As The Seasons Change - New for 2024 on Rosie B. Designs

Front Cover

My 2024 calendar is out on Rosie B. Designs. I bought one so I could see for myself what it looked like in print. Here is a preview of a couple months and the cover. These are just cell phone pics, so eh.

However, the quality of the printing and the materials is very good. I got the large, and believe me when I tell you, it is large. [Note to self, get a smaller size next time.] 

Keep in mind that these dimensions are closed. The length will be double when open, so plan for your space when you order. There is a link below so you can see all 12 months, and your options for style, wire color, etc.

All pictures are my original digital artwork as indicated on the back cover.

Small: 5.5”l x 7”w

Medium: 8.5”l x 11”w

Large: 11”l x 14.25”w

 

April

 July

 Link to calendar on Rosie B. Designs

This Is A Wrist?

Hubby had a medical test this morning, and when he returned home we had breakfast. After we had eaten and chatted for a bit, he pondered the question, "Do you suppose it's time for me to take this [elastic bandage] off of my wrist?"

To which I responded, "I do believe that your wrist has moved."

Wow! You go for a minor medical test and unbeknownst to you, your body parts have been rearranged. It makes you wonder just what was in that stuff. I think I'll stay out of hospitals. 

A Walk in the Park

With Christmas just around the corner, let's take a step back in time and drive down a peaceful country road and enjoy the fall leaves as they near their peak.

We had taken a day trip to Hanging Rock Park in Danbury to have lunch at the River Rock Cafe (their French Dips are definitely a treat) and do a little walking. 

After lunch, we headed to the park. It was a spectacularly nice day for the third week in October with barely a cloud in the sky, and the leaves were gorgeous. We walked out onto the fishing dock where a guy was fishing and another couple was strolling around and taking pictures.

Next, we made our way to the huge shelter just above the lake. There was a cool breeze coming through the large "windows" which are just openings in the wall. We sat in large Adirondack chairs and chatted with another couple who chose rocking chairs.

Eventually we excused ourselves to go walking before it got too late. We chose a short loop walk, relishing the chance to be outdoors and back to nature even for a short while. I got the video clip on the way out of the park. It's not great quality, but it is a nice reminder of a fun afternoon.

Always remember to make some time for the fun things...it's all about balance.

How To Save Money On Your Food

Are those pesky "best by" dates getting you down, hinting that you should discard the product or suffer dire consequences?  I'll let you in on a little secret. They are just guidelines for maximum freshness and have zero to do with product safety.

Example #1: This is spaghetti that I obviously purchased in April of 2017. This has been in kept in my cabinet in it's original packaging ever since. It has a best by date of December 6, 2018.

Now note the date I opened it...October 3, 2023. That is six and a half years, folks. Now you know. Don't worry if you find a package that has apparently gone walkabout and just now shows up for dinner. It's okay! 

Need more proof? Example #2:

A can of corned beef hash.

Purchased in May, 2015.

It has a best by date of March 15, 2018.

So what did I do? Well, let me see... I cooked it and we ate it. Guess what happened next? Nothing!

If your can is not severely rusted or dented so as to damage the seal and is not leaking, open it. If it doesn't spew, give it a sniff. Does it smell like it is supposed to? Yes, then prepare it and enjoy!

Note: Any time a canned product is bulging, leaking, spews when opened or smells bad, toss it immediately.

The majority of your canned food will last significantly longer than the date printed on the can. As for pastas and rice, kept dry and away from pests, they will last for many years. 

Now, how to save money on your food. Stop throwing out food because of the "best by" date. Use your eyes and nose. If the can and food look good, smell good and didn't forcibly eject itself from the can when you opened it, you're good to go. 

The same is also true for your peanut butter, mustard, mayo, ketchup and hot sauces.

This has been a public service presentation that will save you money in the long run with prices going nowhere but up.

Here is a useful source of information. 

What about the foods in your pantry? Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the ‘best by’ date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor. You’ll know when you open the package if the food has lost quality. Many dates on foods refer to quality, not safety. See FSIS’ Shelf-Stable Food Safety fact sheet for more information.

A Pleasant Fall

This picture was taken a few weeks ago at the Old Homeplace Vineyard. It is a lovely setting and a great place to sit and relax with a nice glass of wine and enjoying the amazing view.

Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and for the most part it's still T-shirt weather in my part of the country. It is also very dry. Hubby cleaned the yard of leaves the other day, and the dust cloud was enormous. He said we should probably offer the neighbors gift cards to the car wash. I used the leaf blower to get enough dust off of him so he could come inside. He went to the basement to finish cleaning off with the vacuum cleaner...shoes, socks, jeans, etc. At that point, he could take a shower.

Yes, it was that dusty. We are hoping for a little rain early next week.

This is pizza night! What that means here, to anyone, not familiar with our tradition, is that every other Friday night I make homemade pizza. So, at this point, the dough is rising and we eagerly await the deliciousness.

Some of the men of our church are putting on a short play during the men's breakfast tomorrow. I've seen them run through it five times during rehearsals and it is good and funny, although not a comedy. The guy who plays the director asked me if I was a glutton for punishment. Eh, why not.

If this seems a bit on the rambling side, it's not your imagination. It is exactly that. I'm just trying (again) to revive this blog of mine. Please drop a note in the comment section if you stumble across this.