Missing My Blog

I have been MIA for several months.

After starting a new job and being so busy that I didn't have time for posts,

and then, getting ill and finally, having surgery, I am ready to be back on the mend.

I'm healing and hoping to return to work soon.

I'm still reading my favorite blogs and keeping up on them. 

I see LOTS and LOTS of projects going on but not on my end. 

Doing certain times in our lives, we must rest and heal. 

It has been one of those times for me. 

However, I'm keeping my project list up-to-date and soon,

very soon, I hope to be working on them again.

Where I have been swinging and resting and healing ♥

~ Thanks for stopping by.... even if I haven't been here ~

♥

Petals of Happiness

I have started thinking about my Spring/Summer garden. 

Last year, I was able to get some starts off of the "Rose of Sharon"

bushes from a dear friend.  I have 5 starts that are little twigs but they were free to me.
I will nurture them with care this year to make sure they get a great start.


Also, last year, I planted a Hydrangea bush. 
I planted it after my visit to The Biltmore Estate / Gardens
on my honeymoon.  I had always wanted a Hydrangea bush. 
The bushes at The Biltmore were so beautiful. 
If you have never been, it's a must see. 

I also have 3 Peony bushes that will have a second
Spring/Summer season to grow and flourish. 

My favorite flower is the Daisy and I have a pretty good garden of them.
I planted them under an old windmill tower that isn't in use any longer. 


This picture is a picture I've posted before.  I love walking outside and cutting fresh flowers for my home.  They are usually around for several weeks.

The first sign of Spring in my yard will be the Tulips.


Every year I want to add something new to my garden and it has to be a Perennial.
Perennials come back year after year and help to make my garden maintenance free.


I haven't decided yet what I will add this year.
I'm thinking a climbing rose bush.


Do you have any recommendations for me?

Salsa - Semi Homemade Recipe

~ The weather outside is.... h o r r i b l e... icy and cold!!!!  

~ What do I want to do when the weather is horrible? 

Cook, bake or both and EAT!

~ We can't go outside in this now can we?

Click on any picture for a closer view

View outside my kitchen window

Looking North... I think I'll stay INSIDE a while longer!

Looking out my front store to the South....icy and cold and desolate.

I love how the Sun glistens on the icy chips that have fallen from the tree limbs. 

I can't wait to be on the riding mower mowing this lawn once again!

~ So.... instead of going outside and going anywhere yesterday,

  I decided to try a new recipe.

I had made a trip to the grocery a few days before I heard of the

coming ice storm and had my ingredients on hand. 

~ I had previously found a recipe for salsa and wanted to try it. 

The only thing I might add next time is some fresh cilantro, other than that,

my husband and I really LOVED it and it might just be our new salsa recipe.

~ Buying salsa at the grocery can be quite expensive. 

Especially, how much we like to eat.

My husband and I do NOT like a really hot salsa either. 

We like our salsa mild.  Now, I can make it just the way we like it.

Look how yummy it looks here, freshly blended and ready to eat!

I store it in a glass bowl covered tightly until we are ready to enjoy

Here is the recipe:

 One 14oz can of stewed "Mexican style" tomatoes

 One 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chile's

(I selected mild but you want a spicier flavor so you could get medium)

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  *Next time, I am adding some fresh cilantro

Place all of these ingredients into your blender and give it a few spins. 

Blend to your desired consistency. 

I tasted it right away but have noticed letting it sit overnight that

the flavors blended beautifully and tastes even better.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~

Snow-Fatigued !

~ OK, I am snow-fatigued!

~ Just plain and simple, I am tired of snow and frigid temps.

~ Yesterday, on our local news, the weatherman announced

we are 12 inches above normal for the year with "snowfall."

~ My husband is even more snow-fatigued than me.

~ Deer hunting season is over until next October. 

He paces back and forth in the house. 

 The outdoors are calling him ♥ 

~ He looks out his telescope into the fields behind us,

 and in front of us, occasionally spotting a coyote or raccoon,

and sometimes, even deer.  Yes, deer!

~ My husband suggested we get all bundled up and go for a walk,

"let's just get out of the house" he says. 

But, you can't walk on our snow covered country roads, it's dangerous. 

~ So instead, we drive 10 minutes, close to town, to a walking trail. 

I snapped a picture of my husband on the trail with my cellphone

Isn't it a dreary day in Indiana?

~ We walked one way for 30 minutes,

and then, we turned around and walked back the other way to our car. 

~ We were bundled up good. 

The only thing that was really cold on me was my face. 

