For Becky

My first posts about Pete (Formerly cotton-ball) were entitled “Little Peter” and “We is Friends: Jasper and Pete” and are still on my blog. He’s been through a lot, and ended up as a one-eyed cat. He has tons of energy, though, is VERY lovey (and I still say he’s adorable). :)

Here are some recent pictures. :)

He likes to ride around on me.

He wants to be buddies with Bo; but I don’t think she’s completely won over yet.

I think we look a little alike…

 

He has spots, stripes, and swirls. I wouldn’t be surprised if his coat darkened even more. :)

Spicy Seafood Chowder

I invented this yesterday, and it was so yummy! It will feed probably, at least eight people, or more, depending on appetites.

Bake off 3(or more) flounder fillets. Break up with a fork and set aside.

While the fish is baking, in a large pot, make a white sauce using…

*1 stick butter

*2/3 cup all purpose flour

*4 cups milk

*salt and pepper to taste

Now add

*1-1/2 cups stock of your choice (I used chicken)

*1 tsp. smoked paprika

*1 tsp. onion powder

*1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (less or more to taste)

*1 clove garlic, minced

*2-3 Tbsp. basil, fresh or pesto

*3 cups frozen corn

*2 zucchini, diced

Cook over medium heat until everything is hot. Stir in fish and serve. I recommend corn chips, toasts (that sort of thing) on the side. :)

I Know It’s Almost Thanksgiving but…

Clothespin Dolls for Friends

Old-fashioned clothespins, leftover paper and fancy tape, hot glue, pigma micron pens, and acrylic paint—all put to use for a cheery little gift. :)

A Few New Things

A few things I’d never made before. :)

A little rag rug

Citrus marmalade

Salmon en croute

Portabella Lasagna

1 lb. ground turkey

chunky tomato sauce of your choice

30 oz. ricotta cheese

8 oz. low moisture, shredded mozzarella cheese

handful fresh basil, snipped in pieces

Kraft Italian three cheese blend

4 portabella mushroom caps

lemon juice

salt and pepper

Cook the turkey with a little lemon juice, salt and pepper; then stir in tomato sauce. In a mixing bowl mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, basil, and salt and pepper to taste. Slice the mushrooms in long, thin strips. Layer the lasagna in this order.

*Meat

*Mushrooms

*Ricotta mixture

*Meat

*Mushrooms

*Ricotta mixture

*Sprinkle evenly with as much three cheese blend as desired

Bake at 375 F for 20 minutes, or until cheese is golden.

Iowa ID #1

I love the area we live in. It is sooo beautiful. The ringing insects, tall grasses, flowers etc. I’ve wanted to be able to identify more of the things that I live around, and have decided to start a series of posts cataloging my newfound (and probably old-found) knowledge! :)

Mullein (pronounced muhl-uhn)

This plant is biennial (meaning it lives for two years) and flowers in it’s second year starting in June and continuing into late summer. It can grow anywhere from 2 to 8 feet tall. This one near our mailbox is pretty good sized. Mulleins belong to the figwort family, which makes them sound a bit like they belong in a Charles Dickens novel or something. :)

See the little, fuzzy center? I like that. :) They remind me of African Violets because of their shape, but especially because their petals shimmer in the sunlight! :)

I also might add that mullein can be used in dried flower arrangements. :)

We is Friends: Jasper and Pete

Giving Jasper a wash

Nestling in his fluff

Aren’t they sweet? :)

Belated Cheesecake & a Vegetable Bake

Mother was away on her birthday, but even though that’s long past it’s not too late for cheesecake!

Cherries, blueberries, raspberries, oreos…and all no-bake! :)

I was happily reunited with my lost vintage cake stand recently. :)

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I made up a vegetable side to go with our meal and thought I would share a tidied-up version of the recipe. :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Confetti Parmesan Bake~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Preheat oven to 375.

4 cobs sweet corn, washed and cut raw (or blanched) from the cob

1 red bell pepper, chopped

small bunch spring onions, chopped

1 cup green beans (if fresh then chop)

4-6 medium tomatoes (heirloom would be great)

salt and pepper to taste

Topping:

12-16 oz. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

handful fresh basil, snipped in small strips or bits

freshly ground black pepper to taste

In a large bowl, mix together all of the vegetables then transfer to a large shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.

