OH PLEASE MR. OFFICER!

Mornin’! How are you doing today? I’m quite tired really. Mom and I were running the roads and consulting with stoned rabbits who carry my pretty colored eggs and rudely hide them from me! LOL Just kidding… I love the Easter Bunny. He brings me chocolate… and I like chocolate! It was an interesting day for sure!



My day started rather early, as you know. Once I completed my blog, I was in the kitchen and I just HAPPENED to notice all the seedling sprouts from the second batch of seeds my daughter and I planted! Even in the little croissant containers, there are sprouts! We have watermelon, peas, beef steak tomatoes, red cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, and a zucchini! If it’s pretty today, I will be transferring the older seedlings from batch one into 4in. pots and starting ANOTHER batch of seeds! I am shooting for my first plant sale in mid May. I want to have at least 50 small 4 inch pots and then some yuccas, sagos, etc. to offer.

So after I got all freakydeek about the seedlings LOL, I left to go pick up mom. DH had daddy duty so I made sure he was up and moving and alert LOL! I picked up mom and we started our day going to Jack in the Box to grab a drink cause it was a humid and sticky day! Well… it just so happens, there was a State Trooper in the next lane who just “happened” to notice a burnt out turn signal… UGH! So sure enough, as I turned left, he flipped on those bright lights and pulled me over! I gave him the “tender woman… oh please Mr. Officer… be easy on me” while I bat my luscious eyelashes routine LOL and was lucky enough to only receive a warning! LOL… you better believe I made sure to get a new bulb before I got home! He was really nice actually… but something that happened makes me go HUH? DUH?! The warning…. He gave me a VERBAL warning right? Ok so WHY in the world did he give me a paper statement of the verbal warning? Since WHEN do you write a “verbal” anything down? Doesn’t it become WRITTEN? LOL… That’s almost as confusing as MILITARY INTELLIGENCE!! Either way I was grateful not getting a ticket!

Then we went to the store and grabbed a few things to fill up the kids baskets for Easter and a few things for the house I forgot. The stores were full of weirdos who were arguing with themselves, racing around the store, talking to us about nothing really, and looking us up and down like a big lollipop or something! Last minute crazies running around like chickens with their heads cut off who were quite creepy at the time, but funny after we sat down and thought about it! Mom and I were glad to go home!

I hung out with mom for awhile chatting and laughing and just having fun. Then I headed out to CVS to pick up my blood pressure Rx only to have this woman, whom I have had NUMEROUS problems with before, tell me that they did not HAVE a Rx for me. EXCUSE ME? Uh yes you do… FIND IT! So I went round and round with her until she FINALLY found it. I think she does it on purpose because I have gotten her in trouble a few times before for not doing her job, being rude, and basically being incompetent! So does that mean if she infuriates me to the point of heart attack or stroke, my family can sue her? LMAO… don’t play with the BP meds broad! LMAO!!!!!



My last stop was to a small local mom & pop owned grocery store called Zieglers. They are having an incredible sale on stick butter… 2 boxes for $1. I HAD to get a bunch, cause I use A LOT of butter LOL! While there, I “parrused” (mom’s word of the day LOL) down the meat aisle and I found a few good sales. Tyson whole chickens were on sale for .79 cents a pound. I found 2 birds under $3 each. Family size chicken drumsticks were on sale too, and I found 3 packs of those for under $3 each. I found a couple of steaks for about $1.50 each which will become beef tips LOL, cube steak, and a big shank ham portion for Easter dinner. Jimmy Dean rolled sausage was on sale too, and I happened to have a coupon! Raid was on sale too… at $1.19 a can after my $1 coupon! YAY! Ants are NOT my friends LOL! I got all this stuff for about $30.

To Jean, don’t apologize for a joke LOL… it was quite funny after the initial shock LOL! Not many people even try to get me like that anymore LOL!



