Miss Rosie, new faucet

 

Hello Folks ~ Thank you all for your kind thoughts about my water woes. My dear BIL Todd will be here Sat. morning to work on installing a new faucet, working on the leak under the house, and doing body work on my van roof, as last week we saw ‘why’ water had come into my van during a heavy rain I was driving in. A hole in my roof and one about to happen.  So, he’ll do some grinding, and bondo work on the places.  Bless his heart.  He’s like my dear husband in that he can do so many different things, and I am very thankful for all of his help since losing my DH almost three years ago, (9th of Dec. 2012).

I’ve got containers filled with water for filling sink and basin for washing dishes, for sponge baths and for flushing the toilet.  I am camping out this week and hopefully the leak will be fixable by Todd and we won’t have to call in a plumber.  Keep him in your prayers Sat. as he does all of this work for me. He lives a little over an hour away and works full time, so I really appreciate his time and efforts.

I’ve been researching kitchen faucets, was getting frustrated looking and reading about them. Finally found one online that was in stock at my local HD.  I wanted a high arc, 360 degree turn of faucet, a metal body and ceramic valves. They had some online but not in the store, they could be shipped to store, but it might not get here until after Todd would be here.  I kept looking and found a Pfitzer that they had three of in my store.  I went there this morning with my printed out paper in hand, found it, but really hated the idea of spending $98.  As I was standing there looking at the faucets on the wall, I spied one in the same pattern by the same company, and it was $78, in chrome finish, instead of stainless steel finish.  They didn’t even have the cheaper version listed on the website at all.  Needless to say, I bought the $78 one.  I went through the garden dept. on the way out, was tempted, but not enough to buy something I don’t really NEED.  Here’s my new faucet in the box.  I’ll show it installed later.

I’m trying to learn how to use my smart phone camera, how to text, etc. I feel like such a dunce.  Miss Rosie and I have been visiting in the screened porch off the kitchen and today I decided to take some selfies so you can see how cute she is.  She really is a dear.

She is such a sweetie pie. She and I are bonding. I slouch in the chair and she lounges on my chest while I pet her, rub her tummy, kiss her. It’s hard to take selfies and I’m not crazy about them, but I am who I am and it’s Miss Rosie I am showcasing.

These next pics were taken with my Canon PowerShot A650 IS.

She heard me washing dishes, so got up on the covered trash can space just outside the window over sink. This is where Miss Tork hung out too.

Here is Miss Tork in June of 2008, she didn’t become an indoor kitty until after I lost my DH, so sometime in 2013 she moved inside where she keeps me company.  She’s been a real comfort to me.

Now here we have Miss Rosie on the last day of Nov. 2015

This cracks me up.  She was meowing but looks like a really mean Halloween Cat.

I just happened to catch her with her mouth open. Miss Tork did and Miss Rosie does, rub against the window.

Well, It’s about time for me to go get horizontal to read before sleep.

Tomorrow I’ll be trying my hand at washing my hair in a basin with a pitcher of water.  My hair is long so I’ll see how that goes.  One thing about experiences like this, having to do without, is that you appreciate so much more the everyday conveniences we have.  I look forward to hot showers once again. For now I’m sponge bathing while I camp out.

Goodnight and rest knowing God is watching over you while you sleep.

FlowerLady

Thanksgiving water woes

 

Hello Folks ~ I hope all of you in the states had a lovely day yesterday filled with lots of love, laughter, and good food.  I had a very nice time with my dear husband’s brother, Todd, his wife Sue, and their son Josh yesterday.  My little cottage was filled with so much, and I am thankful for our time together.

Sue took a picture Josh and I. The last time I saw him, he was around 9 years old. He’s now 24. Sue took the picture on my tablet, and I haven’t figured out how to send the picture to myself via email, so I took a picture of this as it’s my wallpaper on my new tablet, (that’s why the funky lines in my photo). Josh does remind me of my husband in some ways and of course that made for an emotional day yesterday. Josh was showing me different things on my tablet as I am just learning how to use it and my smart phone. My dear husband was the computer geek in our family and always was ready to help me with things. I was thankful for Josh’s help.

Before they got here, I was happily keeping up with dishes as I was preparing things, when all of a sudden the cold water faucet would not shut off. I got under the sink and turned off the faucet there but still had a steady trickle.  I called Todd to tell him my dilemma and found out that their hot water heater had sprung a leak or two. (He’s going to get a new one over the weekend). He tightened up my faucet under the sink when he got here, and now I just have hot water. I need a new sink faucet. This one is about 10 years old, maybe a little older.

