Quote of the Week

photo from wikimedia

It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.  

- Henry David Thoreau

Several people can look at the the same scene, object, picture or person and, asked to describe what or whom they've seen, each relate a different description.  It's what we see in our surroundings and our friends that really counts.

Stepping into the Picture

A while back some of you may have seen this photograph on Sara Healy's blog, a sharing connection. This was from one of her Story Photo posts. She suggested that this picture had a story to tell. This is its story.

Photo courtesy of Sara Healy

Beyond the Obvious.  This picture talks to us.  Let’s see what it has to say.  We see things around us.  We see our houses, the passing cars, the flowers and the dog in the neighbor's yard.  All these are real.  We don't think about it, they just are.  They're things we can see, touch, smell and hear.  What about all the things we can't see?  Are they less real?  Do they not exist simply because we can't see them?  Ah, I've got you now.  We're taking a journey beyond the obvious into another world, the world of magical, mystical wonder.  The portal is guarded by two creatures, immortal, half man, half animal, not really belonging to either world.

What lies beyond?  As we pass through the portal, the sky appears to brighten and the lines of definition become fuzzy, taking on an ethereal quality, and nature sings with a voice beyond human ears.  It's not a frightening place, but at the same time we are aware that we're not alone.  This is a world where things are more sensed than seen or heard, a world inhabited by spirits. They are not the ghosts of humans passed, but rather they exist beyond time and space, eternal with no beginning or end.  They are keepers of the realm and the protectors of magic. They can take on physical shape much like the guardians or simply flow in harmony with nature and pass silently between worlds.

As we pass through this strange new place, we pause, reflective, and thoughtful.  This is a magical place.  There is wonder everywhere.  The sky is brighter, the grass greener, the air is alive.  We sense a movement ahead, and there among the trees is the most magnificent creature.  It is a horse-like animal with a single horn centered upon its head, bearing a striking resemblance to the mythological unicorn.  It is the purest white, wearing a blanket of red and gold tapestry.  Impossible!  We all know unicorns don't exist, but then again we're not in our world now.  This is the land beyond the obvious, and anything is possible.

The Battle Begins

Another Magpie Tale

 

My weapons are honed

Awaiting the light of day

Let us now begin






Please click beneath the picture for more magpie tales.

Got Mice?

No?  We did, well "mouse singular", we hope.  We'd just gotten back from a walk after dinner, and I was sitting at my desk doing bloggy stuff when out of the corner of my eye I glimpsed movement.  Rosie was in fast forward behind something small, round and brown, that was, fortunately moving faster than he was.  Out of my mouth spewed “oh my Lord”, and instantly I was up, scrambling for a flashlight to squint behind the refrigerator.  Ah, there he is.  One beady little eye looking back at me.  He's so cute!  Yeah, I know this is a disease-ridden rodent just waiting for the chance to nibble his way through my cereal.  Yikes, that stuff’s expensive.  Gotta get rid of the mouse!

By the time hubby emerged from the reading room (you guys know what that is, right?), our furry guest had come out, and having caught the attention of yet another cat, was now cowering under the stove.  Do you see something wrong with this story, or more specifically, with this mouse?  We live with three cats, one of whom lived outside for years, supplementing his daily helping of cat chow with critter parts.  This poor lil' mouse wouldn't stand a chance.

After exhausting our available options, including trying to entice him into a bucket with some cat food, we gave up and went to bed, leaving the mouse ensconced in his hidey place under the stove.  He was apparently settling in for a life of leisure and all the kibble he could eat, assuming he could survive the 3-foot journey to the cats' food.

So who won this little cat and mouse game?  We did!  We went out and got a Tomcat Live Catch Mouse Trap.  For less than $5 and a dab of peanut butter, we were able to trap and release our furry friend back to the wilds of our back yard.  So if you have uninvited mouse guests, I recommend this product for their safe eviction.

This recommendation is made solely from our own purchase and use of this product.

Restaurants.com 80% off Promotion - 3 Days Only!

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through June 10.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code SAVE when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2.

What a great way to eat out and save!   

