Soup's on!

Any of you who may know me from my other blog, already know that I love to read; and, as I am obviously participating in Kristina's Midweek Morsels, then you should know I also love food, and, what better, than to combine the two, and share here a recipe for Goldilocks' Gourmet Spinach Soup which I acquired from reading Diane Mott Davidson's culinary series (sorry! I copied the recipe for use - and it is *wonderful* - but I don't remember which book it was from; perhaps "The Cereal Murder"?) Anyway, it is a simple and tasty recipe, and we luv it around here.

What You'll Need:
5 tblsp. butter
1/4 lb. mushrooms, diced
1 green onion, chopped
5 tbsp. flour
2 c. chicken broth
2 c. milk
1/4 lb. cream cheese, cubed
1 c. Swiss cheese, grated
3/4 lb. spinach, chopped*
salt & pepper, to taste

*Mo's notes: can substitute broccoli for the spinach

To make:
Melt butter in large saucepan. Saute' mushrooms & onions until tender; add flour & stir.
Wisk in broth, then milk, and stir until thickened
Add cream cheese, Swiss cheese, salt & pepper; stir until cheese is completely melted.
Stir in spinach.
heat & serve

If you want to see more great recipes, or to include one of your own, be sure to head on over to Kristina's Favorites for her Midweek Morsels.

Sherbert Blooms

A visit this weekend to the nursery down the road, brought us these pretty little "Sonset" Lantana blooms for the container garden outside the kitchen door; I love the way the little flowerettes all bloom in such a variety of colors and hues.

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom. ~Audra Foveo

To find more beautiful blooms, or to post an entry of your own, visit Today's Flowers

Red Skies at Night

LOTS of rain at the beach this week, which I find isn't very conducive to taking skyward looking photographs! However, it *did* let up for a bit on Sunday evening, and I took these beautiful red-sky pics from just outside my back door (well, to see it in reality was much more spectacular than these quick photos convey...) Hope everybody has a wonderful weekend ahead!!

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

To see other sky watchers, or to play along yourself, visit
Crazy Working Mom

Looking at the Bright Side

I missed participating in this last week; the mister has gone from a 5-day to a 4-day work week, so I've had to adjust my computer time, as well...But, I'm up early this morning, and ready to play

a place to come on Friday's and think back over your week and just post about 5 favorite things from your week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy over the week. Favorite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, etc., etc


So, this week was kind of slow...didn't go anywhere, didn't *do* anything...

1. I do get a three-day weekend with the mister, that's always a favorite thing.

2. It's been raining the better part of all week, and even though that keeps us inside, I gotta think my plants are loving it, so that's gotta be a favorite.

3. Oh, yeah....I finally broke down and got myself a MySpace page; Originally, it was just so that I might check the SIL's photo albums, but once I got there, I actually connected with a few long-lost pals I haven't heard from in ages, so THAT really DID turn into a favorite thing this week!

4. Early mornings; It's about 5:30am right now, and my house is silent...the mister and the hounds are still sound asleep, and I have the quiet all to myself! That, too, is a favorite thing!

5. And, finally, today we are going to pick up the mister's tax refund check; with his hours being cut temporarily, the extra little bit of cash will be a welcomed 'buffer', so that's my final favorite this week!

So, what about you? What were your favorite things this week? Be sure to head on over to Living to Tell the Story and share your highlights with Susanne and all the other wonderful participants! And, until next time...

May Everyday be filled with all of *YOUR* Favorite things!

One for Later

Well, I gotta tell ya, it's not been much of a "Suzy Homemaker" kinda week for me; I didn't even bother with a menu plan this week, as our dinners have consisted of hot dogs & french fries, burritos, burgers...anything that's quick and easy. I didn't play along with Tackle-it Tuesday, because I haven't tackled anything all week. And, I figured I'd miss Kristina's Midweek Morsels too, because I haven't MADE any morsels this week, either. BUT...I did run across this easy sounding recipe for Dream Coffee Cake in this week's issue of "American Profile", submitted by Laverne Koivisto in Ashtabula Ohio, and because it sounds yummy (and, did I mention, easy?!) I thought I'd share it here (and so that it's in easy 'reach' for me when I *do* wanna give it a go)

What You'll Need:

1 (18 oz.)pkg. yellow cake mix
1 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 c. sour cream
3/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 3/4 c. walnuts, chopped

To Make:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease 13x9 baking pan.