I’ve been looking at faucets, and am getting discouraged. I want a good body construction, no plastic and I want ceramic valves for no dripping. Reading reviews is mind boggling.

Then earlier today when I was looking at faucets, I went into the ‘scullery’ where I wash the dishes, to measure the height of faucet, I want a high arc, well I heard this strange noise and thought now what?  I walked around the small room and leaned here and there until I could pin point it. It sounded like the refrigerator area. Uh oh!  I went outside and turned off the water to the house, came back in and no noise. Went out turned it on again, came back in, and there was the noise.  Back outside, turned it off again, because obviously there is a leak.

I called Todd with that bit of news, then asked him about the hot water heater and not having water going into it because I couldn’t remember from the last time we had this problem. And there you have the story of our Thanksgiving ‘water woes’.

This morning I got up late, for me, right around 7 instead of 4-5, and was drinking my first cup of coffee when the phone rang, they didn’t leave a msg. and I didn’t recognize the number. A few minutes later, the phone rang again and this time a voice came on saying my name and then telling who it was so I picked up.  It was my husband’s boyhood friend, who we’d not seen in years, and he was at our driveway gate.  He was in town, lives in GA now, and wanted to stop by and offer his condolences. Of course, more tears were shed as we visited for 3 hours.  It was a good visit.

Now I’ve got to figure out a hose remedy for washing dishes, and showering outdoors so that I don’t have to turn on the water to the house at all.  I can fill buckets for flushing the toilet, from the one water connection that is still working outside the house.

Ok, here’s some goodness and beauty.  I went around taking pictures of flowers yesterday morning and here they are.

Here are bougainvillea blooms on my shed.

Cape Coral honeysuckle is in bloom in several areas right now.

Cuban Buttercup

Hibiscus

A small Hydrangea tree and a beautifully marked prayer plant.

Ferns with my gazing ball, a birthday gift from my DH one year.

Meyer lemons

More ‘Kathleen’ roses.

Last but not least is Miss Rosie, who was following me in around, leaping on leaves, rolling on the paths, having a good time. She had her picture taken by three different people besides me in the past two days.  She is quite the celebrity.

Well, that’s the little saga from Plum Cottage.

Keep me in your prayers ~ to keep my cool, not get depressed and to be joyful in all things.

Have a wonderful weekend ~ FlowerLady

Hurray for chilly temps :-)

 

Good Monday morning Friends ~ After rains on Sat and yesterday, cooler temps moved in. I checked accu-weather a little while ago and it was 62, feeling like it is 58. Oh how wonderful that feels! I see that some of you have gotten your first snow of the season. Pictures look so pretty.  We are to have cooler temps all week, yippee!

I’ve started a beaded phone case, and if this turns out nice, I hope to make more to sell in my Etsy shop.

I took a piece of lace and am beading over the flowers. Have drawn out some stems for smaller flowers, then the rest will just be filled in with beads.

Below is a collage of three of my beaded brooches which are now in my Etsy shop.

I went outside yesterday for something or other and spied this string of caterpillars on my Dwarf white orchid tree.  I have no idea if they are a moth or a butterfly.

They were making their way to the leaves at the top of the stem. I went out later and the stem was clear of cats and I thought to myself, where did they go.  Then I saw them all clustered and eating away at the ‘leaf diner’.  Sorry for the blurry photos.

Now for some more photos of one of my favorite roses, ‘Kathleen’. Photos taken with my Canon PowerShot A650.

That’s it for now. The sun is shining, the sky is blue and I better get going as things need doing around here before company comes on Thursday.

Happy Thanksgiving preparations.

FlowerLady

Happy Thanksgiving week!

 

Hello Folks ~ It is a gray, wet morning here in s.e. FL.  Cooler temps are coming and I am thankful for that.

Also, I learned yesterday that I’m having another guest for Thanksgiving dinner, my nephew Josh. Hurray!  I’ve not seen him since he was a lad and now he’s become a ‘man’ and I look forward to getting to know him.  I’ve been told he’s a lot like my dear husband. His father, Todd,  is my husband’s brother. Josh is a tech geek and I look forward to help from him with my new smart phone and the tablet I got for free for buying the phone. Todd put me on his family plan for unlimited phone and texting. The phone is my Christmas present to myself this year. After reviewing on Google, I decided to get the LG G3 and have LOTS to learn.

