LOVING FRIDA, Shining Star: January 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

What Is Coming Up In The Winter Garden

I stopped by Manuelita's blog over at: http://thepleasuresofhomemaking.blogspot.com/ and she inspired me to post about what is coming up in the garden at the present time. Manuelita always posts about good stuff pertaining to home, baking, cooking and all that good stuff.

So I went outside and looked around because I knew I had bulbs popping out somewhere, but just didn't go way out in back. Too long of a walk and I didn't want to take advantage of one painless day on my knees. I did take a few pix and it's always so much fun uploading them and sharing with you. The bad part of it is I can't take good pix. The even worse part of it is that as I was coming back in the house, I decided to take a picture of the finished Little Lady Carmenita and so I hung it on a nail in the washroom where there was more light and poof!! Just like that, I dropped my Kodak Digital Camera c530 and it splattered. Batteries went flying and parts of the door just broke in pieces. Half of the little door stood on the camera.

There is no way I am going to be able to fix that. I did manage to put part of the door back on and placed the camera on it's dock and we'll see if I can upload pix. So now I'm sad because my ever faithful digi has gone kerplunk. Ayeeeeeeee! I have to save my money if I want another camera. I'm being very frugal but this is a necessity as I am always taking pix. I have thousands of pictures uploaded to my pictures file and they were all done with my itsy teensy bitty digi camera. ::sob:: So I just checked above and it did upload my pictures. I can breathe a sigh of relief for a little while anyway. I'm sure I won't be able to take pictures with it because I can't hold the batteries in. Maybe I can tape them. I'll try that. Masking tape or something.

My camelias will be blooming soon and they get a lot of flowers. I have two trees.

Garlic is starting to grow and I usually give a lot away. It will be a while before it is ready.

Geraniums always seems to want to be in the picture. This one here looks like it's asleep.

Of course good old faithful lemon tree that always gives us plenty. I love to pick the lemons.

I think this is parsley, but not doing too good. It's last years plant.

Bulbs of sorts along with shallots and onions

Oregano from last year. It came back and that is always awesome.

This is more oregano of a different type. I use it a lot.

I think is again is more oregano along with some thyme and green onions.

Bulbs from last year making their way towards life ready to try and get what sun they can. At present there is none. Poor babies. So there you have my pix of what is coming up little by little. I'm sure there are more plants out back making their way up like greens and stuff. Oh well. I will be back.

Viva La Vida

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Views of different rooms

Stephanie over at her blog: http://rodrigvitzstyle.typepad.com/ had this great post about:
"A view of her own." She got the idea for this project from an associate of hers and the idea is to share views from one's studio. Well it's definitely a great idea if you have a view and I hope she doesn't mind my borrowing the idea. My only views from my studio would be the chicken coop out in back, the clothesline, the side of the fence, and through the other window, the other side of the fence and the neighbor's side of the house. Not a very good view but if I knew how to take pix, I might be able to make it interesting.

So instead of the studio, I took different views from inside the house just to see what different points I could come up with. I've uploaded 5 of the 22 pictures I took for fun. Maybe later when I am in the studio I will try to take photos from different angles. I'm not experienced in the art of photography but Stephanie really takes great pix. So today I got all the paperwork ready for tax prep on the 11th of Feb and I'm glad that is almost done. I did a little bit of eye work on one of the ladies and tonight I'm working on a little carton jewelry box. I've painted it and am adding some jewels or whatever they are called. I hope your evening is great and that the day went well for you. I leave now with my usual VIVA LA VIDA.

This cross is in my kitchen. I bought it a few years back at a yard sale for 50 cents. I love it.

My pantry room as usual full of different things. I tried to straighten it out the other day but.....

The northerly side of my kitchen where an abundance of things need to be put away as is visible.

We have 3 doors. Front door, northerly side door above and back door facing west.

One southerly wall and I am planning on re-painting this living room this spring. Some of my Frida paintings and in the mirror image is another. Front door.

Front window looks out towards the east and a vacant field across the street. When it is foggy, you can't see the field. It really looks neat.

I dislike this skylight very much. It has a crack on the plastic glass and has to go. Spring maybe.