Oh I HAVE to tell you… since this is Autism Awareness Month, Toys R Us has partnered with Autism Speaks to accept donations for Autism research! Here is what it says on the site… In conjunction with Autism Awareness Month in April, all Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us locations nationwide and Toysrus.com will conduct a fundraising campaign now through April 30 to collect contributions to benefit Autism Speaks. Additionally, Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us together serve as the North American sponsors of 80 Walk Now for Autism Speaks events across the U.S. and Canada. Isn’t that cool? The site also gives you links to learn more about Autism. You can also make a donation online or in the store. Rest assured that your donation WILL help children in need, as Autism Speaks is a great foundation! Go to the TOYS R US site to donate today! Just think, for the price of a pack of cigarettes, you can help an Autistic child make a set of communication PECS or for the price of a whole carton you can help them buy a special weighted vest they may need for therapy! Please think about helping... kids who are just like my son would appreciate it!

Ok, so most of you know how I love food right? And I discussed that new show Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution (which I forgot to watch but will re-air today at 2pm so DON’T TELL ME ABOUT IT YET MOM OR ANYONE ELSE LOL!). Well the other day I decided to test my Autistic 14yr old how many veggies and fruits HE could identify without help. I picked out 18 fruits and 18 veggies and printed them out like flash cards. Keeping in mind he has problems with some enunciation, I am proud to announce that he correctly identified all but 3 of the fruits and 5 of the veggies! And I picked hard ones too… like pomegranate, avocado, etc. I was SO very proud of him! I felt good about myself too… I must be doing something right when my 14yr old autie can correctly name off those and a classroom of 1st graders WITHOUT disabilities cannot! I had one of those teary-eyed proud mommy moments LOL! Well, thinking about school lunches and looking at all the reusable shopping bags inspired today’s craft.



Craft Idea of the Day: Fabric Lunch Sack

Materials Needed:

1/2 yard of fabric(can be coated in vinyl)
1" piece of Velcro

Instructions:

Step 1: Cut two rectangles 15 1/2" long x 12" wide from desired fabric. Cut 2" x 2" square from the bottom right and left corners of fabric rectangles.

Step 2: Use 1/2" seam allowance unless noted. For fabrics which do not ravel, press or finger press seams open. For fabrics which tend to ravel, do not open seams. Use a zig-zag stitch along raw edges. Pin bag front and bag back, right sides together. Stitch right and left side seams. Stitch bottom seam.

Step 3: Pull bag front away from bag back at bottom corners. Matching bottom seam and side seam, pin bag bottom to bag side.

Step 4: Turn bag right side out.

Step 5: Top Edge: Turn top edge under 1". Pin. Stitch close to raw edge.

Step 6: Side creases: Place bag on a flat surface. Measure 1 3/4" from side seam. Crease (or finger press) bag from top edge to bottom. Since backpack nylon cannot be ironed, stitch along crease as close as possible to fold, catching bag front and back. Repeat for remaining three side creases.

Step 7: Velcro: Cut 1 1/2" length of Velcro. Position and pin the “soft" Velcro piece to the front of the bag, centered 1/2" from the top edge. Stitch. Position and pin the “rough" Velcro piece to the back of the bag, centered approximately 3": from the top edge. Stitch.

Ok, isn’t that neat? Next, we have another favorite subject of mine… FOOD! Now tell me… what casserole week would be complete without the old fashioned, traditional TUNA casserole? None that’s which one! So, with a few tweeks and without further ado, I give you the…



World’s Best Tuna Casserole

Ingredients

1 (12 ounce) package egg noodles
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup frozen green peas
2 (6 ounce) cans tuna, drained
2 ½ (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of milk
1/2 (4.5 ounce) can sliced mushrooms
1 cup crushed potato chips
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes, or until al dente; drain.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix noodles, onion, 1 cup cheese, peas, tuna, pepper, soup and mushrooms. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking dish, and top with potato chip crumbs and remaining 1 cup cheese.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheese is bubbly.