Combine cake mix, oil, eggs and sour cream in large bowl; beat 2 min. w/ mixer at low speed, scraping sides of bowl frequently.

In med. bowl, mix sugar, cinnamon and walnuts

Spread 1/2 of cake batter into pan; sprinkle top with 1/2 of walnut mixture; repeat w/remaining batter, then walnut mixture.

Bake for 40 minutes.

If you want to see more great recipes, or to include one of your own, be sure to head on over to Kristina's Favorites for her Midweek Morsels.

Impressions of Impatiens

Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

To find more beautiful blooms, or to post an entry of your own, visit Today's Flowers

The Mister's favorite

As I mentioned, this Friday is The Mister's Birthday -- and, what's a birthday without cake? Since his favorite is Pineapple Upside Down cake, I try to make him one around this time of year, and as today is Wednesday, I thought I'd share the recipe I use with you, here. This one's from The Fanny Farmer Cookbook, and

what you'll need:

1 1/2 sticks (12 Tblsp.) butter
1 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. pineapple juice
1. can sliced pineapple (rings)
1 jar Maraschino cherries (my own 'addition' to this particular recipe)
whole pecans (also my addition)
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
1 egg

to make:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Melt 4 Tbsp. butter in 9-in cake pan; over low heat, stir in brown sugar until it dissolves. Remove from heat and add pineapple juice.

Arrange pineapple rings in one layer in the pan; place one cherry & one pecan in each "hole".

In a separate cook pan, melt remaining 8 Tblsp. butter; remove from heat; stir in milk & egg, beating well.

Blend flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a bowl, and add milk/egg mixture; beat until smooth.

Pour over pineapple slices and bake for 35 minutes (until toothpick comes out clean). Let cool for 10 minutes, then turn, fruit side up, onto plate.


If you want to see more great recipes, or to include one of your own, be sure to head on over to Kristina's Favorites for her Midweek Morsels.

A mini-menu (made up in minutes!)

Last week we were very good at sticking to our menu; right down to the days in which I assigned the meals. This week, however, I barely even have a menu put together! We were rather lazy this past weekend, and neglected to go shopping. And, since The Mister's birthday is this upcoming Friday, I am going to allow him to decide what's on the menu for the weekend. So, as sparse as it may be, I'm going to construct one, here


Mo's Menu for Apr 6th-10th

Monday: easy beef enchiladas, re fried beans
Tuesday: grilled chicken breasts, noodles Alfredo w/broccoli, garden salad
Wednesday: oven baked pork chops, seasoned potatoes, green beans
Thursday: hot Italian sausage w/onions & red peppers, french fries
Friday: to be determined

Which reminds me, I gotta email the grocery list off to the mister, so he can stop off on his way home...

So, what's on YOUR menu?! For participation (AND inspiration) head on over to I'm an Organizing Junkie and see what's cookin' in the kitchens this week...

Garden dreams

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful. ~Abram L. Urban

To find more beautiful blooms, or to post an entry of your own, visit Today's Flowers

Capturing the sun

Rain, rain and more rain; that's what we've been seeing here at the beach this week. I'm not complaining (much) tho, as my little cottage garden could use it (not to mention my lime trees!! LoL) This weekend brings the Blues Festival to town tho, and I'm hoping it doesn't get rained out! Temps are nice - in the mid-seventies - and the sun *does* peek out, now and again. This pic was taken in the back yard earlier this week, when Sol made one of his brief appearances (have a great weekend, everybody!)

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~John Muir

To see other sky watchers, or to play along yourself, visit
Crazy Working Mom

Family, food, and fun

It's Friday again, and that means the weekend is upon us! I just poured myself a nice, hot cuppa, and now, it's time for one of my most favorite weekly exercises

a place to come on Friday's and think back over your week and just post about 5 favorite things from your week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy over the week. Favorite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, etc., etc


1. So, as I told you last week, this past Saturday we went to a birthday dinner for the two nieces, and I could NOT have had a better time! To start, I was given the privilege to help build a fort with the nephews, out of blankets, a couch and a treadmill machine - the niece and I were even allowed IN the fort, once it was completed, and I was regaled with "farting ghost" stories from all three kids! Later, after a wonderful dinner, we played hide & seek, and later still, watched Aladdin and Jasmine(??) on DVD. Those kids LOVE their Auntie Mo, and I couldn't love them more if they were my own!! Definitely a favorite this week!