Part of my living room which needs dusting and TLC of which I find it hard to do these days.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

FRUGALITY, MY WORD OF THE YEAR BEING PRACTICED.

I am seriously trying to keep my word about being frugal. I have shopped for groceries for the month and that is it. By the month I mean I won't be shopping for food until February 27th. So yesterday I went and bought what I had on my list and tried vcry much to count not calories but dollars. I figure that we may need the simple things like milk, a few potatoes, and bread during the month and hopefully not. We have everything we need in our freezer and pantry.

My Simple List of Groceries For The Month

flour, a large sack
beans, a big bag
rice, a big bag
bacon 3 packages canned tomatoes, I still have some frozen from summer
beef franks 4 bags
lean ground beef, 3 bags, to be separated
chicken tenderloins 2 bags separated and bagged
bell peppers, can be sliced and cubed and frozen
sugar 2 bags
white hominy
chicken wings 2 bags, separated and frozen
onions, white
onions, spanish- onions can be diced and put into containers and frozen
corn muffin mix, the cheap one 4 pack
canola oil
4 cans re fried beans for my lazy days
mixed veggies for the freezer 3 bags
butter 2 containers
1 large jar of olive oil
pasta-fusilli 1 box
spaghetti 1 box
potatoes 1 sack
milk 2 large gallons
2 large bags of corn tortillas, to be separated and frozen

I know it seems like a simple list but we already have meats frozen, soups, soaps, paper towels and the other paper things. So we are fixed for the month. We eat simple most of the time and we are trying to cut down on meat. I make my own tortillas and sometimes french bread and the little rolls and biscuits, so we didn't need that. Now that is being frugal. I was planning on making menudo for super bowl, but I forgot the meat part. Oh well, there's always tacos.

I WILL NOT SHOP NEEDLESSLY AND SPEND MONEY WHEN I DON'T NEED TO.

one potato, two potato, three potato...:) So there you have it, shop only when needed.

Just A Quick Note To Let You Know

Everyone love contests and really wants to win. Renee at http://paintedskyline.blogspot.com/
is having a contest to celebrate her 100 subscriber's on YouTube and wants you to be a winner or at least one of you.

Renee's work is great. She works with different crafts, so stop by her blog and see what she is giving away. I just did and wanted you to know about her contest. I haven't really been visiting too much because I've been busy doing other things, so this was the first time I got to read some postings at different blogs.

Just wanted to let you know.

On another note, I'm just about done with my Little Ladies of the Kitchen and I won't be using beeswax on them after all. I need to experient with the product first. I'll just use a matte spray instead. It's fun experimenting. I've added their hooks and they look so cute, ready to be hung up and also added their names to their aprons. Once they are dry, I'll post then again and try for a better photo. Carmenita, Rosita, Idalia, and Simonsita are almost ready. They are supposed to be like cooks, I suppose...since they have their aprons on and are ready to go to work.

Oh well I'll be back later, just wanted to let you know about the above giveaway. I love giveaways. Take care and be back later.

VIVA LA VIDA!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Well, Some Marmalade Done And Lots More To Do

Okay some lemons, oranges, habanero, cointreau, an orange liqueur, sugar-I forgot to take picture, sure jell, some orange gel setter, small plastic containers to be frozen, and me and also me and my dog. So that's what I did today. I still have a lot more to do. It was a good day, but I didn't get out to the studio to have fun. Instead......But you know what, it will be good when I can get in the freezer and pull an orange marmalade with a little bite from the habanero and spread it on toast or use it as a glaze for barbecue. I really love it when I feel fulfilled. Have a great evening and I'll be back. Viva La Vida!!

I forgot to mention that this marmalade is definitely a winner. I took a spoon of it and right away tasted the orange, the lemon and it had a nice velvety feel going down my throat and then the bite of habanero. OOOOh I am in heaven. It was so good I wanted to set up a stand out in front and have people taste it. Thanks for listening, I feel good now.

ORANGE MARMALADE WITH HABANERO

Carolyn a fellow blogger and very talented artist from http://floresoriginals.blogspot.com/ wanted to know how to make orange marmalade so this is how I do it, and the video above is a great way too.

