Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Just a little Spring cleaning going on around here.


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

NIGHT SHIFT!



This is the ICU nurses station where I work.




Deserted looking huh? YEP!

We have been so busy! Last night our hospital had to go on diversion....which means any patient that needed to be admitted had to be routed to another hospital! That's 70 full beds! Now you may have much bigger hospitals where you live but a full hospital aint nothin to sneeze about no matter how large!!




This is why the nurses station is empty.

Nurses are either doing patient care or sitting outside the room charting & monitoring their patient.


Now pass the coffee please!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

SPRING HAS SPRUNG HERE!






Saturday, February 20, 2010

SPRING....WHERE ARE YOU?


My Paper Whites wasted NO time.
















Three weeks after planting the bulbs they looked like this!











Can you smell them?

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

SCONES & CLOTTED CREAM


Last week I told you about the scones & cream I had last summer. Well after a little experimenting and research I found a cream recipe that I liked and made some scones from scratch.

Making scones is very much like making a southern biscuit. Of a matter of fact, if I didn't know any different, I would call a scone a biscuit.




The difference between the two, I found, is that a biscuit is SUPPOSE to be a lighter, more flaky type bread in comparison to a scone. The only real difference I can see is that a scone can have fruit or herbs added to its dough.



(In the South everyone makes their biscuits different. I use to make big thick flaky biscuits but my neighbor made flatter biscuits. It is just a matter of preference & how you were taught to make them. Both are good.).


















The recipe I was given from the Mad Hatter Teashop for the cream was NOT RIGHT. Either the boy who waited on me told me wrong or they just didn't want me to have it.
So I looked on the Internet & found a recipe that tastes like what I remembered.



We ate the scones with cream & mayhaw preserves that Danny made last year.













My results paid off...everyone loved them.


















Recipe from: Great Party Recipes.com

Basic Scone Recipe:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk (approx.) I used butter milk.




Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles course crumbs. Stir in the egg. (If you are using one of the variations below, this is a good point to add nuts, dried fruit, chocolate chips, cheese, etc.)

Gradually add the milk until a thick dough is formed. (It may take more or less than 3/4 cup.)

Turn out the mixture onto a floured board and knead lightly. Roll out the dough to 3/4" thickness and cut into rounds with a 2" cookie cutter. Gather the trimmings and lightly knead, roll, and cut them as well.

Place the rounds about 1" apart on a lightly greased baking sheet. Brush the tops with a little beaten egg or milk. Bake in a preheated 450° oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm.

Makes 12 to 16 scones, depending on the recipe version used.

I brushed the hot scones with a little butter & then dusted them with powdered sugar.


Recipe from: Big Oven
Mock Devonshire Clotted Cream

1 pk (3 oz) cream cheese
1 c Heavy or whipping cream
1 ts Powdered sugar (I sweetened it to my taste, so I used a little more)
1/2 ts Vanilla

Blend all ingredients until thick and fluffy.
Keep refrigerated.

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!!

It is old news to most of you now...Ole Phil & his shadow has given us 6 more weeks of Winter!

It is 52 degrees and drizzling rain here today. Makes for a cold damp day!

My husband requested a "Tater Sandwich" for his lunch so I was up & in the kitchen early this morning. After making his lunch I started tonight's supper....Taco soup. The recipe is a little different from what I've cooked before & I think it will be a keeper.















I want to thank Susanne for the "HAPPY 101 AWARD"! That was mighty nice of ya!



So here are 10 things that make me happy.
1. A good meal, especially if I cooked it. (that sense of accomplishment I guess).
2. A fire in the fireplace.
3. Daisys!!!
4. My grand daughter!!
5. CHOCOLATE...OF ANY KIND!!!
6. Sunrises.
7. Like Susanne....a good cup of coffee!
8. DVR or Tvo or what ever you call that thingy that lets me record my shows & then watch WITHOUT commercials!
9. Peanut butter...anyway you spread it or cook it or dip it.
10. Blogging! I love it! I can stay at home & go so many places, visit many friends, & learn so much with out ever leaving the house!!!

I would feel wayyyy to guilty trying to give this award out to a select few because the truth is....if I go to your blog...you make me HAPPY & you deserve the HAPPY 101 AWARD....other wise I would not waste my time!! So you know who you are!

Steal the button if you like & list 10 things that MAKE YOU HAPPY! Don't we all need this in our life!!

Monday, February 01, 2010

A SPOT OF TEA?



Last year when we went to stay at the Coast, Little Package and I went roaming. We stopped in at the Mad Hatter Teashop in St. Mary's for a snack. One of the items that caught my sweet tooth was the "cream" they served with the scones. That stuff was GOOD!!