Quote of the Week

photo from wikimedia

Whether you think you can or think you can't - you are right.  
- Henry Ford

This statement says so much about attitude and positive thinking.  If you believe you can do something, this attitude can propel you to success.  This doesn't mean that you will never fail, but if you go into something expecting to fail, you're already on that road.

I Sing No More

My songs are scattered

From shore to distant shore

Here I stand - alone

My dreams are shattered

I am done - I sing no more

I have turned to stone

Please visit Magpie Tales for more stories and poems.

Black Eyes and Tutus

What do black eyes, tutus and cookies have in common.  That's right, Kindergarten.  Back when I was a kid, kindergarten wasn't offered in the public school system.  Parents had to pay for their little ones to have juice and cookies with 20 of their closest friends, take tap and ballet lessons and perform for them in embarrassing pink tutus.

Now I envy those with crystal clear memories who can recount the most minute details from the time they were weaned, although many of those same people can't remember yesterday's lunch.  My own memories are scattered and vague, but here are some highlights from my kindergarten experience.

Drawing by Zeimusu

On day one we were lined up along the wall waiting...for what seemed like hours...for our 3-hour class to begin.  As time went on, I settled in, made friends, shared germs, and got my one and only black eye.  Yeah, who knew kindergarten was dangerous.  We all took turns running to see if the teacher was coming, and as fate would have it that day, I took my turn while another kid was running back.  Crack!  Our heads met with a thud producing instant tears and the ensuing shiner.  I'm sure it hurt, but I seem to remember thinking that if I cried, I might not get in trouble.  Hey, I've always been a "thinking" person.

Finally, we all know what great little germ spreaders kids are, right?  Well, before kindergarten, I'd had very little exposure to the outside world, so when I was suddenly corralled with 20 or so germy kids, 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, sharing God only knew what with each other, I caught everything going around.  I threw up so often that Mom knew what I meant when I said it felt like there was a snake in my tummy, and grabbed a bucket.

When I look back, I guess kindergarten wasn’t all bad.  After all there was juice and cookies.  What was kindergarten like for you (or your kids)?

Quote of the Week

Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending. - Author Unknown

Happy Memorial Day!  I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.  Let us all remember those who gave their lives that we might have the freedom to have a happy ending.

Memories: Magpie Tales #16

A Magpie Tales post.

The old oak boards, scarred and dusty, are now silent of footsteps.  Many generations had come and gone, walking or dancing, working or playing their way across these planks.  As I stand here staring at the floor, memories of a time nearly forgotten flood my mind.  I remember my grandmother, her work done for the evening, taking off her apron and hanging it neatly on a wooden peg next to the sink.  By the soft light of the lamp, she sat writing in her journal as she did every evening, recounting her day, sharing her thoughts on life, her children, her grandchildren.  

My grandfather had passed away some years before.  All the children had all married and moved away, and she lived alone in the house they had shared for so many years.  We would come to visit during the summers, and the house was alive again.  It was great fun to visit Grammy.  My cousins and I running in and out, banging the old screen door until it was nearly falling off its hinges.  We would drag our toys across the wooden floor leaving marks and scuffs, each adding to the scrapbook of life written upon the boards.

Grammy has been gone for many years, and the house now stands empty.  The boards upon which we played are dusty from disuse.  The only things left are Grammy's apron on the peg, and her shoes by the door.

Communication Bloopers

Today's post was inspired by this week's Quote of the Week on communication.  While good communication is key to understanding each other and keeping our relationships running smoothly, sometimes it's not what we say or how we say it, but what is understood that matters.  For instance, here's part of a conversation hubby and I had last night.  So we were in the car heading out to watch Ashley's son's musical presentation at his school, and we were discussing directions, etc.

Hubby:  "Do we want to take Reynolda?
Me:  "No, we can take Silas Creek to University.  Or we can go the same way we go to the Fair.  Do you need a refresher on that?"
Hubby:  "Nope, we go out Miller..."
Me:   "Remember where the bus thing fair took us to park?"  