Orange/Habanero Marmalade

It depends on how many oranges you have. Right now we have about 25 oranges that I am using for marmalade. It's just a basic recipe. This recipe is for two oranges.

oranges
water -for two oranges you would use abut 3/4 cup water, if you have more then it changes.
5 ½cups sugar - I know it's a lot of sugar but it's needed for setting as well. You can use splenda.
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 pouch liquid fruit pectin
1/2 Habanero, chopped , depends on how much heat you like.

Section oranges, reserving the peel. Dice the sections and measure 1 cup of sections. Peel and discard approximately half of the white membrane from the orange peel. Slice the remaining peel into very thin slivers. Place the peel slivers and the ¾ cup water into a large saucepan. Bring peel to a boil. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add orange sections (including juice) and chopped peppers to peel mixture. Stir sugar into fruit mixture and allow to stand for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and fruit pectin. Stir lemon juice and pectin mixture into fruit mixture. Stir for 3-5 minutes. Ladle immediately into sterilized containers and seal.

Instead of sealing the marmalade using the water canning method, you can use freezable containers and store in the freezer for up to six months or in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. Or you can just follow the instructions above. This person has a good way as well and it seems quite easy.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Food and stuff

For some reason today Sunday was extra quiet. It started out good and slowly went kerplunk.

I don't know why. I did manage to do my duties and cook dinner. I wanted to do my first experiment with beeswax but just didn't get around to it. Oranges for marmalade. I will add habanero for a bite. Chili verde cooking and then done and of course rice. Sometimes days can be sad days. We can't have good days all the time. I spent the day washing clothes, cleaning out my pantry room and just thinking all day long. Now it is evening and I think I will pour myself a small glass of wine. It might lift my spirits.

Tomorrow will be a better day. None the less, life is good.

Viva La Vida!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

IHOP'S ON A SATURDAY MORNING

IHOP'S

cartoon type

esposo cartoon type, he doesn't like to take pix.

Well it was early this morning when the alarm accidentally went off at 6am. My esposo forgot to reset. Well since I woke up early on a comfortable warm under the blankets kind of thing, I decided to stay up. I jumped in shower, looked for something to wear and tried my best to look cute since I'm not pretty any longer. I was kind of pretty once. As age has come along so have changes.

Oh well, you can't win them all.

I grabbed an empty paper towel tube holder and went and stood by the end of the bed and started tooting my horn and telling my husband that IHOP's pancake house was waiting for us. My esposo looked at me and then at the clock and covered his head. I yanked on the blankets and told him to "get up, or I'll go have pancakes without you." He got up quick. After he was nice and clean we jumped in the car and left. I didn't really jump in the car because of my bad knees, but I wanted to make it sound like I was a young whipper snapper. (hehe)

So the pictures above are where we went. We did go to Walmart afterwards and then stopped at Home Depot to pick up a cutter of sorts for the trees in back. The day has just gone by too fast as well as the month. It won't be long before I'll be wishing everyone a Merry Christmas again. Lord have mercy. Time does fly. Quick let's hurry and do what we have to do in life.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Friday and all is well

Good morning America and every other country. I'm ready to do a little painting. I've been noticing how each painting blog I visit is somewhat different and yet how some relate to each other in style, if that's the right word. Every painter has their style. I definitely do not consider myself a great painter and I certainly couldn't sell my "stuff." and I'm not even sure what you call my style, except that it is mixed media, but that's not a style.

I do sell garden art when I have enough pieces cut out, sanded, primed, and painted. It's a lot of work though, and I just don't have the time. I tried my hand at a different style and frankly I can't. I have to paint the way "I" paint and everyday is a learning process. I do learn tricks of the trade from fellow art blogger, and that is always a great thing. There are some excellent artists on blogger. I'm really glad I found their blogs, because it is always interesting to see what they have going on.

On another note, I'm finally getting around a bit and that helps. Hopefully I can get to the grocery store and buy bread for next week. I've been trying to not eat at all till after lunch and so far so good. I want something different for dinner so I have to get my cook's hat on and think on it. With my thinking hat, I still can't think of what to make for dinner without it being too heavy. I do have to cook beans so I will get on that right now. I'll be back later, have a great day.

