Iced Coffee and other News

Coming to you live from Joyintheburbs:

Weather Report:

Here in Texas it is already H.O.T. so drinking hot coffee is not advisable.

I'm getting my coffee fix with this recipe for Easy Iced Coffee on Allrecipes. It is soooooo good. It can be made for so much less $$ then Starb*cks or even McD*nalds Cafe coffees.

A few simple ingredients are all you need:

2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1 teaspoon sugar
3 tablespoons warm water
6 fluid ounces cold milk

1 tablespoon of your favorite flavored creamer (not in original recipe...I added that)

In a sealable jar, combine instant coffee, sugar and warm water.

Cover the jar and shake until it is foamy.

Pour into a glass full of ice.

Fill the glass with milk and creamer and enjoy this yummy concoction.

Adjust to taste if necessary.

In other news, Leah is sporting a new shorter "do" this summer. I'm loving it on her.

The Agricultural report:

Here are 3 little potatoes I harvested. Aren't they cute. That is all I got from my potato planting experiment. I'm going to plant a lot more this fall and see what happens. But hey, I got one small serving from it.

In Fashion news today we have this:

The model (aka me) is wearing a first attempt to make an article of clothing since Home Economics class over 25 years ago. I realize it is not the most fashionable skirt. But the pattern did not call for a zipper so it suckered me in.

When I started cutting the pattern out I realized it had "godets" (lots of them). Silly me didn't know what a godet was. The dictionary definition is: A triangular piece of fabric usually set into the hem of a garment to add fullness.

My definition: LOTS AND LOTS OF EXTRA UNWANTED FABRIC THAT HAS TO BE CUT OUT AND THEN SEWN INTO SAID SKIRT RENDERING IT VERY HEAVY. Who knew. I learned my lesson. Also learned that I need to keep my drawstring tied nice and tight.

In closing I leave you with this:

One of those little dots on the beach will be me in the near future. I'll be away from the computer on and off for the next few weeks. I'll try and keep up with your blogs as best I can. Don't think I forgot you.

As soon as I'm back I will return to regularly scheduled blogging. :)


That is the news from the home front. Thank you for joining me.


Good night.

♥

Blogging is good for your health

Four years ago I found out I had Hypertension. I was shocked. I was not even 40 years old and had to go on blood pressure medication. Before I started the meds I was having blood pressure readings of 140/90.... Ok. We all agree that is too high. Well the medication has brought my blood pressure down to normal levels. Last year when I went for my check-up it was 118/90.

Last week I went to my annual doctor's appointment. Just the family practitioner NOT the other fun appointment we women get to make every year. This year when they took my blood pressure it was 99/60. I couldn't believe it. That was super low for me. I took my blood pressure myself at the pharmacy grocery store the next day and it was 108/60. Still low and out of the teens.

SO, I got to thinking.....

What is different in my life that would make my blood pressure go down????

Nothing has really changed in my life... and trust me, I haven't changed my diet. Still love fried food and drink soft drinks with sugar (no diet drinks for me), put salt on my food, but I do exercise moderately (extremely moderately).

So nothing has really changed.

I came up with the only logical explanation....

BLOGGING.

I started my blog last June. I think blogging is a good release for me of all the things that are going on in my head. I don't verbalize my thoughts very well, but I can sit down and type out post and it helps me process thru things sometimes (even when I never hit "publish") I know my blog is pretty generic as far as theme goes. I don't have anything major going on in my life. I pretty much just blog about my family, my faith and the ways I like to try and be frugal and "green". I'll throw in politics now and then, so it must be helping me to be a calmer person.

So there you go...that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Buster is not buying this conclusion, but I am now convinced that blogging is good for my health.

Mmmm Mmmm Good

My dinner plate looked so yummy I had to take a picture for you all. Sunday afternoon I put some ribs in the oven and slow-cooked them for a few hours.

I also made a recipe called Corn, Tomato and Avocado Salad.
I wanted to share it with you because it was so delicious and perfect for summer.

For the Salad:

4 ears of corn, kernels removed (about 3 cups)
1-1/2 pounds of grape tomatoes halved ( I used regular fresh tomatoes
STRAIGHT OUT OF MY GARDEN)
1 pound of fresh mozzarella, diced
2 medium avocados, diced

For the Dressing:

1 1/2 cups packed fresh cilantro
1/2 cup good -quality extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
2 teaspoons Kosher salt
freshly ground pepper to taste.

