Mmm Mmm Monday

Okay, so one of my Twelve for '12 goals is to try at least 12 new-to-me recipes this year. I get tired of eating the same 'ol, same 'ol week after week, so new ways to make some old favorites is something I want to try and accomplish. (And, posting more to my blogs was another goal for me, so two birds with one stone, as they say...) To try and stay on track with this particular goal, I thought there was no better way than to perhaps begin a new feature here, and entitle it Mmm Mmm Mondays...And, since I actually TRIED a new found recipe ....I thought I'd share it here, since it was SOOO easy, and Oh-my-GOSH, so good!! (I found this one on Pinterest, of course!, but I modified it *just* a bit, by adding more honey and more garlic, so while I've linked to the original here, the following is what I actually prepared:


What you need:
1/2 c. honey (I used orange blossom, because it's native to the area -- and what I had on hand -- but I'm sure clover works just as well)
3 Tblsp. soy sauce (yes, I added more of THAT, as well)
6 lg, cloves of garlic, minced
4 bone-in pork chops

What to do:
~ In a shallow pan, mix honey soy sauce and garlic.
~ coat the chops with mixture
~cook in frying pan over medium heat, adding the remainder of the mixture and turning once to cook through.

serves four (actually, two at our house, with one left over for lunch the next day!)

 This was really a big hit here; De-licious, and certainly one that will be added to the rotation in the future. 

(And, since I actually MADE this one, I'm linking it to Tackle-It Tuesday at 5 Minutes for Mom...kind of a 'cheat', I know, but, that's the way it is! )

Tackle called off, due to rain (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Well, the plan was that for this week's tackle, because I am so woefully behind in this project to start with, was to plan and plant a butterfly/hummingbird garden in the yard just outside my kitchen window. While the mister gave the lawn its second mowing of the season, I *did* de-weed the little bushes which are already there. I'm not certain of the kind of bushes they are, but they produce delicate, white blossoms in the late spring, which the butterflies just luv!

Since the MIL gave me both a beautiful feeder AND the seed shaker for this Christmas passed, and my backdoor neighbor has offered me cuttings from her garden as well, I thought this week would provide a perfect opportunity to share my progress here, at Tackle-it Tuesday.

Mother Nature, it seems, has other plans for me, as today looks overcast and cloudy, with the weatherman calling for rain throughout the day, and so I am relegated to the typical Tuesday household chores, which for me include laundry, making dinner and sweeping the floors.

So, what does this Tuesday have *you* tackling? For your own participation, or just for inspiration, head on over to 5 minutes for mom and join in the fun. Until next time,
May all your tackles be productive ones!

The view thru my windows (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Okay, so I admit it, folks; my tackle this week is the SAME ONE that I began to tackle last week; to clean all the windows and the window treatments. Now, I give myself some slack here, because I *do* have 13 double-hung, weighted windows, each with 12 individual panes to clean. Yes, the one in the bathroom is of a slightly smaller scale, but it too has 12 individual panes; and, that doesn't even include the two sets of Florida windows in the kitchen (which I hate, by the way, and would just luv to replace those with a nice garden window, but I digress...) or my 10-pane front door...plus, I figure there's more to life than doin' laundry and washin' windows, don'tcha think?!

BUT... I have got quite a bit of it tackled; I've finished the front door (see; you can see clearly now - no dog snot at all!), both inside AND out( please ignore all the leaves that have blown onto the front porch - it's been a windy week) , and have cleaned the inside of both the living room windows and the two in the dining room (but, obviously, they need some severe outside cleanin', as well!); I've got all the "exterior" curtains (swags?) washed and ready to hang back up, but, I'm currently soaking the sheer under-panels, that - obviously - must be hung first. And, I still have to do the kitchen, bedrooms AND bathroom windows yet -- including the shutters in there; I *hate* cleaning those shutters, but I do like the way they look, so....a gal's gotta have her priorities!

So, what are *you* tackling this Tuesday? Need some motivation? Be sure to head on over to 5 minutes for mom to get some inspiration, or to add a tackle of your own.

~ May all *your* tackles be productive ones! ~

Let the Sunshine In! (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Although the nice spring temperatures look like they're here for the duration, it's rather cloudy and overcast today, and it looks like we may get some much needed rain. BUT, it *is* spring...and since today is a normal laundry day at my house, I thought I'd take the opportunity to take down all the window curtains and give them a good spring-cleaning, as they could certainly use it. And, since they will already be "curtain-less" for a time, I suppose today would be as good a day as any to wash the windows, as well (well, the inside of them, anyway). With two hounds who love to press their noses to the panes, all of my lower windows look as though they've been glazed (eeww)! So, if I expect to accomplish that task, I suppose I ought to get a spring in my step, huh?!

