See How My Garden Grows – Winter Harvest Continued.

A couple of days ago I went to check out my winter garden. I found more leaf lettuce along with onion and carrots. I made them into a delicious salad.

Here is some spinach that will soon be mature enough to eat.

I left a few onions to see if maybe they would mature into full-fledged red onions. We shall see.

Of course, Lucie my big, red dog always has to get into the picture.

I was pleased to see flowers blooming in my pots. Spring is in the air and flowers always fill my soul.

Lucie and I try to walk daily. Sometimes that does not happen, but we give it our best effort. I found these precious wildflowers on one such outing.

Of course, Lucie loves to smell the flowers as much as I do.

Love that big, red dog.

A New Way to Organize Your Favorite Internet Sites.

Cutting Turkey.

You know, sometimes you witness an act that makes an imprint on your heart. I had the good fortune to be present for such an act today.

This last week has proved a trying time for my family. Without details, I will say our limits were tested tremendously.

Emotions have run the gamut. Love, hate, sorrow, despair, fear, hope, compassion. Major pissed off.

Still, I witnessed simple acts of kindness. For that, I am proud.

I only hope I sat an example.

Travel Fix

Guest post written by Kevin Beach

The minute my bags hit the bed in my hotel room, I reached for the remote and flipped on direct tv corpus christine. The flight into Texas had been smooth but baggage claim had led to me the point of breaking out into sweats. There is nothing quiet as fearful as being left standing at the carousel and wondering why in the world your bags are the LAST ones on the belt.

To my relief, they showed up just before I started toward customer service. All I wanted to do was enjoy a hot shower & get lost in some TV before preparing for tomorrows presentation. I had already decided room service was in order tonight and an old movie. After that, I would be all geared up to work on the laptop and prepare the final touches for tomorrows big meeting with corporate. Anytime I travel out of town, I have a mini-me vacation. It always consists of a hot shower, room service, and a movie. It is good for the traveling soul.

Music That Moves Me – Man in the Mirror.

For some reason there is nothing on TV on Saturdays. So I decided to watch my Michael Jackson DVD This is It. This was the last performance by the King of Pop. It is a shame because he was so talented.

Anyway, this song is one of my favorites. Right next to I’ll be There. which was my first 45 rpm record I ever bought. If you do not know what a 45 rpm record is then Google it.

I like this song because it speaks to the fact that we all have to stand up and look in the mirror and answer to our own conscience.

All you have to do is watch his back up dancers watching him perform the song.

Enjoying the View.

My beautiful, sweet granddaughter recently was having a bit of trouble with her eyesight. She was squinting to see the board at school and  had trouble seeing at a distance. She now is the proud owner of eyeglasses. I must say she looks smart and sleek and I am glad she can see things she might have missed without the spectacles.

I was in the fourth grade when I first had glasses. Needless to say, it was not cool in those days. My glasses were brown and white with little flowers on the rims. Still, I hated them and tried my best not to use them. My teacher caught on to this quickly and I think she contacted my mom. Hard to remember.

Today, I can not read directions to cook,  a book, or work on the computer without the aid of my glasses. I can see road signs and billboards, but not much up close.

It is ok. We all need a little help now and then.

Love your specs Miss Butterfly!

P.S. Stop growing up already would you?

Help for Prescription Drugs.

See How My Garden Grows – Winter Harvest

Last Fall when I haphazardly threw seeds into my garden, I never thought I might produce any edible veggies. I was wrong. Every seed I planted did not germinate, but  a few took hold and I was pleased to see life throughout our so called winter.

During the last few weeks I cut the tops of my green onions and used the chives in a variety of dishes. The aromatic smell fills the house and adds a wonderful flavor to beans, eggs, and salads. I did not go crazy with the amount of seeds because as I found out one year with cucumbers, you can only eat so much.

Here is a couple of green onions I harvested the other day. I used them in lentil burritos along with three cheeses. I do no have a recipe because I just do not roll that way.

This lettuce, called Black Seeded Simpson, is a leaf lettuce. When I tried to grow it during the hot summer months it tasted bitter. Today it is perfect. I am making tacos later and will enjoy this delicate leaf along with avocados and tomatoes.

I was nosing around my overgrown, unkempt backyard and as I was clearing some weeds ran across a cactus I planted awhile back. This cactus, named Old Man of Mexico has white hairs covering the spines and can grow over 20 feet tall. Mine is barely a foot at this point. I think it was only a few inches when I brought it home. I am thinking of transplanting back to a pot because you never know where you will end up.

Good Girl Lucie.

Lucie my big, red dog and I were out on our morning walk today. I was letting her nose around the open area in front of my house. She loves to do this and I swear there is some bloodhound mixed in her genes. All of a sudden I hear a woman calling, “Maggie, Maggie come back.” I looked to see a large white Lab heading our way. I stopped and did what I learned during dog training. I made Lucie sit and stood still.

Maggie kept her distance and soon turned around and headed back towards her human. We finished our walk and started to return to the house. Just as we made the driveway, Maggie decided to bound down the sidewalk towards us. I stopped, sat Lucie and told Maggie to stay. I also held out my hand signal that denotes stay. It worked until I put my hand down. All the while Maggie’s human was yelling for her to come.

Next, Maggie approached Lucie. Maggie’s human asked me if Lucie was gentle. Um, yea. Lucie is a reactive dog and tends to ignore other dogs that she comes in contact with. The only problem is she is very protective over me. At this point I was a bit worried. Maggie urinated on the drive way and her haunches were up as well as her tail. Not good signs.

Maggie walked up to Lucie and my dog stood between us. Lucie put her front paws around Maggie’s shoulders. I knew she was in protective mode and I tried my best to keep calm. I did not want to be in the middle of a dog fight with two huge dogs. I was prepared to leave the situation if a fight ensued.

Fortunately, after Maggie’s human spent a few minutes chasing Maggie around the driveway, she was able to catch the dog. She seemed a bit miffed with me.

I only have one thing to say.

PUT YOUR DOG ON A LEASH LADY!

P.S. I know a good trainer.

Good Girl Lucie