Jul22

Squash time!

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As you all know, we moved our garden and made it smaller, but it really is packing a punch in it’s new, tighter quarters. Since we had a circle garden, we went ahead and added $26 fencing to that area. We planted the tomatoes and pepper around it’s perimeter with squash, onions and cukes in the middle. I have a few flowers behind the peppers-Zinnias and Sunflowers. I picked these little cuties-called Grey Gourmet by good ol’ Burpee (have to remember they are having some kind of event up at the Burpee place in PA-it may be in August or September). These will only grow 6″ long and they ‘bulk’ up. I have all those cookbooks, but since I was a bit weary from watering plants tonight, I chose a recipe from Bumblebee.com called Tuna Zucchini casserole.
Tuna Zucchini Casserole
This is before it was baked for 30 minutes. You grate the 2.5 cups of zucchini and saute it with onions and celery. You sprinkle the veggies with flour, add milk (2 cups) and parmesan cheese. Then add the tuna (I used only one can, but you can surely do 2 cans). This mixture is mixed in the cooked pasta (I did half a pound of penne-8 oz). The pasta soaks up the sauce a bit. And before you bake it, mix up a cup of bread crumbs with more parmesan and melted butter or margarine. Yummy!

Jul22

Please send a cool breeze…

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White Pampas Grass, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

(The above photo is from my walk at Longwood Gardens last week)

We are in our 6th day of a heatwave-murder! I was out setting up a hose and sprinkle for the garden that Sean purchased yesterday. It’s one of those little round sprinkers and I had to move it around and get a little wet, but in 97 degree heat it was worth it.
I thought I’d share this photo of something that looks like it would blow nicely in the breeze…ornamental grass.
Not sure if consigning is right for me as out of 28 items, only 4 have sold so far. And I was peeved as some of my things are missing and the lady shrugged that off. I really like browsing around and finding some treasures, but when they aren’t watching their clientele that closely, that’s if they are stealing the Phillies t-shirt we couldn’t find along with a few books and a little shelf. I have an appointment for next week-think I’ll just wait until August now to pick up the things that didn’t sell. This time of year people are spending money on vacations, not used stuff.
I’m waiting on a few things for the car like mats and a seat cover. The driver’s seat is a bit ‘wrinkled’ (it’s leather), so I found a cover with the Chrysler logo. I’ll have to take a few photos when everything is in place. Did I tell you it’s the best car I ever drove? This surprised Brian for some reason. The van was good, but it was hard to see over the hood sometimes and Sean had problems galore parking it. I had a Crown Victoria which was nice, but that was a typical big 1980s car. ; )
Guess I’ll keep myself busy around the house.
Stay cool!

Jul19

Ina is mine!

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Yes, we did purchase ‘Ina’ and brought her home last night. It’s such a fun car and a treat for me! I decided on Ina as she is ‘Inca Gold’ and there is a chef named Ina Garten on the Food Network. I have always liked her, so Ina it is! I just hope people don’t call her the ‘mustard mobile’ or as I read in an article from 2002 (on the web), the ‘line down the road’. It’s a lovely metallic gold. I decided to order a few needed items-like floor mats (the ‘original’ ones were gone), some cleaner that will get rid of the haze on the lights (I hope) and a novelty plate that says ‘PT Cruiser’ on the front. And a little gold PT cruiser on a keychain (thanks to eBay for the last two). : )

The PT Cruiser is and was more than a car, it was a testament to the history of the automobile brought back to life with all the amenities of a modern car with the retro look and styling of a car from the 1930’s. Customizable in almost any way conceivable these cars brought people all over the world together who loved the cars in groups all over the United States….How many modern vehicles are allowed into a classic car show? Only 1 I have ever seen is the PT and people in the car shows flock to them. By Brian Connelly-Facebook group

Sean’s car was owned by a 90 yr old name from the Manhattan area. Apparently ‘Gramps’ backed into a garage and did a number on his back bumper. Sean will probably get an estimate to get it fixed or maybe even replaced. It is in great shape other than that and only 42k miles on the odometer, can’t beat that.
A freaky thing happened last night-Brian decided to look at all the fluid levels under Ina’s hood and when he took off the power steering cap it slipped out of his hand to under the engine someplace. He could not see it and of course I’m not going the duct tape route forever! I called a Chrysler dealership about 45 minutes away and ordered one that will be in tomorrow ($22!). I’m thinking Bri should get it as he’s only 15 minutes away and I hate to go all the way there in this heat. We’ll see. I haven’t seen my mom for a few weeks now and we want to show my brother Sean’s car to see what he says about the bumper. His son may be able to sand it and paint it-he’s really good at that.
That’s my life these past few days-all centered around cars. I pray both cars will be fine as you never know when you buy a used car. Bri felt bad about his car being turned in (we had just paid $400+ for inspection, a fix and a new tire). Sean said he was ready to turn his in. That’s the car that took him back and worth to Penn State and I’ll always remember how glad I was when I heard him set the alarm (it was quite loud) when he came home for a visit. I’m feeling mushy right right.
Dinner is turkey meatloaf with honey bbq sauce and bacon (my own recipe), baby zucchini (bought-mine are not quite ready) and tator tots! Love those tots. : )