2. We have plans for tomorrow nite to have dinner with some of our closest friends; one of our pals whom we don't see much of is in town for the weekend, so we're all gonna eat too much, laugh too hard and enjoy each others' company. I can't wait, really...

3. Oh, the Chicken Dijon recipe I tried last nite was DE-licious! Definitely one I will be adding to the standard repertoire. I luv it when a new recipe turns out well!

4. Liquid Nail adhesive; yeah, I know, weird fave, huh? But, you see, last week, when I was de-weeding my fruit trees and butterfly bushes, I accidentally knocked the ear off of my little garden piggy. I luv the little guy, and I sure didn't want to throw him away (it was a 'clean break', after all) so the mister brought me home this water-proof, fast bonding adhesive. It worked perfectly, and in fact, I think I will use it this week to repair a few other outdoor items, like my birdbath and my children-at-the-garden-gate statue, since the top of the gate broke off of that too!

5. And, finally, I'll add that I'm just finishing up Nora Roberts "Key of Light", and I'm enjoying more than I had anticipated, which *is* a fave, as this is the first book in a new-to-me trilogy (by an author that I rarely read), which means I have two more left to look forward to!

So, what about you? What were your favorite things this week? Be sure to head on over to Living to Tell the Story and share your highlights with Susanne and all the other wonderful participants! And, until next time...

May Everyday be filled with all of *YOUR* Favorite things!

WFMW: Backwards Edition

Well, it's been a while since I've participated in Works-For-Me Wednesday (ok, technically, it's only been a couple of months, but it's been long enough that WFMW has a new home - see the new addy on the header, there? That's right, Rocks in My Dryer has passed the blogger baton on to We Are THAT Family, who is hosting this weekly carnival, now. It's still the same great concept, with all the weekly hints and tips we all luv...just at a new home.) This week, tho, is a special, 'backwards' edition, where all the participants get to pose their own dilemmas, and ask the readers "What Works for *You*?" So, what better time to jump back in the fray?! Which brings me to my question;


How and where do you store your plastic kitchenware?

I'm not talking, really, about plastic cutlery or plates and cups, as I don't really use any of those items; what I'm speaking of is all of your 'tupperware'-like storage containers and all the little lids that go with them! I *used* to keep them in the pantry, but I got tired of them cluttering up the few shelves I have, and they were constantly being dropped, or falling on your head when you went to retrieve one. I have since relegated them to a lower drawer of my cabinets (along with all my stove pot lids), but *that* then, becomes a literal pain-in-the-back, when you have to bend down, pull the drawer ALLLLLL the way out, then sort through the "stacks" for the right size - don't forget the lid! It works - don't get me wrong - but I'm looking for a better way when I ask "What works for YOU? Do you keep them in a drawer? In a cabinet? stacked? tossed in a room, haphazardly? WHAT?? Inquiring minds wanna know!!

Got a question of your own to pose? Be sure to head on over to We Are THAT Family...who knows? You might even get the answer you've been looking for!

Goin' Bananas

I swear that the mister always buys more bananas that we can possibly eat just so that I will bake another loaf of my grandmother's banana bread. A great way to use up those over-ripe bananas - its very easy, and a tasty treat for breakfast or any time!


What you'll need:

3/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. shortening (Crisco)

3 over-ripe bananas

2 eggs

3 tsp. cold water

2 c. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

To make:

In mixing bowl, cream together sugar & shortening; add bananas, eggs and water, and mix until all ingredients are well blended.

Combine remaining dry ingredients and add gradually to the banana mixture.

Pour batter into bread pan and bake @ 350 degrees for 45 min.- 1 hr. (bread should be browned on top and "spongy" to the touch.)

If you want to see more great recipes, or to include one of your own, be sure to head on over to Kristina's Favorites for her Midweek Morsels.

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!