In a smaller bowl, combine parmesan, basil and pepper. Sprinkle over vegetable mixture and bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes. Serve using a slotted spoon.

Serves: roughly 10-12

For Mum, While You’re Away

You’re Flower patch…

and your gladiolus shoots.

Have a good day!

Little Peter

I have a little cat…his name is Peter.

(He likes shoes.)

Medicine in his eyes, ears, and mouth. He has been a handful!

When I adopted him he was probably between  4 and 6 weeks old. He is growing like a weed! He is very sweet (though not perfectly box trained :). I never knew he would turn out to be so frisky. He’s a little jumping bean. He even boldly wrestles with our Maine Coon cat. :)

Goodbye Teeth! I will keep you in a packet.

Here I am, sipping on what may very well be my first glass of V8.

I must admit it’s not half bad. It’s like cold soup. I bet it would be good with tea sandwiches. :) Anyway, I had two wisdom teeth out yesterday and am taking very good care of myself. :)

Menu suggestions for a person lacking teeth:

*vanilla and chocolate ice cream

*frozen mangoes, peaches, and strawberries for blended drinks

*vegetable and fruit juice

*cottage cheese

*applesauce

I will tell you about blankets, painting, gardening, and little Peter; but those will wait.

Have a good weekend!

Banana-Chocolate-Breakfast Smoothies

Stir to dissolve,

4 Tbsp. raw sugar in

1-1/2 cups coffee

Place in a blender with

3 Tbsp. cocoa powder

2-3 bananas and

1 cup almond, coconut, or cow’s milk

blend, then blend in

1 cup ice

Serves: 3

As a side note, I saw a fox in our yard the other day! :)

I Never Knew: Mollie Makes

Perhaps if I’d being paying more attention to my Etsy stats, I’d have found out sooner that I made it onto Mollie Makes! Last month they posted my big whale in a “Moodboard Monday”! I am happy… :)

This is the image from their site. I’ll put the link to the article below it.

http://molliemakes.themakingspot.com/blog/moodboard-monday-blue-denim

On other news, I’m hired! I’d been on the look out for some part-time work, but hadn’t been seeing anything that I would be excited/happy to do. Finally, though, through a note from a friend (and prayerful waiting) I learned about a job opening, for the growing season, at an organic farm.

At the moment I’m thinking that I will probably use a good bit of my earnings towards a sewing machine. For the most part, my work on Etsy has been done by hand. Having a machine would probably prove incredibly helpful for my little shop, and nice to have around for other projects. :)

I’ll post some jam later!

Early Mother’s Day

I prepared a meal as an early present.

I’d never made these things before(not counting the rhubarb sauce); but they are both keepers. :)

Baked Blintzes with Rhubarb Sauce

and Orange Julius’s to drink (recipe below)

Orange Julius (my variation):

In a blender combine,

1 cup milk

1 cup water

1 thing orange juice concentrate

& Dash pure vanilla extract

Blitz, pour, rejoice. :)

Afgans

I’ve finished both of my afgans. I started the one with all of the little squares years ago, and perhaps hadn’t touched it in years, but I finished it this week. I used Sugar ‘n Cream yarn for both of them. :)

A Couple of Foxes & a Skunk

I am starting to add more toys to ImaLily, and my cousin wanted me to blog the latest. At the moment I am trying to create a creature theme in my shop.

A little skunk named Camille

and two little foxes falling in love :)

Happy Sunday Everyone! :)

All the Pretty Little Squares

I have become rather mesmerized by stitching granny squares together for an afgan.

What have you been stitching?

Blueberry-Mango Parfaits

I wanted a snack the other night and made something up. That snack inspired me to invent these parfaits! :)

Ok 1-1/2 c. flaked coconut mixed with

1-1/2 c. of hearty cereal (so it will stay dryer longer)

24 oz. plain yogurt

1 pint blueberries mixed with

1 mango (diced)

and honey for drizzling

*Repeat layers in this order:

*cereal mixture

*yogurt

*drizzle of honey

*fruit

Serves: 6

Good for breakfast, lunch, or a bedtime snack! :)

Artwork for Etsy #15

Well, here we are--Number 15! I may take a breather from marathon artwork for a bit. :)

Last but not least—A Little Chick

Artwork for Etsy #14

A Mission Blue Butterfly

Artwork for Etsy #13

A Woodlark Island Cuscus