RA -- Does anyone else suffer from it?

I thought I had mine licked, but it has owned me for the better part of this week.  Now please don't tell me about the drugs out there -- I already know.  But if you've got a magic spell -- wind it here!

The Dog Ate My Glasses

Well, not mine, but Stiva's. Elsa did it.  I woke up the other morning to a "crunch, crunch, crunch" and thought she was chewing on her rawhide chip.  I'm pretty sure there wasn't much anyone could have done to rescue them at that point anyway, but oh boy.  And Lens Crafters is going to replace them for free, if you can believe that!  Now that is an awesome return policy!

Maybe Nobody Else Cares

Maybe nobody else cares, but I'm ecstatic.  My absolute favorite flower is the REAL violet, not the hothouse variety.  And they're fleeting, at best.  So here we go -- I guess it's a really good thing that I appreciate the simplest things most -- I have heard lately of folks making violet tea and violet preserves, but our violets are much too sparing for us to do anything but drink in the beauty of their simplicity.

Sunny Sunday & Stiva's Out Playing in the Barn

I can think of better ways to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon, but then again, can I really?

As for Big Steve, he took his guitar and headed out to the barn.  Can I blame him???  NO!!!  If you're in the neighborhood, c'mon by and play with Steve.  But I digress...

My mom dug some of her horseradish, so I'm in the kitchen, peeling and crying....and loving it...

Update - So ok, I'm blind.   I'm actually blind.  And this proves that it doesn't matter if your horseradish roots are 50 years+ or brand new.  Horseradish is horseradish, as long as it just came out of the ground!!!   Now what is everyone else doing this lovely Sunday???  And YES, those are this evening's black eyed peas in the crockpot.  I'm just sayin'!

Menu for the Week Starting 4/11/2010

I've been asked to post a menu for the week, and so I shall!  I did a large, exhausting shopping at Price Rite in Schenectady yesterday, and I'm not exactly recovered yet.  This is a work in progress and probably won't be complete until sometime tomorrow.  If you want a recipe, you MUST comment and ask for it.  Otherwise, I won't post it.  It's a lovely Spring day, a real gift of a day.   I'm trying to get ALL of the week's laundry out on the line, which will keep me away from the computer till tomorrow. 

Sunday -- April 11, 2010

Breakfast
Grits
Sausage Gravy
Orange and/or Vegetable Juice

Dinner
Pulled Shoulder of Pork Sandwiches
Black Eyed Peas

Monday - April 12, 2010--

Breakfast
Babka

Dinner
Chicken Fajitas
Leftover Black Eyed Peas (they were so good!)
Frozen Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie for dessert





Later....After that blessed shoulder of pork comes out of the over...Baking up some scrumptious oatmeal chocolate chip cookes for my soldiers.  If you are deployed and reading this...ask and you shall receive!!!  Love you all!!!

Thank you Dear Lord, It is Spring

I actually felt the cool green grass betwen my toes this afternoon while going out to the compost pile.  Thank you, dear Lord, for your grace and goodness!!!  And yes, those are my very own toes in that wondrous green grass. 

Now, look at the horseradish the good Lord has given us to grind and enjoy.  I'm just about to peel and grind it, after a wonderful shrimp dinner:

Finally, the eggs we cooked and colored the "old school" way -- the way my grandmother did them -- with onion skins in the water to color the shells.  Thank you Lord for what you have given us.

Easter Menu

We thought about going out to dinner this year, but decided just last night to eat at home.  Here's the menu, just completed.  I'll post recipes after, unless there is a special request.

Appetizers:

• Deviled Eggs
• Spinach Dip w/veggies and corn chips

And for Dinner:

• Ham
• Candied Sweet Potatoes
• Green Bean Casserole (Stephanie NEEDS it!)
• Roast Asparagus
• Homemade Babka (my grandmother's recipe -- that's a whole other story!)
• Martian Salad
• Pickled Beets
• Bread & Butter Pickles
• Coleslaw
• Boiled Eggs
• Homemade horseradish (we haven't even dug it up yet today!)

And for dessert:

• Cheesecake
• Bunny cake
• Coconut Macaroons

Like I said, I will post recipes after the fact.  If you have a special request, let me know, and I'll share.  And now it's off to the grocery, and then it's all kitchen on this gorgeous gift of an early spring day.

Ode to the Shy Dog -- And Just DOGS!

Our dear little shy girl, Miss Elsa Magee, has grown by leaps and bounds.  She has actually turned into something of a little poop-head, not that I'm complaining! 

Recently, her brand new cousin, Jasper, came to visit with his family (my son Anthony and his dear one Destiny) and as a result, we attempted to capture the moment in a portrait of the three of them.  Of course, chaos ensued, and you can view the results yourself!!!  The confusion and peepee sniffing speaks for itself, methinks!