Well now that didn't make sense, but before I could stop laughing and try again, he said "OK, yeah, I got it."  Strangely, he knew what I was trying to say.  Hmmm, that's a little scary considering how often my fully formed thoughts get mangled beyond recognition somewhere between my mouth and his ears as if they are bounced off of some creepy, thought-encrypting satellite.

What I'd meant to say was - do you remember where we parked and took the shuttle bus to the fair?  That's where we're going.

Sometimes, depending on who you're talking to, you can still make your point no matter how the words come out.  This stuff happens with us all the time, and he says "These things are funny.  You should write this down, this is good stuff".  Funny, eh, I don't know, but it keeps us laughing at ourselves and each other in a good way.  That's got to be a good thing, right?

I'll bet you have a few bloopers, too.  Care to share?

Down By The River

Our latest excursion took us to 421 River Park, a small park on the bank of the Yadkin River.  It is a small park, and its primary purpose is to allow access to the river for canoeing and fishing.  There are a few picnic tables, a horse shoe pit, volley ball and some swings.

From the park you have an excellent view of the river and the bridge on Hwy. 421 which crosses the river.

There were some interesting "decorations" on the bridge.

Someone even left an apology for their artwork.

Here is an interesting view of the bridge.  It reminds me of looking into mirrors and seeing multiple reflections.

This one shows bridge decoration the way nature intended it.  What you see here are what appears to be the nests of cliff swallows or barn swallows.  They build mud nests in very high, protected places.

This is a better picture than I could get, and it shows a clear view of the birds and the nest.  Looks like a full house!

Cliff Swallows - originally uploaded by Snowmanradio

Restaurants.com - New 80% Off Promotion

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through May 31.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code FLAG when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2.

What a great way to eat out and save!   

Quote of the Week

The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place."  

-  George Bernard Shaw

Successful communication is a two-way street, involving people speaking, listening and understanding what has been said.  There can be conversation without having communication, which can lead to misunderstandings and disagreements.

A, B, C, Zzzzzz!

Are you bothered by the occasional bout of insomnia?  Do you wake up after only a few hours, your mind suddenly shifting into into overdrive while your body lies exhausted, desperately yearning for sleep?  I have just the thing for you.  A brand new, untried and unproven method, guaranteed only to make you wonder if I've gone nuts from lack of sleep.

I came up with this on one of those nights.  Here's how it works.  You pick a letter of the alphabet, and start naming words that start with that letter.  Except maybe X and Z.  I mean after "zebra" and "xylophone" there's not much for your foggy, over-stressed 3 a.m. brain to work with. 

Catnip, canaries...Zzzzzz

This mental exercise will redirect your thoughts, and release your frazzled mind back to dreamland.  Just beware of the letter P.  I used that one night, when I was a little bit hungry.  I never realized how much food starts with "P" - potatoes, pancakes, pie, peanuts, pork - you get the idea.

But does it work?  I don't know, I fell asleep (coincidence?). You try it and let me know.

A Little Blog Humor

My hubby forwarded this cute blogging comic to me, and I thought I'd pass it on.

 
Original webcomic by xkcd.com

How true this is.  And, if you click on the link below the picture to go to the website, be sure and mouse over the picture for more of the story.

Quote of the Week

Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.

- St. Francis de Sales

Strength and gentleness are indeed important and desirable traits that make us more compassionate people.

Cat Nappin!

Cats are so helpful, aren't they?  Sophie was "helping" me make the bed the other day, except she stopped for a cat nap before we were done.  I went ahead and finished up without her.

Ummm.  See what a good nap will do for you.

Recycle-cat

What's for Dinner?

A while back I gave you my tried and true method for boiled eggs, and it really does work - that is when you follow directions.  Now if you plop the eggs into the pot and crank the burner up on high, you're following directions.  But if you then go switch on the mind-numbing, I-can't-hear-a-thing vacuum cleaner and proceed to clean in the next room, well, I can't be responsible.  Oh wait, that was me (hangs head in shame).  When I had to shut the vacuum off to move to another room, as I'm limited by my 16-foot cord, I heard something that jogged me back to the present.  There was rattling and a weird hissing sound coming from the kitchen.  Water was bubbling over onto the burner, and the eggs were crying out that it wasn't enough to be boiled alive, but their little bodies were being badly beaten, too. 