Here’s a photo taken with the phone camera.  This is ‘Kathleen’.

Miss Rosie thinking she’s sneaking up on my foot.

My first ‘selfie’.  Usually I take pics of myself in a mirror.

These next two pictures are of me not quite awake. Had gone to bed very late for me the night before, 11:30, and then up at 3:30. 

When I sit in my chair for any length of time, Miss Tork climbs up on my chest and sits. She’s done this since she was small.  I’m her mommy.

In the second picture she doesn’t look too happy with me taking her picture.

I’ve lots to learn and it’s exciting and scary at the same time.

Well, I sat down and figured my monthly expenses and I ‘need’ a part-time job, so am praying about that, and ask for your prayers too. My SIL Sue sent me a good verse this morning,

Now unto him (Jesus/God) that is able to do exceeding abundantly

above all that we ask or think,

according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto him be glory

Epehsians 3:20-21a

***

I wish all of you here in the US a great Thanksgiving.  Enjoy preparing your homes and food for guests.  If you’re by yourself, make a nice meal just for you.

Above all let’s thank God for His many blessings and tender mercies.

Let’s also remember to pray for those who are hurting around the world.

Love, hugs & prayers

FlowerLady

Recipes for Thanksgiving

 

Hello Folks ~ Thanksgiving is a week from today and I’m sure most of you are thinking about the dinner to be served/shared that day.

My brother-in-law and sis-in-law, Todd and Sue, are coming here for dinner. I am excited. I bought an almost 12 Butterball young turkey, will make a sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, asparagus vinaigrette, green bean casserole and spicy pumpkin tiramisu. Sue is bringing rolls, carrot soufflé, a pecan pie and Chardonnay.

The green bean casserole is not made with canned mushroom soup, or canned French fried onion rings, it is made from scratch. I don’t know where I found the recipe but it is delicious and people love it and want the recipe.

So, here’s the recipe, in case any of you would like to try it.

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Green Bean Casserole

3 tablespoons canola oil, divided (or olive oil)
1 medium sweet onion (half diced, half thinly sliced), divided
8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup low-fat milk
3 tablespoons dry sherry
1 pound frozen French-cut green beans (about 4 cups)
1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
3 tablespoons buttermilk powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 2 1/2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and slightly translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, thyme and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the mushroom juices are almost evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle 1/3 cup flour over the vegetables; stir to coat. Add milk and sherry and bring to a simmer, stirring often. Stir in green beans and return to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute. Stir in sour cream and buttermilk powder. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.

3. Whisk the remaining 1/3 cup flour, paprika, garlic powder and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a shallow dish. Add sliced onion; toss to coat. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion along with any remaining flour mixture and cook, turning once or twice, until golden and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes. Spread the onion topping over the casserole.

4. Bake the casserole until bubbling, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

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Now, here is the recipe for the tiramisu.  My husband and I both loved this.  Got the recipe many years ago from a lady in ‘Country Life’ forum.  It is fantastic.  One year I switched out the pumpkin for peanut butter, for DH’s birthday and that was a big hit.

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SPICED PUMPKIN TIRAMISU

1 package Italian Ladyfingers (Soft, not hard cookies)
1/8 cup Frangelico liqueur or Triple Sec (or orange juice)
8 oz. Mascarpone (or cream cheese)
1/2 cup canned Pumpkin Puree
1 tsp. ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground Ginger
1/4 tsp. ground Mace
1-1/2 cups Confectioner's Sugar
1 tsp. Orange Extract
2-1/2 cups Heavy Cream, whipped and chilled, divided

Arrange ladyfingers on the bottom of a 9-inch square pan. Pour the Frangelico liqueur over the soft sweet ladyfingers. (I used a little more.) (You may substitute the same volume of Orange Juice for a non-alcoholic preparation.)

In a mixing bowl, blend together the mascarpone with the pumpkin puree. Add the cinnamon, ginger, mace, confectioner's sugar and orange extract.

Fold in 1-1/2 cups of the whipped cream. Pour the mixture over lady fingers.

Gently spread remaining whipped cream on top of pumpkin mixture. Sprinkle the top with a dash or two of additional cinnamon, if desired.