Ok kids, that’s it for today! I’m off to organize, cook, clean, and drive my family nuts LOL! I hope you have fun with whatever you plan to do! Peace, Love & lots of HUGS!

SPRING BUG & GARDEN COMMENTS

Well good morning to all my wonderful readers out there! How are you doing this beautiful sunny day? I am doing wonderful really! I had a great day yesterday! But I told you I wouldn’t be able to have a slow relaxing day! I don’t care… I had fun. Since yesterday I worked on a lot of gardening stuff, and that’s what I’ll be discussing… so guess what today is? YEP Its the first GARDEN COMMENT day! I want to hear about your gardening plans… are you going to do any? Even if its just a container of tomatoes, I’d love to hear! Or anything else… see the post on February 26th post for your rules and regs.



Once I got off the computer, I went and put up the stuff I got from the store. Then the DH and I went to the Houston Garden Center. Here he is pushing my cart of baby veggie plants. They were on sale 10 for $12 and most of them looked pretty healthy. Their strawberries are on sale for 98c each and they had tons here! I signed up for their free gift card offer, so when I get it (supposed to be in the next 7 days), then I’m going back! YAY! PLUS the circulars today had a HGC ad in there with a bunch of coupons… and you know me and coupons! Oh they had so many plants I would love to bring home! I’m gonna add a couple of fruit trees to the mix this year too… just not sure which kind yet… maybe peach or apple or pear or- gosh how about all of them LOL!



Then we went over to Lowe’s to buy some more soil. I got 5 bags and I was shocked at all the new plants that they had for sale too! In just a few days they have gotten so many more wonderful things! Berries, grapes, veggies, you name it! WOW… I could have EASILY dropped HUNDREDS in there! But I got 2 small sweet banana peppers for $1.78 and then my 5 dirts and I left. LOL too much temptation! These roses were there on sale for $25 a tree… OMG I wanted to take them all home with me. They were gorgeous, don’t you think? I think they would look good in my FRONT yard!



Here I am back home with my flat of new babies! I picked up Habanero peppers, green bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, cayenne peppers, eggplants, and sweet banana peppers. If you are new to planting/gardening and are planning on purchasing veggies or even flowers, remember that you have to buy at least 2 of each plant type so that they will pollinate and thrive. I say the more the better! The sun was so in my eyes, but ya didn't hear me complaining! LOL!



This WAS a picture of me holding the first clipping of the season off my rosemary plant but I cropped by bright red swollen face out of the picture. You can still see how swollen I am by the size of my pudgy little fingers! Anyway, I clipped it and used it on the chicken I made for dinner. Oh the smell that was on my hands from the fresh rosemary was absolute heaven! I love Rosemary! Isn’t it so pretty?!



Here is our dinner last night- Rosemary and garlic chicken with lemon, fresh green beans and new potatoes, and mini butter croissants. Delish! DB and the guys devoured that chicken let me tell you! I love feeding my brothers… since they are bachelors I know they don’t always eat properly (either cause they are on the go, working, etc.) and when they come here and eat they are getting a home cooked balanced meal with the nutrients they need! Just like mom used to make us growing up! I think a meal just tastes better knowing the ingredients were fresh from either the garden or market or whatever… wouldn’t you agree?



Oh, remember I told you I have been having Cardinals come up to the food at my kitchen window? Well I got better pictures of them both! The one from my phone with the female is rather dark and hard to tell, but here is the bright red male sitting in the tree staring at me. We were having a face off… he was staring me down LOL! I won cause he flew away… and I got his mugshot as a bonus!

Alright now… I’m gonna share with you a craft for your garden… it’s the raised bed garden box… yep just like the one I made. Now I did mine a little different than the video I found it on, but the concept and end result are both the same!

Craft Idea of the Day: Planter boxes or containers

Really anything can become a raised planter. IF you have old rubbermaid tubs, drill holes in the bottom for drainage. Same goes with cat litter buckets (as with my strawberries) or even old chairs, commodes, and tires! But to make a planteer box out of 2x4 pieces is fairly easy. Check out the Lowe’s DIY Video on How to make a Raised Garden Box for complete instruction… but here it is in a nutshell.