I quickly turned off the heat, and figured since they'd had been at a hard boil for several minutes, they would be over cooked if I left them on the burner.  So in my effort to salvage the eggs, I pulled them off and set my timer for the usual 15 minutes.  This is what I got.

Eggs - medium well.  Unfortunately, they weren't suitable for my potato salad, but it wasn't the end for these eggs.  No siree!  I'd find a way to use them, and I came up with a plan.  This was last night's dinner.

I started with one large baking potato, scrubbed and diced.

And about 1 cup of chopped onions.

I cooked the potatoes and onions together over low to medium heat, and added salt and pepper.

In another pan I cooked 1/2 pound of "hot" breakfast sausage, and when it was browned I added the eggs and chopped them into the sausage.

I combined everything into one baking dish, topped with shredded cheddar, and warmed in the oven until the cheese melted.

It was pretty tasty, especially considering what inspired the dish.  Sometimes accidents are the mother of invention.

A Little Sunday R&R

I thought I'd share some of our recent wanderings.  This was an afternoon filled with fun, relaxation and beauty.  

This is the sign for Flint Hill Vineyards.  We were out there weekend before last for a tasting.  They have some really nice wines, and my favorite is their Viognier.  

Here is what they say about it:   Picked at the height of ripeness.  Our Viognier is aged in stainless steel and has the perfect mix of fruit and floral notes.  The wine sets itself apart with juicy peach and apricot flavors.  Try this wine chilled with your favorite light dish or on your back deck at evening sunset.

 

This is the family home as it was restored.  Much of it, however, is still original.  It houses both the tasting room and the Century Kitchen restaurant.  You can read more about this here.

On our round about way to Flint Hill, we came across this interesting mailbox dressed up like a grasshopper.

Later that same day we visited Reynolda Gardens to look at the flowers.  This is a peony, and a bumble bee going in for a pollen sample.

There were many varieties of peonies, some with with big, full flowers like these.

To ones like this with a single layer of petals, and another little bee sampling the goods.

Restaurants.com Gift Certificates Now 80% Off

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through May 13.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code ENJOY when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2.

What a great way to eat out and save!   

Quote of the Week

True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.  

 - William Penn

This statement holds much truth that in my youth I did not believe.  Quite often now silence is truly golden.

And You Thought It Was His Car?

In the month or so since Easter, I've had several opportunities to drive hubby's new car, so I thought I'd post some of my impressions and observations.  First off, I didn't beg or finagle it away from him, he just prefers the extra 5 mpg from his 15-year old Saturn, and it does make a difference on his 40 mile (each way) commute to work.  I kid him that he let's me drive it so I'll wash it for him.

Now for the technical stuff.  Although the Accord is less than 6 inches shorter and only 250 pounds lighter, it drives like a much smaller, lighter car than the Cutlass Supreme I'd been driving for the last 12 years.  It has great visibility, and maneuverability, and is rather peppy.  I say that last part because it's the first four-cylinder car I've driven except for test drives. 

Some of my favorite things:

• Comfy leather seats
• Sunroof
• Nice two-section console
• The color

Some things I miss:

• No thermometer for inside or outside temperature.
• The doors do not lock automatically when you put it in gear.
• The doors do not open without physically unlocking them.

Overall, I do like it, and in spite of the few differences, the driving experience is still quite similar to my recently deceased Oldsmobile.  The downside is that there isn't anything distinctive about its appearance - I mean, there's got to be a zillion gold Accords out there. 

Stretching Your Dollar

We've talked a lot about how to get the most out of your coupons at the grocery stores, drug stores, Walmart and Target.  Perhaps you've been wondering where else you can use your coupons.  There are some "discount" stores such as Family Dollar and Dollar General that will accept them, and others like Big Lots and Dollar Tree that will not. 

Family Dollar accepts all manufacturer coupons, including internet printed coupons, according to their coupon policy.  Some highlights:

• No overage given when coupon is greater than item purchased.
• You may stack manufacturers coupons with store coupons.
• Buy-one-get-one-free coupons are accepted.
• No free item coupons unless purchase required (BOGOF).