Hibiscus blooms

Another weekend come and gone, and nary a blossom to be found at our cottage; either they are just budding, or past bloom, save my lime tree, and I guess you all are sick of seeing those from me! So, I opted to share some older photos (last year) of our fancy red hibiscus (actually, I'm not sure just what variety these are, but I did find this great website for future reference!) that grow near our front patio, in perfect view from our dining room window...

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

To find more beautiful blooms, or to post an entry of your own, visit Today's Flowers

Chicken on the Menu

So, it's Monday again. Last week, we really didn't adhere much to our menu (we ate leftovers a couple of nites & had dinner at the SIL's over the weekend), so we have a few 'holdovers' in this week's lineup.

Mo's menu for March 30 - April 3
Monday: pot roast w/potatoes, carrots & onions (hold over)
Tuesday: soft tacos, re fried beans (hold over)
Wednesday: ravioli, garden salad
Thursday: chicken supreme Dijon*, rice, Brussel sprouts
Friday: pizza

The chicken Dijon is a new recipe for me, so I thought I'd share it here;
What you'll need: (makes 2 servings)
1 whole, boneless chicken breast, split
2 Tbsp. butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 small onion, minced
1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 c. heavy cream
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

To make:
In skillet, over med. heat, brown chicken in 1 Tbsp. butter on both sides, until done; remove from pan (keep warm)
In same pan, cook garlic, onion and mushrooms in remaining butter until tender.
Stir in heavy cream & mustard; simmer, stirring constantly, until sauce is slightly thickened.
Add chicken; turn to coat in sauce.
Serve over rice.

So, what's on YOUR menu this week? For participation (AND inspiration) head on over to I'm an Organizing Junkie and see what's cookin' in the kitchens this week...

Blue Skies Ahead

Well, it looks like a beautiful start to a wonderful spring weekend! We're looking forward to temperatures in the high seventies throughout the weekend (with a chance to see the low eighties on Saturday), but they're calling for showers on Sunday afternoon. Right now, it's seventy-two, the sun is tryin' to shine, but its a bit cloudy and overcast this morning. These shots were taken while I was out in the yard, earlier this week; as you can see, we've had nothin' but bright, blue skies all week long; did I mention how very much I *LUV* spring?! Have a great weekend, everybody!

Nothing discernible to the eye of the spirit is more brilliant or obscure than man; nothing is more formidable, complex, mysterious, and infinite. There is a prospect greater than the sea, and it is the sky; there is a prospect greater than the sky, and it is the human soul. ~Victor Hugo

To see other sky watchers, or to play along yourself, visit
Crazy Working Mom

Multiples in Five

Wow...this week seemed to fly by - I can't believe its Friday already. It must be that the warm, spring weather; It seems there's more time in the day to get things accomplished, yet there's still not enough of it to get EVERYthing done!

a place to come on Friday's and think back over your week and just post about 5 favorite things from your week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy over the week. Favorite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, etc., etc


1. This past week included not one birthday, but two! My precious, sweet niece turned 6-years old last Saturday, and the littlest angel just turned two, yesterday. Tomorrow is the big birthday bash for us 'ol fuddy-duddies to attend, but Sweet Girl's "party for the little people" was, apparently, a smashing success!


My beautiful niece and her two loving brothers
2. Not one, or two, but THREE new-to-me books came to my house this week! While we were at the grocery store, I found the next installment (for *me*) of Evanovich's Plum series ("Lean Mean Thirteen") in hardcover, for $6, so I added that to the cart! Then, I received a bookcrossing RABCK (Random Act of BookCrossing Kindness) from a generous reader who saw it ("Blasphemy" by Douglas Preston) on my wishlist, and was kind enough to share it with me! And finally, I received another GoodReads author giveaway ARC book, entitled "Land of Men" by Edward Muesch. From what I gather reading the previews, its a sort of sci-fi historical thriller; can't wait to crack THAT one open, either! (Oh, BTW, I *did* finish reading and reviewing "American Rust" - the last GoodReads title I told you all about - and if you're interested, you can read my review,here.)

3. Speaking of the grocery store, we got THE best Italian five-grain wheat bread from the Publix deli this week...OMGosh! it is soooo good!! In fact, I'm having a toasted piece with my coffee, as I type this! YUMMY!!

