. I didn't specify exact ingredients cause would rather use brown mustard, not yellow. I use hot sausage. I like it spicy. You can use whatever you like.

This stuff is even better the next day. The recipe is from Southern Living magazine.

High "Tech" Anxiety

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I wanted to ask this woman if she realized her plants looked like "pooh", but couldn't find any way of wording it as not to offend.

So... I kept my big mouth shut. Put the blinders on and went to work. I had a noticable twitch when I left.

This is what a mass cane should not look like!

These guys actually live (barely) in one of the upscale LBK condos. AND... his owner actually owns a fertilizer company!!!

WHATEVER, right?

Here's another little beauty!

Now, I tend to think the less "care" my orchids, or any of my plants for that matter, get... the better off they are! I have found most people tend to over-do caring for a plant. Well... there is a limit to how far you should go in not caring for your plant!

I had the enjoyment of caring for these neglected children while the parents were on vacation. I actually brought my camera to take the pics so I wouldn't be blamed for harming her plants after their return. Kind of an insurance policy.

Spent the weekend playing garden girl. Dirt betwwen the toes. Dirty nails and knees. Sweaty arm pits. Didn't even clean up for the trip to Hibbs. Figured I looked the part.

I'm looking forward to some cooler weather. We have a small bed we threw a couple bags of pooh down in to. Get it ready to plant. Gonna try broccoli and brussell sprouts. Some peppers. Got some spinach, lettuce and swiss chard. We'll see what happens.

The Orchid bug has hit me. I'm now "collecting" them wherever I can. They love the punk trees we have. Just poke'em in there and they seem to take off. The orchid society folks would cringe at my methods. As would most any society folks. I'm not the most learned gardener. I even recycle my soil! I've heard this isn't a highly recommended practice. I do check it for bugs before I reuse it. It works for me.

I am also starting to collect some cactus. Whatever! Along the same line as the bromilead thing. Thought I didn't care for them. Still trying not to use the "H" word.

The grill master is at work. Ribeyes. Yum Yum. I love red meat! Sorry if that offends anyone. I must go man the Fry-daddy.

I'm Lost Without You

My camera I mean.

I moved into the digital age two years ago. I had no choice! We received a Kodak Easyshare for Christmas.

I like predictability. Change is very hard for me. The thought of moving into unfamiliar territory frightened me. We've only had a computer (which is a hand-me-down) for two years for cryin' out loud! Now a digital camera! Life seemed to be moving too fast. Taking me places I wasn't sure I was ready to go. I kept my apprehension to myself of course.

Well. Let me tell you. I have always loved photography. But I have become addicted. Click, click, click. OOPS! Don't like it. Erase. Click, click, click some more. Tim kinda just shakes his head the way he does.

After becoming a photo fanatic...the camera died a couple weeks ago. What now? No photos? I felt anxiety set in. I have the best honey in the world. With-out me even asking... he took me to Wally World!

New camera in hand, I thought my first shot should be of the friend I had lost. The camera I mean. Maybe memorialize it in my blog. Got the shot all set up. Click, click, click.

I excitedly went to the computer to upload the pictures but... the software won't work. Like I said our computer is well over 10 years old.

I can take all the pictures I want, but cant upload any. What fun is that???

UPDATE: 8/26/2009

As you see by the uploaded photo, we have been computer shopping! With-out me even asking... my honey took me to Wally World last weekend. He's so good to me!

Two Thumbs Up

When I see something cute...

I try to pass it along.

Toniware

Like I said ... very cute.

Chill Out

It's so easy to get caught up in the rush of everyday stuff isn't it? How many moments have been lost, never to be relived, as a result of being in a hurry?

I pass by a pasture just east of 75. The sun is usually just making it's appearance and the early morning mist is still laying heavy on the field. I see this and I experience a moment of peace before I get down to the business of the day. Seeing views like this helps to remind me that...Yes, everything is all right.

I have wondered how many people pass this same field and miss this. It's a shame. Maybe I'm the one who's crazy! That could very well be. But this is free! Put out there by God. For anyone who wants to partake!

Take a moment and check this out.

Violinist Josh Bell plays incognito in Washington subway

A reminder to take the time to smell the roses as they say.

Beauty and Versitility

I grow them because they are so happy and bright. I started last year with two varieties. I saved the heads to gather the seeds to plant this year. I laid the heads outside to dry. Don't do this! I am one who learns better by making the mistake myself. The next day after returning from work I went to check the drying process and you guessed it. They were gone. I figure the squirrels had a nice little picnic. I'm assuming it was squirrels as they were of the Mammoth variety. I did manage to harvest some seeds and they are coming along nicely.

As a food source these guys have been prepared the same way as an artichoke, the closed buds were considered a delicacy by the Europeans. Their seeds have been crushed, used for baking and roasting. We buy 20 lb. bags of the things for our backyard guests. Highly nutritious. They contain linoleic acid and vitamin E. The polyunsaturated fatty acid content is higher than olive oil. Containing vitamin A and D it makes an excellent antioxidant.

Ever noticed how their little heads follow the sun? Well, Greek mythology talks of Clytie and Apollo. Supposodly Clytie loved Apollo. They were tight for a while then Apollo was off to greener pastures. Clytie sat day after day turning her head to watch Apollo move across the sky in his chariot. O.K girls. A pathetic picture, but can you relate? Anyways the gods finally took pity on the poor fool and turned her into a flower.