What about YOU? Are you tackling something today?? Be sure to head on over to 5 minutes for Mom to see what others have planned for the day - Until next time,

May All YOUR Tackles be Successful ones!

Spring Tackles (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Well, it's been a looong time since I've posted a Tackle-it Tuesday entry; I wanted to jump back in the fray, so today I am posting my efforts to fertilize the fruit trees outside my kitchen window. It's March already (!!) and that means it's time for their feeding!


lemon & orange (Valencia) tree ~ Fig tree

Key Lime

The first thing I had to do was de-weed underneath them; Since I haven't spent much time out there recently, this was *quite* the job!! As usual, I forgot to take "before" pics (this is the biggest reason WHY I usually miss Tackle-it Tuesdays!), but here's what I removed:


That was actually the hardest part of the job, obviously, because now, all I had left to do was to 'plant' the sticks!


I used "Sta-Green" fertilizer spikes, which keep feeding for up to six months, delivering nutrients directly to the root zone; You simply hammer the spikes in at the drip line of the tree (at LEAST two feet from the trunk) until it is 2 inches below the surface. And, Wah-la! All done 'til September!

And, Look! I've already got Lime blossoms!!


So what are YOU Tackling today?? Be sure to head on over to 5 minutes for mom, and tell all about it!! See what everyone else is tackling, and maybe garner some motivation...

Bath time (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Just another mundane tackle here this week folks - gotta tackle that laundry (which, I'm happy to report is *almost* finished! - Just towels & sheets left to do); gotta tackle the kitchen sink (put those dishes away and all that); and, perhaps, this afternoon, I will tackle the bathroom - one that is much needed, I'm afraid.

Not only the tub/toilet/sink need to be cleaned, but I really need to clean off those shelves, and I GOTTA clean those mirrors! (We had some freezes here recently - I *told* you it's been COLD at the beach! - so that's why the plant is hanging from the shutters!; also, notice the mister's jeans on top of the towel chest!) Hopefully, I'll be back later this afternoon with better, cleaner, "aftershots" (or, not)

In the mean time, if you'd like to see some completed tackles, or if you would like to participate, head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom, and start tackling!!

The Daily Grind (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Nope, no big tackles going on here today, folks, just the normal routine chores - that means;

~ Clearing the sink of (clean) dishes, and cleaning up the kitchen (done)
~ doing laundry (this is *almost* done; one load of sheets left to dry/fold/put away)
~ picking up the living room (done)

Then, I am gonna go (back to) curl up on the couch with a lap blanket and my dogs; grab another cup of hot coffee, and finish reading the James Rollins book that has me completely enthralled with its story!!

How about YOU? What are you tackling today? Be sure to visit 5-Minutes for Mom to see what others are doing, and perhaps play along yourself! Whatever you tackle today, I hope its terrific!

Three-dimensional cleaning (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Well, it's gonna be a cloudy, rainy day here at the beach, my friends, and *that* generally puts ME in a mood to curl up on the couch with a warm blanket, a hot drink, and a good book - (the hounds are always 'up' for a good afternoon nap!) - BUT, it *is* Tuesday, one of the first in the brand new year, and, so it is time for;



My tackle today is to clean out the fridge!!



Look at that; It's so bad that the batteries on my camera gave out!

So...that's the plan. Clean OUT the refrigerator; clean UP the dishes that this is sure to generate; And, cleaning DOWN the counter-tops and kitchen surfaces. A 3-D Tackle-it Tuesday! I'll return here later today (I hope!) with the AFTER effects!

~~~~~~~



A rainy afternoon, well spent! (It's a bit barer now, but it's clean)




What are *YOU* going to tackle today? Whatever it is, may it turn out terrific!

That hot spot (Tackle-it Tuesday)

So, my first Tackle of this year is simple (baby steps, right?!) - that "hot spot" in our dining room; you know what I'm talkin' about, that one place in the house where everything seems to accumulate like flies on ...honey.

Well, *our* hot spot, is the side table in our dining room:

I know - that's just awful, isn't it?! Especially now, as the mister was home on vacation over the holidays, so that was 10 solid days of compilation (I do little-to-no housework when he has some time off...see the quote at the bottom of the page!)

It's actually a very nice, antique drop-leaf maple table. Of course, you can't TELL that, as it is so piled high with crap, that you can't SEE it!! But, that will be corrected TODAY, my friends! I will report back with an update, later in the day (I hope!)...

