veggie paks

I can't wait until our veggie paks turn into garden paks...

when all our vegetables are fresh out of (someone's) garden.

Veggie paks are a summer favorite in our household...

throw in every vegetable you can identify and name

along with kielbasa and seasonings of your choice

 into an aluminum packet and bake on the grill

 approximately 30 minutes.

Remember, mix it up. b



paint daze

Had a paint day with sister today.

 Wow...this old body is sure out of painting shape.

And I did not come home fresh as a daisy, paint everywhere as usual.

The red paint on me makes me look like I was in a gun battle?

Painting is hard work and I'm not sure I would like doing it for a living.

But...it sure has me looking at my walls and thinking. b

feet alert

This cd

"RARE BIRD ALERT"
by Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

 should come with a warning...

Give your feet lots of room - they're gonna have to move!

If you like bluegrass music, or even if you don't...

 you will enjoy this cd.

It's definitely happy music.

Now I'm going to hop on my stationary bike

and see if I can pick up the pace with it. b

operator?

It's nice hearing from old friends...

sharing our lives...

granddaughter stories, wedding talk,

just catching up

b

alone

I come to the garden alone...



TGIF

Awww, Friday.

What's not to love about Fridays?

I've put in a full week on the job...

(and the fact that I have a job!)

It's summertime and the olive trees are still

 sending a little fragrance my way...

the yard needs mowing,

(I like to compare the riding lawn mower to a ride at an amusement park, FUN!)

Did I say amusement park?

Now where's that jar of honey from my sister's farm?

and her recipe for oatmeal honey raisin cookies...b



Meet Mac

I say if you're going to blow calories on macaroni and cheese...

make it worth it!

Barb's Homemade Mac 'n Cheese

8 oz. any type pasta, cooked

Bechamel sauce

Melt 2 T. butter in cast-iron pan

saute lots of chopped onions in butter

Whisk in 2 T. flour

keep whisking, add 2 cups milk and thicken (I like to add a little cream if I have it)

add mustard and ground pepper to your liking.

Stir in 2-3 cups cheese, I use whatever I have on hand, mix it up...

Add cooked pasta to sauce.

(now here's the secret...)

Keeping in cast iron pan, bake 30 min. in 350 oven

Sprinkle a little extra cheese over the top last 10 minutes.

mmmm, trust me, you'll never make boxed again! b

spa day

I'm determined to enjoy another cool rainy day here...

after all you never want to complain about rain in South Dakota.

(I'm trying to resist the urge to turn on the oven to bake homemade chocolate chip cookies)

This is what I'm doing today...

Barb's home spa recipe:

Put your favorite music on the stereo

it's Basia for me,

cut one of your prettiest roses,

 all this rain has really produced a bumper crop for me

fix a small plate of fresh fruit

and begin your facial...

be sure to use your fluffiest white towel

(you know, the one you stole from the last hotel you stayed in)

Now close your eyes and imagine yourself at your favorite place,

repeat after me, aummm...b



stops

It only takes two stops at two shops to make a great shopping trip for me...

Barnes and Nobles for a discount book and blogger magazine...

and Athena's Fibers for yarn in some bright summer colors.

Where's your favorite place to stop and shop? b



tennis anyone?

Nope, not playing tennis today.

Never liked it the few times I tried it.

Hint: Monday's are wash days right?

and these balls are going in the dryer to help fluff up my towels and clothes.

Maybe when I'm done with them I'll let daughter knit and pearl's dogs play chase with them?

Who knew tennis balls could be so versatile? b

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day

to a couple of my favorite 'dads'.

Who spent the day entertaining their biggest fans...

Our time at the pool was a big hit...

and they crowned their dad King for the day! b



Over the river...

Over the river...

(this could prove difficult in a lot of locations here in South Dakota

 with all the flooding from the Missouri river)

and through the woods...

(hopefully the mosquitoes don't carry me away, they're thick and huge)

Grandmother will go...

(I know, wrong lyrics but when they can't come to you...you go to them right?)

I plan on having a delightful weekend with lots of hugs.