Combine the dressing ingredients in a blender, process until smooth.
Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl and toss with the dressing.
Let sit at least 15 minutes before serving,
or cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.


I found this recipe in a recent issue of Food Network Magazine.

I have a confession to make. I bought the fresh mozzarella and can you believe I completely forgot to put it in the dish. I couldn't believe I did that. It was good without it so if you want to leave it out you can. Now I have to figure out something to make with all that cheese....

I added a little watermelon on the side and I have to tell you it was just a really good, simple summer meal.

Let me know if you decide to make the salad. I hope you like it!

Happy summer eating


♥

Twenty - One Years Ago....

It's June 4th. Buster and I were forever linked in holy matrimony on that day in 1988.




I decided to take a look around our house to find things that we actually started out with when we married 21 years ago. We've moved to six different states and have had a total of 10 moves. So you start to cull things as you move and add new pieces to fit the latest house.

Somethings were sold in garage sales or passed along to others to use. One poor kitchen table/chair set was so feeble Keith threw it over the balcony of our 2nd story apartment to keep from carrying it down the stairs during one move. It went to the dumpster.

But here are a few things I found that have been with us since day ONE!


Confession: I am the world's worst at letting go of dishtowels. I got this dishtowel at a kitchen wedding shower before I got married. I still have it. Still use it. It's very thin and fading. I've often wondered if I would give a dancing bear dishtowel gift to someone getting married. So far I haven't. But I guess 1988 was a good year for dishtowels with dancing bears with top hats and canes. These little bears have done their job. So who am I to judge. :)





I also received this crazy quilt at a wedding shower. At first I didn't care for the "craziness" of this quilt. But over the years it has grown on me and I've come to enjoy it. My girls sometimes wrap up in it while they are watching TV. It's definitely a keeper.




Next, is the bedroom suite that we inherited when we got married. This bed, nightstand and chest of drawers were purchased by Keith's parents in 1972. We used it until 2001 when we finally purchased a new bedroom set. I took the pillows off the bed so you could see the Mediterranean style of this classic furniture. It is now in our guest bedroom. So if you come and visit me. This is where you will sleep.


The nightstand (oh my goodness....is that dust???I'm so embarrassed) I promise, I'll dust before you come.


This is the chest of drawers that goes with the set. We sold the triple dresser years ago. It was too much to keep moving around. I decided to paint this piece of furniture and place different hardware on it to update it. I love it. I never did the nightstand and headboard. Maybe one of these days. I love how it turned out. It's a heavy piece of furniture. I literally painted it right in the bedroom where it stood. I just put a drop cloth under it.




I know there are other random things around here that have been with us since day one. Like the knife set that never needs sharpening and some crystal pieces, a cake plate and a nice stainless steel colander.

I guess the most important thing that has made it thru the last 21 years is us. It's been an adventure and lots of fun. We're so blessed with two beautiful girls and a loving home. It's all I ever wanted. Happy Anniversary Buster, Love You!

The Mom Fieldtrip

School is almost out here in our little corner of the world. So last week I invited a friend to go with me to Mercer Arboretum for a mom fieldtrip before school is out. Mercer Arboretum is a gardeners paradise. You get all kinds of inspiration and just soak in the beauty all around you.
I know I post a lot of pictures of flowers and gardens on my blog. I just can't help it. I love visiting gardens then I enjoy them so much I want to share them with all my friends.

Please take a minute to view some flora and fauna and enjoy your

short tour of Mercer Arboretum, Spring, Texas:

I believe you can click to enlarge most of these.

They are so much prettier that way.

This sundial has a sweet little gardening poem.

Not so sure about how doctrinally sound it is, but nonetheless it is quite pretty.

Beautiful paths to wind through:

The day lilly gardens:

This plant is called The Star of Texas:

Couldn't help but watch these lovebirds enjoying their brunch together.

Aren't the caladiums beautiful climbing this hill

beside the steps:

I took over 50 pictures that day. I won't post them all. I want you to come back and visit me. :)

I've been to the Arboretum a few times before. It has changed since my last visit. Hurricane Ike did a lot damage to the gardens so they are restoring a few areas. It is still one of the most beautiful places in the Houston area.

Happy June,