I asked for the recipe and tried to replicate it without success. Simple ingredients of heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla. What I think I did wrong was NOT whipping it.

I have been researching it on the Internet. Of course this "cream" that I like is suppose to be a substitute for Devonshire Cream or Clotted Cream which we CAN NOT get in my neck of the woods AT ALL!












I am going to try again to whip up some of this heavenly spread. Can I say...I am craving it!!!

I've never made scones from scratch but I feel like that will be pretty simple.....we will see.













Did yall have a good weekend?

It was cold and wet Saturday and just plain cold yesterday but clear skies.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

GOOD MORNING!

Thanks to The Good LORD...I am feeling better! I called in Tuesday night and was on call last night and I have not left the house...hardly left my bed! So I have rested. No more fever...just the remnants of the cold.

I did not watch YOUR president give his State of the Delusion speech last night but I have been visiting a blog of a very smart young lady. The Parisienne Farmgirl did a fabulous job summing up his address & had me laughing out of my chair! So I thought I should share her post with you...I hope she want mind!



I hope there are things in your home that warm you & make you feel good. I have always loved this spare room in front of the house.

















The room is full of Little Package's toys & all of her clothes and things. I dont know if she will ever claim this room as hers or not but it sure has her name on it.



This is a Winter sunrise view out the windows of this room.
























Surprisingly, I have been able to grow something successfully for more than a season. This old trunk in front of the window has provided a perfect growing area for these Violets.
















This new pot is full of Paper White bulbs. I cant get over how fast they are growing.







Well my throat is still scratchy so I am off to fix a cup of hot King Cole (strait from Canada!) tea! cough-cough!

Monday, January 25, 2010

BLAH!!!!!!!!

So I was suppose to go to the Golden Isles shopping with my Mama today but yesterday afternoon I started getting a little bit of a sore throat. During the night I acquired the body aches & a low grade temperature.......so my day has been spent in bed.

We got more rain last night bringing the total to 5 inches in the past week. Way too much water here at one time.

However, the sun is shining and the wind is blowing ferociously. Maybe it will help dry some of this wet mess up!

So I am going to have another cup of hot tea and watch something sorely stupid...like reruns of Desperate Housewives!






A winter morning.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

AND THEN IT RAINED........



Over 2 1/2 inches today! The pond is running out into the woods, the yard is full, and the roads are a mess. It makes for great sleeping weather...glad I'm on night shift!!

The birds are hitting the feeders pretty good.















We are planning a fishing trip to Florida for next month. I am ready to go!!

I planted a pot of Paper Whites that I hope will bring a touch of early Spring to these dreary Winter days.

So what is going on in your neck of the woods?

Monday, January 18, 2010

COMFORT FOODS

So this Winter I tried my first SMORE! Yep...first time ever.













I have been trying to start some traditions to involve Little Package and our family. Smores night, I thought would be a good start.

It starts with a nice fire in the fireplace.

Chad, Little Package's Daddy, is the maker of all Smores.
Little Package has the duty of passing them out to everyone. This job she obtained all on her own, I might add.


Now I have become ADDICTED to them!!! Who would have thought that 3 little ingredients would be soooooo good!!

But when you dont have a fire........










..........these little suckers fill the gap very well!

Nope.....never had had any of these either until my Mama told me they were the next best things to Smores!!!!!! What cave have I been living in!

Thank You LORD for such good tasting traditions...and getting me out of that cave!

So what's your secret comfort food?

Sunday, January 17, 2010

WHY DID I SUBSCRIBE TO YOU VERA??!!

So the Christmas tree is packed away for another year! Whew...glad it's done!

Had to make a day trip to Atlanta and back to take care of some business. Whew...glad that is done!!

Now there is this little matter to attend.....this VERA that comes to me via my home PC, my work laptop....and via my BLACKBERRY for Heaven's sake!!




So what would you do??!!!

Monday, January 11, 2010

BURRRRRRR!!!!!!!



art.com


It has been consistently cold here for 3 weeks! I have enjoyed it though.

I have a confession to make.

My Christmas tree is still up!

Yep!

I hate myself!

Friday, January 01, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!!??!!




I cant believe it is the year 2010! Doesn't that seem crazy? While most folks were ringing in the New Year in some festive fashion, I worked the night shift in ICU where the combination of a Blue Full Moon & New Year's eve parties brought all the crazies & non-compliant folks out to the hospital! Half of them ended up in my department.

Any who...I made it through the night and home for a few hours sleep. We had a traditional Southern New Year's Day dinner....Baked ham, black eye peas, mustard greens & cornbread. Desert was baked apple pie & ice cream & mama made a FANTABULOUS chocolate cake.