It was in the 20's... but WE GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE!

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~

Baby it's cold outside......

~ The climate here in Indiana has been very challenging lately!

~ Snow is falling and falling and falling. 
Did I say the snow keeps falling?

~ Bitterly cold winds and gloomy gray skies. 

click on any picture for a closer view

Looking south out my front door

Looking northwest out my back door

~ Oh how I long for my Summer evenings on my porch swing with my iced tea.

I cannot wait for these days again ♥

~ So, since I cannot go outside in this frigid weather,
there is only one thing left to do!

Yes, the only thing left to do is to make peanut butter cookies.

Oh... I had to taste one while it was still warm,
fresh out of the oven and Oh, so delicious.

Recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine together -
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg

yelp, that's all you need,
makes approximately 16 cookies.
mix all ingredients together,
roll into 1 inch balls,
bake at 350 degrees for 11 to 12 minutes
and enjoy some delicious peanut butter cookies.

So, while the cold, frigid weather lingers,

and we wait for Spring.

~ We will enjoy some cookies and wait on
mother nature to bring back her warm Summer days of beauty.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~

The Tin Man Project

~ I'm collecting tin cans to build a tin man for my yard/garden. 

~ He won't look EXACTLY like the tin man from

The Wizard of Oz... but he will have a funnel for his hat.

~ If you would like to build a tin man for your yard/garden,

here are the instructions I am going to use.

http://www.hobbylobby.com/assets/pdf/project_inspiration/projects/HL-202.pdf

~ I'm having trouble finding sardine cans because I

don't know anyone that eats sardines. *_*

~ After I get my  tin man built,

I'll post a picture to share with you.

~ Thanks for stopping by ~

♥

~ Lisa ~

Roaming Outdoors

~ I walked outside just after sunrise this morning to water what flowers/plants are still living, this was my view as I looked out of the garage, so peaceful and serene and a bit foggy.... come visit and walk with me....

Off in the distance you can barely see more trees

I love my little yellow home in the country!

I dont' know how this wave petunia has survived the HOT Summer heat,
I just gave it a HUGE drink of rain water... I enjoy the beauty of the deep purple flowers.

It seems this tree has a personality with his facial features,
I can enjoy him as I sit on my porch swing or looking out my kitchen window, he is fun!
I purchased his face from Meijer and helped him to come alive,
he reminds me of a snowman but only he is a tree.

Even though her legs were broken by a snow plow in Winter 2009,
she still is beautiful and watches over the little yellow home in the country ♥
I got her from a garage sale years ago and she has traveled many places with me.

Hummingbirds will start migrating soon, I've filled up the feeder for the last time this season,
I'll soon wash it and store it away for next Spring.

This picture doesn't show the colors of this birdhouse very good,
I decided to hang in on the side of the tree instead of up in the tree so we can enjoy it's beauty. 

I got this little goodie at a thrift store this year for .99 Cents,
I hung it on a tree and it fills up with rain water for the birds...
with this heat, it's needed a little help from me. 
Every time I water flowers, I put some water in it as well.

Our garden is about done producing for the season,
I can tell you that I've had the best "fried green tomatoes" ever
{SEVERAL TIMES} for lunch.  ☺

It has been one of the best Summer's of my life this year.

This is our mini-forest of pines trees. 
Not so fun to mow around but hiding deep inside is {Shhhhh} a hammock,
Kevin likes to take his paper out there and read and relax...
I like to take my favorite decorating magazine out there and do the same!

This is our barn...and oh how I love red barns.
Oh what a peaceful scenery this is..... but inside is where
I like to hang out and work on my projects.
Can you see the windmill tower?  The windmill is gone but the tower still stands strong.
We have approximately 12 birdhouses now to hang up on the tower. 
I will share pictures after that project is done.

This is the playhouse.  It needs to be repainted {another project on my list}.  The grandkids love to hang out here, inside is a little kitchen with a table and chairs, stove, refrigerator, sink... fake food, dishes.... dolls, etc.  It even has a loft.... you can see the staircase through the door... AND it has SPIDERS... .so I am making a habit of spraying it when I spray inside my home.  The grandkids AND I...well, we don't like SPIDERS!

This is where Kevin and I relax after a LONG day...
or... on a Saturday or Sunday morning enjoying coffee. 
It's our favorite spot to be! 
Just a swang-en....and watching 1, 2 or maybe 3 cars drive by all night. 
Ahhhh.... lovin my little yellow home in the country ☺

~ Lisa ~