Cover and refrigerate at least two hours before serving, or overnight.
Slice to serve.
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I will be busy this next week, so if you don’t hear from me again, you know what I’m doing, getting ready, as most of you will be too.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week and day. Count your blessings. God has blessed us with so much.

FlowerLady

Summer Weather in November

 

Hi Folks ~ Well, here it is the 13th of November and at around 12:40 EST it is 86, with 60% humidity so it feels like it is 106.  Sheesh! I am indoors though, house cleaning/straightening as I have guests, my dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law coming to visit tomorrow. I’m looking forward to our time together.

Below are some blooms from my gardens.

Creeping Lantana ~ grows very well for me

This is a bloom from one of two small daisy tree plants I bought in the spring. One plant croaked, but this one is doing well

Next is Miss Tork. My bed is high and is a nice space to work on so I brought my fabric in to make the bed skirt, cutting and pinning it to hem. I took a lunch break and when I came back someone had made herself right at home in the middle of the project.

Doesn’t she look comfortable?

I’ve been trying to introduce Miss Tork and Miss Rosie, and there was hissing on Miss Tork’s part, so I said O K. So much for that.  Miss Rosie will be my outdoor girl. It is fun having her romp around while I’m outside. It will be time to take her to get her fixed soonly.  I’m not sure how old she is, maybe 3-4 months. I don’t think I can take her in until she’s at least 5 months old. I need to check the info out again.

I hope you all have a great weekend whatever you are doing, wherever you are.

Thank you for your kind and encouraging comments about my set up at the little flea market.

Happy November ~ FlowerLady

It was fun

 

Good morning Folks ~ Well, the little flea market was NOT busy like usual. I was told their ad wasn’t right this time, and I noticed that they had a small sign posted out on the street, whereas they used to have a huge one. (Maybe someone stole it?) I made a whopping $3 yesterday, but got some goodies, made a couple of friends, enjoyed the experience, was told I had interesting things, more than the rest of the sellers and I plan to go again next month.

It’s been over 25 years since the last time we set up at a flea market and this time I did it all by myself. They supplied a nice long, sturdy table and a chair.  I had mostly ‘antiques and collectibles’. The two large books are from 1862, filled with history and engravings of eminent Americans. They were the most popular item on my table. Not being advertised properly really cut on buyers but there is always next time and this quiet sale gave me a time of getting used to this again.

This guy is carved from a palm tree.

Now, here are yesterday’s goodies and my sheets.  

This fabric below, is indoor/outdoor, and I plant to make a cover for the cushion that’s on the swing in the screened room off the back of cottage. It’s about 52 inches wide by 6 ft. long.

Love the rose bud fabric. 54 inches wide x about 10 ft. in length. I plan to make this into a bed skirt.

The thing about the fabrics is that on set-up day the lady was asking $5, each bundle, then yesterday when I went in and was sitting there next to her she said $4 each to someone.  After awhile, she said to me, take both of those that you like for $5. I could hardly believe it, but I said ok.  At the time I didn’t know what I would do with either fabric, got the ideas after I got home. Then she later she gave me the bag of polyfill for nothing.

***

When the lady came around to collect our fee money, and asked us if we’d be back next month, and would I like the same spot, I said yes to both, and Elaine the lady next to me said “Yes, for me too and I want to be set up right here next to Rainey.” That made me feel good. She’s been doing this little flea market for 5 years.

***

The little basket of flowers was 25 cents. The two necklaces $1 each.  The one is stone or glass small beads, and the other has the pink beads with a rose on each bead. Both will be used in my creations.

Wanted to show you the pintucked edge which is on the top sheet and the pillow cases that were part of my goodies of the day on set-up day.

That’s it for now.

Thank you for your sweet comments about Miss Rosie, and I’m pretty sure she’s a girl. I do have 4 other girls, 3 barn kitties, and one indoor kitty. I didn’t need or want another one, but her pitiful cry and little hungry body tugged at my heart strings. Yes she is filling out, and she is so shiny and a real joy to have accompanying me in my gardens. If I could find someone who wanted her though, I would let her go to a new home. For now, she’s home here at Plum Cottage.

My latest creation. She has gold thread on her head but with the next one I will try to make her a better halo and do some other tweaking. She was fun.

Enjoy your gift of this new day.

FlowerLady