Three-year-old granddaughters give the best hugs! b

berry good

berries on top of angel food cake...

like sunshine in my mouth. b



Pearl goes camping

Pearl says, "It's summer! Let's go camping"

Lucky for me we have this tent for the granddaughters

that I could put up in the living room and let Pearl go camping.

But now she's meowing about a sleeping bag and campfire! b



flag day

It's Flag Day

Commemorating the adoption of the flag of the United States

 by the Second Continental Congress in 1777

as a reminder of the freedom I take for granted...

b



greek

We had a Greek weekend...

Mr. b took this box of nuts and bolts and other small parts (Greek to me)

and managed to put them all in the right place to put up this new garage door...

He did a fantastic job!

Meanwhile I was turning 3 skeins of yarn (Greek to him)...

into a sweet summer sweater.

By the way...

I put Greek yogurt in our smoothies! b

butterflies

Did you know that you can catch anything you want with a butterfly net?

Even little yellow bunnies!

What's in your butterfly net? b



granny making squares

A new project...

I haven't crocheted granny squares since?

Well, since high school.

Remember when these were popular in the '70's?

I taught myself to crochet making these.

They were pretty groovy.

But no, I'm not making a granny square vest with these.

It will be a baby blanket after I get done making 60 of the small squares.

I love the colors blue and yellow.

I had a blue and yellow kitchen once...

I loved that kitchen too. b



ciao

 ciao sostenitore

We hit a farmers market recently and

I had to have this classico basil plant for my

zuppa di pomodoro basilico

(tomato basil soup).

The smell is fantastico!

arrivederci

b

smooth

I'm really digging pineapple banana smoothies these days.

Throw in some grated coconut...yum!

I wonder about a shot of rum? Maybe on my day off. b

saving the day

Someone mentioned super hero capes...

and it sounded like a fun weekend project.

I got right to it...

"UP UP and Away!"

b



gardener

It's always a good day when the sun is shining

and I can be outdoors doing a little gardening.

I love salmon colored geraniums.

Tomatoes, peppers and cabbage waiting to go in.

I know it's getting late to plant but I have a neighbor that has no smarts when it comes to putting weed chemicals on his lawn in the wind. I caught him spraying the other day and yes, we had words, or should I say I had a few words for him, ha. I will call him today to see if he is done spraying so I can get my garden planted.

This planter by our front door should be beautiful in a couple of weeks.

 I really mixed it up this year. b



a kite...

what's on your weekend agenda?

yard work as in mowing and gardening?

just don't forget to add a little relaxing to your list...b



rum anyone?

blueberry sour cream coffee cake hot out of the oven...

share? i'm smiling, it has a splash of rum drizzled over the top of it. b



salt scrub

My sister and I wandered into a bath shop in Orlando and loved the feel of their salt scrub at $30 a jar. We were pretty sure we could make our own and did. 

How to make your own salt scrub.

-1/2 cup oil. Use sweet almond, grapeseed or another light-textured massage oil.

 Don't use simple cooking oil from your pantry.

-1 cup fine sea salt. Baleine is a good choice.

 Don't use simple iodized table salt -- it's too harsh.

 If you have sensitive skin you can substitute sugar, which is gentler.

-5-15 drops high quality essential oils.

The essential oil you choose for your salt scrub depends on the result you want.

 Lavender is relaxing, lemongrass is refreshing and rosemary is stimulating.

 You can experiment and do you own blend.

Preparation:

Put the salt (or sugar) in a small bowl.

Add the oil, mixing well with a spoon or wooden stick. The texture should be moist enough to hold together, but not overly oily. You can adjust the amount of oil to achieve that texture.

Gently tap in the drops of essential oil and combine well. If you get more interested in aromatherapy you can customize your recipe using different essential oils.

So now you're ready to use your home-made salt scrub -- once a week is plenty.

This recipe should get you through three salt scrubs.

The three ingredients cost me a total of $16.76.

 That's under $6 a jar compared to the $30 we saw in the bath shop.

I'm enjoying my salt scrub and savings. b