~~~~~
Ahhh...now *that's* better! Now, I can at least see the top! BUT - not only THAT - I also picked up the living & dining rooms, cleaned the kitchen AND did all the dirty laundry! I am on a roll, boys and girls!!...

Need some inspiration of your own to get up and tackle something today? Be sure to head on over to 5 minutes for mom, and see what others are tackling this new year...

Happy Housework!!

On Time (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Well! It's been a *very* long time since I've participated in Tackle-it Tuesday! (they even got a kewl new logo, there!) Actually, my house is all nice and tidy today (save making the bed, and a few dishes that need to be put away), but in keeping with my resolve to keep up with this house, and coincidentally to keep up with this blog, my tackle today is to update our wall calendar for the upcoming year...

You know, add in all those birthdays, anniversaries and other personal dates that you don't want to forget! The mister brought me home a 2009 calendar from the Beaches Museum & History Center, which even sports an old photo of a friend of ours! (posing with his award-winning photograph of the Bicentennial Flag Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach), and so today, I plan to transfer all the needed data into it and have it ready to hang for the new year.

Not a very taxing tackle, but a chore that needs doing, just the same! How about you? Are you tackling something today? Be sure to head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom and share your hard work with the rest of us! In the meantime ~

Happy Holidays to You and Yours!

This and That (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Well, *we* certainly enjoyed our three-day weekend around here, which meant we spent as little time as possible on those household tasks which continue to accumulate, regardless of one's relaxation plans...the pesky little buggers that they are! So, to try and get back in the swing of things, my goal for this week, is to simply get our little cottage habitable once more! My "must do" list for today:

1. make the bed done
2. put dishes away/tidy up kitchen done
3. tidy up living room and dining room; special attention to sideboard (our "hotspot") done
4. dust living room/dining room done
5. sweep floors
6. balance checkbook done
7. clean up bathroom
8. change kitty litter done
9. put away last week's laundry done

That should keep me busy on what looks to be a rainy afternoon. How about you? Be sure to stop by 5 minutes for mom and see what everybody else has to tackle.

'Bout time - (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Today's Tuesday, and ya know what that means?! There's an awful lot of tacklin' goin' on at 5 minutes for mom!



My tackle for the week is one that really should have been done before the end of April, but I figure the first week of May is close enough, right?!

I'm gonna plant some (2 doz.) gladiolus bulbs, along with a shakerbag full of wildflower seeds.

Right now, we have some woodland ferns growing along the back fence line. The plan is, to prepare a long, narrow-ish bed in front of those ferns for the wildflowers (I got a fragrant cutting mix, that is supposed to cover up to 1000 sq. feet) and in the southwest corner, I intend to plant the glaidolus. In this area, those should have been in the ground by late April, so cross your fingers for me, that I haven't waited too long! Hopefully, sometime in July I will be able to post my "success".

What are YOU tackling today?!

Fruits of Labor (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Today is Tuesday! And, that means, time for a tackle;



This week, my tackle is an easy one, but one that should have been completed last month! Today, warm weather permitting, I am going to de-weed under my fruit trees (orange, lemon, lime and fig) and get them fertilized for the coming warm weather. We've purchased "Sta-Green" fertilizer spikes, which are supposed to feed continuously for six months. My fig tree is already sprouting buds (its one of the few plants in the yard that actuallly looses its foliage in the winter, here), so its definately time for feeding!

Perhaps I will get my veggie garden turned and tilled this week, too...another yard job that has been put off long enough - time to tackle it!!

So...what are *YOU* tackling this week? Be sure to check out 5 minutes for mom, and see what everyone is working on this week; always a good source of inspiration....

Stuffed Shelves (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Well, I've put it off since before the holidays - thus, making it just *that* much worse - and now it is NECCESSARY for this Tackle-it Tuesday project to be a clean out of the kitchen pantry...
(I'm kind of glad that I only can share B4 photos with this sad little phone cam! Plus, I live in somewhat of a 'cave', so the pics are a bit dark)




Plus, that's really only two of the five shelves that need an overhaul..As you can see, things are just stuffed in there any-'ol-where one could find room. I gotta do this, this week, as we have nowhere left to "stuff". I hope to have some "after" pics sometime tommorrow, if all goes well - wish me luck!