So now we have our good luck & prosperity for the new year. What about yall?

Friday, December 18, 2009

TIME PASSES!

So where have I been? How about between Alltel and Verizon's battle of the towers! I have not had internet service because of their wonderful merger! The service I have now is far & few between working.....the price you pay for living in the country huh!

While I have NOT been blogging, I have been doing plenty of other things. Pecan season produced over 30 thousand pounds of pecans for us this year. The quantity was great but the quality was not as good. The weather this year has been hard on all of our local farmers.

My new position in ICU has been great! I am learning plenty & enjoying it at the same time. I have been working night shift a good bit and though I am not a night person, I am adjusting.

Despite the slow economy, all of my family members are working but one of my sons. I think things will pick up for him soon.

Little Package is growing and has an unbelievable vocabulary. She has learned the ABC song & numerous others. She can count to 15 most of the time. We love her more and more everyday and realize how much of a blessing she is.

Little Package quotes......
"Poppa, what-cha-doing? Can we go clean da pecans Poppa?"
"Meme, I want a couple bags of tater chips pees."
"I wake up, I give you good morning sugar!"
And last but not least,
"Poppa we go make a sess-mint!"
When Danny goes out to look at the trees he always says he is going to make "an assessment".
So now the Little Package picks up on everything!

So if "The Two Towers" that be, will let me get online, maybe I can blog again!!





Poppa & Little Package talking in front of a warm fire.






Little Package, her Daddy, and Uncle Nick working on a Ginger Bread house.





Little Package totally amazed with the "Kiss-mas twee"

Friday, September 25, 2009

MULLED CIDER SCENTED CANDLES, FALL, AND BLOGGING

So Fall has officially arrived by calendar! I am seeing early signs of It's approaching here in the South. Leaves are turning and falling much earlier than usual. The temperatures have been better here too. I am thankful for it all.

Wal-Mart is carrying a nice line of Fall scented candles. I love the Mulled Cider!

My Mama came to visit me for about a week. I had to work some of the time but it was nice having her here.

Danny & I picked out a new tractor yesterday! I am so excited! I have been trying to get him to buy one since the first of the year. It's as cool as Blue Bell ice cream! Cant wait to get it here!

Blogging........now I know that I am not a regular blogger, I wish I could be, but what is up with E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y!??!!

Now that I have a Blackberry, I get to check blogs regularly. (I still cant get my phone to allow me to comment on others blogs, darn it!)

The point is....it seems like everyone has just about quit blogging!

HEY I MISS YOU GUYS! GET YOUR BUTTS IN GEAR OK!!!!!

So that's about all I have to say!

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Does anyone do Mobile Blogging? I am able to look at everyones blog on my BlackBerry but it will not allow me to comment using my phone. I am signed in so I just don't know what the problem is. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Monday, August 31, 2009

WILDLIFE AT CROOKED RIVER AND THE STONE'S HOUSE









Well it has been kinda crazy here. Sickness....Danny's mom was hospitalized last week for pneumonia, Danny's brother had to go to the hospital last week for extensive testing (he has cardiac issues going on), Danny's oldest granddaughter started a type of chemo last week for an illness she has, Nick my oldest son has been very sick with some type of respiratory infection, and Little Package ran a high temp from Wednesday until Friday with no other symptoms to go with it. She has been drinking good but her appetite is poor.

I started my first days as a full time ICU nurse and loving it. I will be working some nights (not looking forward to that) for a little while but will be off the weekends for a while. This will allow me to get to church on Sundays (I have been on weekends only for almost two years) and I soooooo miss my church family, Sunday school and worship service.

The pictures are from our weekend at Crooked River. Love that place!

Hope everyone has a great week!
WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY! CARRY HAND SANITIZER FOR WHEN YOU GO TO THE STORE ETC. , COVER YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU COUGH OR SNEEZE AND AVOID BEING IN THE LINE OF FIRE OF THOSE THAT ARE NOT COVERING THEIR MOUTH! H1N1 is on the rise!!!!!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

WEEKEND GET-A-WAY
















We spent last weekend on the Coast at Crooked River State Park. We had a great time.





















The cottage we stayed in was great. Very clean, plenty of room, and had EVERYTHING we needed. As you can see it has a screened in porch with rocking chairs. Each cottage has a picnic table, grill, and a fire pit.













A wonderful view from inside over looking the river & grass marsh.
















A full kitchen with dishes, pots, dishwasher....everything you would need. I loved this big round table too. The living room had an electric fireplace and a TV with cable.



















There is a boat ramp and a nice dock.




















I did not want to leave this place and cant wait to go back!




There's more.