Viva La Vida

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Mermaids and the fun of it all

I ran across this very nice video of a mermaid swimming. I wanted to dedicate it to my friend Carmen over at http://heartandsoulgardening.blogspot.com/ who is all about mermaids. She just loves mermaids and what they represent. She is always doing something for someone. and never asks anything in return. Happy mermaid to you Carmen and to all women who wish they were a mermaid.

Wouldn't that be fun. This particular mermaid made her own mermaid suit. She has a another video on how to make the suit. I doubt I ever would, but hey life is all you want to in life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FATHER DEAR, DAD, SWEET KIND DAD

My daddy in 2006, sitting on a chair in my rental in San Jose which was vacant at the time.

He's having a conversation with my esposo and if I remember correctly they were discussing the work put into renovating the rental. We had picked my dad up for breakfast and stopped at the house to check on it.

Dad always listened intently and took in people's words. He was a great listener as well as a happy man who loved to tell jokes. I have previously written about my dad in a previous post so I just wanted to add a little more about him.

Dad was pointing to the house across the street and wondering how much it had rented for. It had been for rent a few months back.

And of course my dad's house where he lived since the beginning of the 50's. I wrote about this house in a previous post. There were about 8 rose trees lined up where that first rose tree begins and my esposo put them all in. They also were on the other side. That's my car in the driveway.

I WILL CAPITALIZE ALL MY LETTERS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE HOW IMPORTANT AND VIBRANT MY DAD WAS. HE WILL BE GONE TWO YEARS THIS AUGUST 17. IT SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY. I JUST WANTED TO TELL MY DAD,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN 96 YEARS OLD TODAY. I LOVE AND MISS YOU AND WILL ALWAYS HOLD YOU IN MY HEART. LOVE AND KISSES TO YOU.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

TYLENOL FOR ARTHRITIS

So one of my blogger friends, Renee of http://circlingmyhead.blogspot.com suggested that I take Tylenol Arthritis for my pain. I was planning on it and finally when the pain got to bad, I mentioned it to my esposo, the Tylenol that is. Well sweetheart that he is, he rushed out the door to go just about a couple of blocks to Walgreens. Sometimes he can be a dear heart, well he always is. So anyway I took a couple this morning and actually I am walking around a lot better than little itsy bitsy steps as I described them before. I am now taking slow but full steps. I just wanted to post this not because I'm advertising but I wanted to thank Renee who is a dear person. Thank you Renee, I feel a lot better.

I'm washing clothes, I can go down the 3 steps, I'm making homemade soup for dinner and I do honestly feel better. I'm just being careful not to walk too fast. Unfortunately I haven't been to Curves all week long, but I won't worry about that right now. Yay for Renee.

I'll be back later.

Viva La Vida

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

I GOT MY LAPTOP and on INAUGURATION DAY.

YAY IT CAME! I have been waiting for this and now my birthday present came. My birthday was on the 12Th but yay it came on inauguration day. Way to go! I have pix and as you can see I am exited and you'll see a box here, there and a mess. IT'S RED! I was so excited about the inauguration and I knew I was getting my computer today so this was the perfecto day.

I'm so happy I could sing a song. "Hail To The Chief."

So I spent the morning watching the boob tube, and this extraordinary day. I hobbled around making some cream of wheat. My doggie wouldn't eat her regular food, so I gave her cream of wheat and she gobbled it. It won't hurt her. It's not on the list of foods NOT to give your pet family member. I have to paint. I have that need and can't get outside, but in maybe a few days I'll get back out there. I'm going to have my esposo bring in the cut out ladies so that I can primer them indoors.

I feel an excitement in the air and it's mind boggling. I have to go charge my computer now, I think I know how to put the charger on and I want to see the parade. Our new president is actually very handsome. Have a great evening. I'll be back. Photos are not in order unless you start at the bottom.

VIVA LA VIDA!!!!!

I inserted a pix of my happy face. "Gloria happy with computer." That's what it says on my jaw. It's not big enough. Don't look at my wrinkles or inside my nose. You might be surprised.