Jul16

I treated myself

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Longwood Gardens Perfume, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

When I walked around Longwood yesterday, I felt so good I decided to treat myself to their custom made perfume called ‘Always in Bloom’. I was pleased to have dropped a few pounds as I wasn’t all hot and tired like I usually am when I go. It is heavy with a Lily of the Valley scent.
Today we went to a car dealership in Delaware as Sean saw a Taurus he liked, so I went along too as they had a car I have loved since the first time I saw it. Sean test drove the car and even though the bumper is a bit scratched up, the mileage was low and he got it for a great price. My nephew is into detailing stuff and is redoing a vintage Ford Falcon, so maybe he can buff out the scratches.
Here he is with his new ride:
Sean and his new 2005 Taurus
I took one look at the 2002 PT Cruiser and went gaga! It’s a metallic gold, white leather seats with gold trim, tinted windows and low mileage! It’s only 4 cylinder, but I don’t drive around that much. Brian would trade in his 2000 Taurus and use the Mariner. : ) It’s called a ‘Dream Cruiser’ and only 7,500 of this series. Do you like it?
PT Cruiser
It’s not set in stone that I am buying it. We have another car payment already, but I really like it. ; )

Jul15

Monochrome flowers

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Monochrome flowers, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I went to Longwood Gardens by myself as my mom said she wasn’t able to drive as her back was bad. She said she doesn’t think she will be able to drive out here that much anymore. : (
I was sitting fiddling with the camera settings as the files were too large and my card was filled up. I decided to try the monochrome and shot this right next to where I was sitting. Pretty cool!
I walked around almost the entire place and did well, not too hot! I walked up at least 50+ steps. I guess losing 6-7 pounds is a plus. More photos…
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I ❤ you!
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Reflection of sky with water lilies
Canna Lilies in Pink
For Zoey!

Jul14

Where is July going?

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Echo Picotee Lisianthus, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I got to spend some outside today potting and repotting flowers and not roasting doing so. I could stand to do weeding. Bri stopped and got me a spool for the Weed Whacker, but not in the mood to do that. I did make some homemade potato salad to eat with our fat-free hotdogs. I also sat and got inspired to do a few more collage cards. I must have purple on the mind!
Hula Moon 4" x 4" Collage Card
The Lisianthus is called Echo Pictotee. Haven’t had too many of these in the garden, but I am liking it! Got two (buy one, get one free) from the Amish lady. It’s like a rose and tulip in one!
Also got the cutest decorations:
Yoga frog
the above is for the pond garden
And this is for the fairy garden! : )
Chin in hand fairy
Mom may come out tomorrow to go to Longwood Gardens. : ) Hope so!

Jul14

Life is Beautiful

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This is like the companion card to the ‘Believe in Miracles’ card below. I think I will do more painted backgrounds in the future!
Sean and I went out to the other end of the county yesterday to find a produce place and do a little mall shopping. The mall is one of the older ones around here. They redid it from the 70s, and it was a bit dead there. I had fun buying a few things in Boscov’s (a store on the east coast). They have an auditorium that sells ‘seen on tv’ and close out stuff. I got some jewelry for $2.99 (had $24 prices on a few of them) and a clock for outside with the temp and humidity on it for $5.00. I could have bought lots more! ; )
We ate at a Mexican restaurant called ‘On the Border’. Very good and almost like homemade.
When we got home I saw that Brian had picked 4 tomatoes! Yay, so good on sammies.
And saw that the nurse didn’t call me back, so I’ll continue with the calcium blocker. Not risking my health when my bp only needs to be less than 10 pts less at times. Should have bought some natural diuretics like watermelon and asparagus at the produce place!

Jul12

Believe in Miracles collage

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Here’s another collage I made yesterday. The background is painted blue and distressed with a special crackle paint. I was going to leave off ‘Believe in Miracles’ but decided I like cards with a message.
I went to the doctor for a follow-up. Most of my bloodwork is better (Sugar about 98 when it was 122 before!) and my thyroid is in the normal range. I’ve had slightly elevated liver enzymes for years as has two of my three brothers. He wants to do more specific tests for that. Also my blood pressure could still be lower (I get myself so nervous before going) but he still says he wants the top # to be in the 120s, not 130s. I also have to take a diruetic to see if that helps. I have a feeling I’m not doing to do well with that, crossing fingers. I detest taking medicine and and so sorry I got to 51 and had to start. I still think it all has to do with my age. I’ve lost 6 pounds since my last visit (3 months ago), so at least that’s something and probably helped my bloodwork.
Boy is it hot here-it’s about 91. I think they expected higher, but there’s that pesky heat index that makes it feel hotter. I haven’t even walked around the yard today. I’m afraid to see wilted things!

Jul11

In the mood

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I’ve been tapping my creative juices thanks to the gnomes! I forgot how much I love painting and have done a few painted backgrounds for cards today. The one pictured has an old dictionary background and I was trying out some new Asian rubber stamps I bought at Big Lots the other day.
I repotted a few things outside, but it’s just too muggy to do much more. The septic tank was cleaned out today (it holds like 1,000 gallons) using a new company. It needs to be done once a year to get the sludge out-ugh. Guess you didn’t need to read that.
; )