Dollar General accepts all manufacturer coupons, including internet printed coupons, according to their coupon policy.  Some highlights:

• Buy-one-get-one-free coupons are accepted.
• No free item coupons unless purchase required (BOGOF).

Dollar Tree does not accept any manufacturers coupons.

Big Lots does not accept any manufacturers coupons.  They only accept the Big Lots printable coupons available to Buzz club members.

Note:  Dollar Tree (all items $1.00), Dollar General and Family Dollar are different stores.  Dollar General and Family Dollar are NOT "dollar stores", and prices vary.

As always, please review the coupon policy for each store, and use coupons accordingly. 

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

This is a reminder that Saturday, May 8, is Stamp Out Hunger day, the nation's largest one-day food drive.  Just leave a bag of non-perishable food items next to your mailbox.  Your letter carrier will pick these up and deliver them to area food banks or pantries.

It doesn't get any easier.  You don't even have to go anywhere.  So let's round up our extra cans of soup or boxes of cereal, pasta or peanut butter and help make a difference.

Quote of the Week

Better late than not at all! 

Friendship is like a prism through which the many variations of beauty are revealed in our lives.
- anonymous 
 

We are all made up of many facets, some of which we cannot see.  As the prism separates light into colors, looking through the eyes of friends can bring out all the spectacular colors of our lives.

I Entered a Contest

I have some exciting news to share.  I entered a contest on Ba-Bootie, a delicious food blog featuring South African recipes, and the prize was free ad space for 30 days on his blog.  Did I let the fact that I didn't have a completed ad stop me?  No, I identified the pictures and submitted my entry.

Now I didn't expect to win, 'cause I just don't win contests, scratch-off lottery tickets have produced a few bucks, but honest-to-goodness contests, not so much.  

So, this morning after breakfast I settled down to check out things in the blogosphere.  I signed into Tribal Blogs, a community of serious bloggers, found the winners had been announced, and headed over to Ba-Bootie to see who won.  At this point, you see, I hadn't even checked my e-mail, which held the "winner" notification.  OK, gimme me a break, it's Sunday morning and things move a little slowly around here, including me.  As I scrolled down through the pictures I saw that Alison of "Being Me" had won.  But wait, there's more.  That's right, there was second space up for grabs.  There's another winner, and it's me!

I immediately ran shouting to my husband, I Won!  I Won!  You know that contest I entered for free ad space? I Won!  Needless to say, I was excited.   Now y'all need to visit Ba-Bootie and check out all his yummy-looking recipes.  I'm looking forward to making some myself!

Nature's Sun Catchers

When the late afternoon sun gets together with the fresh green leaves it creates a magic that demands you drop what you're doing and grab your camera.  That's just what I did.  Dinner could wait, but the sun had nearly completed it's westward journey for the day.  Enjoy!

Looking West

Dark clouds make the trees look even brighter.

The tree tops are glowing.

A stately Locust tree.

Sun Dance

Bits and Pieces

I thought I'd share some bits and pieces from the last few days.  Saturday we attempted, once again, to spread weed and feed on the yard, and once again it clumped up in the spreader.  This was a bag that was left over from a couple years ago.  A word of advice...buy just what you'll use, and use it soon.

I love clouds, especially the wild, stormy looking ones this time of the year.

 

   

Spring Clouds

The best of buds

Bun let me snap a quick picture of her.  She belongs to our friends Bruce and Dixie.  We enjoyed a wonderful evening at their house Sunday.  

Bun

Here is Doodle hanging out with his favorite human.  I'm in the race for second place.

DH and the Dood

While I was mowing the yard this afternoon, I spotted my first Iris bloom of the season.  This is my favorite color Iris.

 Purple Iris

Quote of the Week

I nod to a passing stranger, and the stranger nods back, and two human beings go off, feeling a little less anonymous.

-  Robert Brault

An act of kindness, no matter how small, even just a nod or a smile, can brighten someone's day and ultimately our own.  Let's take a moment today and give it a try.