Supplies:

2x4 lumber- untreated
4x4 post
landscape fabric or plastic
wooden deck screws (2 1/2 inch work well)
drill
saw

Instructions:

Measure the area you want to put a planter in… length and width. Cut your 2x4 pieces to fit your measurements. My box is 5 foot by 3 foot- utilizing an entire 2x4 piece. Place 3 pieces side by side and measure them across. That is how long you want your 4x4 post piece. (I made mine slightly taller than the actual box.)

Secure the 4x4 to one side of the 2x4 with wood deck screws and repeat with 2 more pieces. Repeat on the other end. This will be the length side (or in the event you are making a perfect square, then it will be the first side). Repeat the process for the other side.

Take your 3rd and 4th sides and secure them on the other side of the 4x4 post (the post should be on the INSIDE of the box). Make sure the edges meet and are flush on each corner. Repeat with remaining boards. You should now have a box frame.

You can put this in the ground as in the video, putting the landscaping fabric under the box OR you can put this on a deck, patio, etc. I will be lining the bottom of mine with plastic sheeting with drainage holes it the bottom. Its really easy to make and really doesn’t take much time. You can make any size to fit your space. Add bottom panels if you want for an enclosed box too!

Ok, my other favorite topic time… FOOD! YAY! We love food around here! Now I already showed you my dinner from last night, so I want to share a recipe for fresh fish today. Yes I am on a seafood kick peoples LOL! Summer’s comin’ and that’s when I “indulge” the most in delicious nuggets of golden yummy from the sea! LOL! So try this one on for size…



Blackened Tuna Steaks with Mango Salsa

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 tuna steaks
1 fresh mango - peeled, pitted, and chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1/2 Spanish onion, finely chopped
1 green onion, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon garlic powder
4 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

Whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, and garlic in a bowl. Rub the tuna steaks with the mixture. Place the steaks in a sealable container and chill in refrigerator 3 hours.

Combine the mango, bell pepper, Spanish onion, green onion, cilantro, and jalapeno pepper in a bowl; stir. Add the lime juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil and toss to combine. Chill in refrigerator 1 hour.

Stir together the paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, salt, pepper, thyme, basil, oregano, and garlic powder in a bowl. Remove the tuna steaks from the refrigerator and gently rinse with water and then dip each side of each steak in the spice mixture to coat.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Gently lay the tuna steaks into the hot oil. Cook the tuna on one side for 3 minutes; remove to a plate. Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil into the skillet and let it get hot. Lay the tuna with the uncooked side down into the skillet and cook another 3 minutes; remove from heat immediately.

Spoon about 1/2 cup of the mango salsa onto each of 4 plates. Lay the tuna steaks atop the salsa and serve immediately.

*** A few tips for those of you struggling with the recipe: 1. While the directions were written for Tuna, it does work well with other fish but the cook time must be adjusted accordingly for the type of fish you are using and the thickness. For salmon I would recommend ditching the garlic -lime marinade, it really is specific to tuna or a similar fish. 2. For those struggling with the heat there are three things: - The recipe is designed to be eaten bite for bite with the mango salsa recipe included, if you serve it without it you'll likely need to adjust the heat level by dropping the cayenne. - For those who just aren't into the heat, you can simply reduce the amount of cayenne, by half is about appropriate. - A nice alternative I've found to the mango salsa is sour cream (about 2tbsp per serving) mixed with a bit of sugar (about 1tsp per 2tbsp of sour cream). This can be served in a ramekin or drizzled over the fish, whatever your heart desires!

Ok kids, I’m gonna get off here and try to get some more work done… not sure on what yet though LOL!… I hope you have a wonderful day in whatever adventures you partake in and remember… big sister is watching LOL! Anxiously awaiting to hear from you all… HUGS!