What do *you* have to TACKLE this week?

Balancing Act (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Well, it's Tuesday, and the tackle for today is: the paperwork drill; time to balance the 'ol checkbook, pay some bills...

There was a small snafu at the bank regarding the Mr's payroll deposit last week, but it seems that's all been corrected now, so I need to adjust the records on our end...

Obviously, I hope to accomplish some other tasks today, as well, like tidying up the kitchen, making the bed...maybe sweep these floors and clean the bathroom... (aww, who am I kiddin'?! I'm on my second pot of coffee and I'm not even dressed yet!....)

So...What are *you* tackling this week? Be sure to stop over at 5 minutes for mom to see what every one is accomplishing - maybe just the motivation you need to complete that task you've been putting off!


~May all YOUR tackles be productive ones! ~

Start This, Finish That (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Well, its my first Tackle-it Tuesday of the new year, and all I am tackling this week is a hodge-podge of odds-and-ends that I've neglected to complete before now! I still have yet to get myself back into any semblence of a routine so, with that in mind, my tackling plans for the day are as follows;

~ Finish up the laundry that wasn't completed yesterday (towels, sheets, etc.)
~ Take all potted porch/yard plants back outside (we had freezing temps thru the prev. week, but it seems the sunshine has returned to the beach)
~ containerize/freeze the remaining chili from Sunday nite. (As I said - it was *cold* outside!)
~ Clean off the sideboard in the dining room (our 'hot-spot')
~ Place a Snapfish order (pics to complete kitchen calendar)
~ change the kitty litter (ugh!)

...And, I think that will be enough to occupy my time, while I try to decide on what to make for dinner tonight...what will you be tackling today? Be sure to check out 5 Minutes for Mom, and join the fun - go on; ya know ya want to!

piled high (Tackle-it Tuesday)

This week's Tackle-it Tuesday is an easy yet dreaded one for me: Laundry.
This is one of my least favorite chores around the house, and having been 'under the weather' for(ever) weeks, I had let it get a bit out of control. So...today is the day for catching up with it, and since its a beautiful 78 degrees outside, the clothes are getting line dried in December!! (Gotta luv winter in Florida!) No photos this week because (1) I am *not* posting pics of my dirty laundry, and (2) even if I *would*, I can't, as I'm still having camera difficulties...maybe next time.

Thanks for droppin' in - now, go Tackle something!!

...Or, not (Tackle-it Tuesday)

Man! I feel like such a slacker!! Here it is, only my second week of participation, and already I'm "behind" (ahh...such is my life) This week's "tackle" was supposed to be my kitchen pantry, but I've been feeling so crappy all week, I didn't feel up to taking that project on....

I'm lucky that my tackles included doing supper dishes, and making the bed. Until I shake this cold, I'm afraid that's all the effort I'm willing to expend.
Rest assured, tho, the pantry's day-of-reckoning is on the near horizon...maybe this week?

So...what are *you* tackling this week?

Be sure to stop by 5 minutes for mom, and see what all the other TTer's are tackling, too!!

May all your tackles be productive ones.....

Jumping in! (Tackle-It-Tuesday)

I've been reading 5 Minutes for Mom's "Tackle-it Tuesday" for quite some time, and with the new year upon us (Blessed Samhain to you all!), I thought this would be a good time to jump on in & participate my own self! I'm hoping that by posting 'regular' updates here I can generate the added motivation that I need to get'er done. So, without further adeiu;




My first tackle, while rather small, was my kitchen catch-all drawers - well, ALL (7) of my kitchen drawers, really, but that was the worst of them. I also removed all of our plasticware from the pantry shelf (I was tired of them all falling on my head when I went to retrieve one!)and put that all in the bottom drawer, which is *much* better!!

(before)

(after)
I DO have before/after pics, but unfortunately, I will have to add them here later today, as they are on my cell phone (remember, Murphy-mouth ate my camera? Well, we have replaced it, however the USB cord wasn't included, so I've had to order one from the manufacturer) and right now, I don't have the minutes to download them!...If it ain't one thing, its another, huh?! (pics added 11/07)

ANYWAY.....We also (finally!!) purchased new hardware for the kitchen cabinets as well - and the pantry door - which I plan to "tackle" today, and I will post those pics, too. (I DID, in fact, add the new pulls in the kitchen, but I can't get a pic to show them at all! Maybe another time)

...In the meantime, I hope all *YOUR* tackles are productive!