Restaurants.com 80% Off Promotion - limited time!

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through April 26.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code MEAL when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2. 

What a great way to eat out and save!   Offer Extended Until April 30.

A Good Egg!

With the picnic season just around the corner, and all the ways we use eggs (e.g. egg salad, potato salad and deviled eggs), I got to thinking about how many variations there must be for achieving the perfect hard boiled egg.  I've read about people steaming them, and even pressure cooking them.  I haven't tried either of these methods, and I'm not here to bring you everyone's tried and true approach to the perfect egg - just mine.

This is the way my mom taught me to make boiled eggs with a twist of my own.  Place your eggs in a pan of cold water with the lid on, and turn the burner to high.  Set your timer for 15 minutes, and watch closely.  As soon as the water comes to a boil, turn the burner off and start the timer.

When the eggs are done, drain and rinse with cold water.  Run more cold water into the pan and let it set a couple minutes.  Drain the water, replace the lid and shake vigorously, holding the lid on.  The eggs will peel nicely and have a perfect yolk.  So give this one a try and see for yourself that boiled eggs are as easy as 1-2-3.

Here are some more tips for boiled eggs:

• Older eggs (3-5 days) will peel better than fresh eggs.  (Never a problem here)
• Do not add salt to the water.  This raises the boiling point of water and may make the whites rubbery.
• Room temperature eggs are less likely to crack, and take approximately one minute less to cook than eggs right from the refrigerator.
• A TB of vinegar added to the water will prevent the white from running out of any egg that happens to crack.  However, this can affect the taste.
• Overcooked eggs may produce a green ring around the outer surface of the yolks.

Basic Egg Salad 
The recipe is simple and consists of boiled eggs, mayonnaise and salt & pepper.  Other add-ins include onions, pickles, celery, mustard, dill, and bell pepper. 
 

Friends, Fun, Food (and wine of course)

It was quite a weekend filled with joy and laughter, old friends and new places.  Saturday, was our anniversary, and after going to three stores to chase down cypress mulch, we joined our Cheers friends for another fabulous wine dinner.  Dine by Design catered with their usual delicious style.  Here was our menu and the accompanying wines.

King Salad (shrimp & avocado on lettuce w/spicy dressing)
2008 Ulrich Langguth Riesling ($12.99 at Total Wine)

Pork Loin w/raspberry chipotle sauce
2007 reserve Oak Grove Zinfandel ($7.99 at Total Wine)

Marinated Beef Tenderloin
2008 Columbia Valley Merlot ($9.49 at Costco)

Noodles Romanoff
2008 Mirassou Pinot Grigio ($7.99 at Costco)

Rum Cake
2008 Doulce France Vouvray ($9.99 at Total Wine)

Everything was wonderful, but my favorite dish was the pork loin, and my favorite wine was the Merlot. 

But the fun didn't stop there.  Sunday Kevin and Ashley took us to Raffaldini Vineyards and Winery.  It is about an hour north of here on US 421.  The view from their Italian-style villa was just amazing.  We had a beautiful, clear day with barely a cloud in the sky.  

 Upstairs on the piazza.

 A view of the mountains beyond the vineyard.

A beautifully landscaped rose garden.

On the way to the villa.

Patio overlooking the vineyard.

This was another wonderful day.  Since it was getting late and they closed at 5:00, we decided to forego the wine tasting and just enjoyed the nice weather, the scenery and the company.  We watched people parachuting in the distance like tiny specks against the bright sky.  

We did get a couple bottles of their Vermentino.  This is a refreshing white wine, delicious with seafood and shellfish and mild cheeses.  I look forward to going back and tasting all their wines.

Back in town, we wrapped up our day with dinner at Applebee's.  Today was quite a treat, and ended too soon.  Sharing good times, and good food with good friends was a great way to celebrate our anniversary weekend.

 

Quote of the Week

Aerodynamically the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumble bee doesn't know it, so it goes on flying anyway.  

- Mary Kay Ash

If a little bumble bee can accomplish the "impossible" imagine what you can do?