4. My neighbor friend has gotten some good news this week. See, she's been dealing with a serious medical condition for over a year now. She needs to undergo surgery (again!), and so she just underwent tests on her heart and stress-levels to determine if she IS a candidate for the surgery. This week, those test results came back positively, and now she can get back on the road to full recovery...I'd say that qualifies for a Friday Fave!

5. And finally, I am adding the fact that I washed/cleaned ALLLL the window treatments in our house this week, PLUS I washed the windows in all the living areas (still need to do the ones in the bedrooms...) including our ten pane front door - inside AND out!! The window washing part isn't the fave, obviously. It makes my list because I am ever-so-thankful that *that* spring-cleaning chore is out of the way!

So, how about YOU??! What are your Friday Fave Fives?? Be sure to check in with Susanne's at Living to Tell the Story, and see what favorites made the lists this week! Jump on in and add your list, too...its a great way to start the weekend. Until next time,

May your week be filled with all of your favorite things!

Garden Talk in March

Well, here we are at the tail end of March, and what should be happening in my little N Florida garden?

Well, the lawn has already had its first cutting of the season.If you have St. Augustine grass (like we do), now is also the time to begin fertilizing the yard (first in March, then again in May, July and Sept.) if you are prone to doing so. Remember, we have new state fertilization guidelines and restrictions, now: No more than 1lb. nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft., and no more than 1/4 lb. phosphorus/1,000 sq. ft., each time you apply fertilizer. The total amount of nitrogen cannot exceed 4 lbs. per year; phosphorus, 1/2 lb. per year. Be sure to read the fine print on those bags, carefully!

All the dead grass and leaves should be removed from the lawn and composted by now; As usual, we're a little behind on that particular chore. But, the banana trees are all trimmed back, all the citrus trees are de-weeded and fertilized, I'm happy to say, AND my lime tree is blooming!! (yeah, I know YOU know, but I'm beyond excited about that!!) Palm trees should also be fertilized this month, as well as the azaleas when they've finished blooming (this is also a good time to transplant those, if you've a mind to do so.)

Prune the cold weather damaged plants now, after the new growth appears; doing so beforehand can cause you to remove too much, and the plant will take longer to recover. Heavy pruning of the hedges should be done anytime after Mid-March, as well; For more bushy growth, prune just below the bud swells. To retard growth, prune just after growth flush, once the leaves have fully expanded.

And, if you've turned your beds at least two weeks in advance (hahahah....yeah.), now is the time to start planting those tender annuals and vegetables.

Some of the veggies to plant this month: snap beans, lima beans, carrots, celery, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, summer squash, and tomatoes.

Annuals to plant: begonias, coleus, dahlias,daisies, geranuims, impatiens, kalanchoe, marigolds, salvia, periwinkles, phlox, verbenas, and zinnias.

Sweet rewards

Yesterday, while I was blowing off taking a break from windows and washing, I took time out to make a batch of Peanut Butter Blossoms to reward my sweet tooth hard work. I suppose just about everyone already has a recipe for these, but I thought today, as my participation in this week's Midweek Morsels, I'd share mine (I *would* say this was another of grandma's recipes, however I was informed this week that my orange cookie recipe actually comes from my mom's kitchen, and I don't want to give 'false credits' for this one! So...this one started either with mom, gram, or great-grandma, all of whose recipes are blurred together in my recipe files!!)

What you'll need: (makes 2 doz. cookies)
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco)
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. milk
1 egg
1 3/4 c. flour
24 Hershey's chocolate kisses, unwrapped

to make:

In large bowl, cream together peanut butter & shortening.

Add egg, milk and vanilla ; Add sugar and brown sugar; beat until all ingredients are thoroughly blended.

GRADUALLY add the flour & baking soda, and beat until dough is light and crumbly.

Roll dough into small (quarter-sized?) balls, roll balls in white sugar (a small bit on a plate) and place on un-greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes, then remove from oven.

Firmly press one Hershey's Kiss in the center of each cookie; return to oven for 2-5 minutes more.



If you want to find some more great recipes, or to include one of your own, be sure to head on over to Kristina's Favorites for her Midweek Morsels; Keep on cookin', folks!