Herbs???

Gosh, I've had to think a bit about herbs.  I have used Thyme in my tomato sauce, but not often.  Sweet Basil adds to the flavour of just about any dish containing tomatoes. Rosemary works well with chicken, in meat or vegetable rubs, and also in many Greek dishes such as Souvlaki.  Dried parsley is good in stews and such, so I imagine that  the fresh parsley would do well there.  I used to dry my own Parsley, and the scent would permeate the house for a couple of days.  I used to love that scent.  I don't think I've ever used Fernleaf dill, but did use dill in dips.  It can also be used sparingly when mixing a rub for roasted vegetables. I've never heard of your version of "celery", but wonder if it is related to Cilantro, which is a green leafy plant.  I used to use that often, but darned if I can remember where.  Salsa???  Soup??

I think you are right about considering the circumstance,s when deciding to eat out.  We have no hard a fast rule about it, although if I were served raw fish, think I would make it a rule not to go back there ever again.
Once in awhile we do order take out from the Chinese restaurant in the mall.  Just as often we just buy the fried rice, and serve it with whatever is on the menu.  Breakfast used to be at Tim's, as often as we were able to ride our bikes, but we just order drinks now, since the price went up.  I believe that you have to treat  yourself once in awhile, but good restaurants can be expensive, and often I don't see any justification for it.

Today my threads arrived.  I have used them a bit to check them out, and love the effect they give.  I also received a DVD that I had ordered.  It was quite a surprise to see that it originally came from Sweden, although I ordered it from the States.  Global economy, I guess.

Herbs

For a few years I have been trying to cultivate a little herb garden - this year it is doing very nicely with a few additions and some tlc. So now I wonder what I am to do with them and ask the experts - you folks. This is what I have growing:  English Thyme, French Tarragon, Sweet Basil, Rosemary, Sage, Parsely, Fernleaf dill, and a green leaf plant called celery but it is not what we think of as celery, and of course Mint. Every time I tend to the garden I pick a few leaves off each and eat them and each has its own particular flavour. So, how and when and with what can I make use of them. Any suggestions welcome. I have a Herb Book but it doesn't really tell me much except what they are and their medicinal uses. Another hot day today and much outside work accomplished. Sucks the living life out of you though haha  We have discussed the cost of going out to eat over the last little while ( since that horrendous expensive meal of raw fish I had last week) and decided that it would be much more economical to purchase a nice product and cook it at home eg Harry bought some big thick salmon steaks at Metro on Tuesday in North Bay, and we had them grilled with a lemon based marinade and they were absolutely delicious. They were on sale but cost almost 25.00 for four but still better than the 60.00 restaurant charge we paid last week! So this afternoon we were resting in the shade and Harry wanted fried rice for supper. I said I could cook some as I had all the ingredients needed but in light of the hotness and both of us worn out, we ordered from the local Chinese restaurant instead - dinner for two with egg rolls, fried rice, sweet and sour chicken balls and beef chow mein. I walked up to the restaurant ( I had just drank a beer) to pick it up and we ate it outside. I guess you have to consider the circumstances of eating out versus home made, and tonight it seemed just right to order take out haha Now I think I'll get ready for bed and read for a little bit under the fan. It is hard on the animals to be so hot and humid and without central air, I have fans blowing all around - sort of circulating hot air but it does feel a bit cooler! Cathy, is your internet faster now? Take care

Quiet times

Just puttering around, and working in the studio.  Had a bit of a surprise with my auto insurance.  For the last year, we've been paying "new car insurance", which means that the car is insured for $20,000, should it be written off.  We had thought that this was for the first year, but evidently it is for two years.  So my auto deduction didn't go down, but we have a little extra insurance instead.  When we worked out our budget for July, we realized that it was going to be a long, tight, month, so we decided to live out of the freezer, and then clean it out at the end of the month. ( we do this every 18-24 months--whether it needs it or not) This leads to some interesting meals, such as the necessity to eat boneless chicken breast every second day for the whole month. I'm taking the opportunity to live out of my pantry as well, which is even more interesting.  The other night we tried Chunky soup over rice again.  Now I know that there is a reason we don't eat it that way.  But I'm also trying to use up cake mixes, many of which were bought over a year ago in the States.  Maybe it's not just the new  pills that have resulted in a big weight gain over the past two weeks?  You think?

Wednesday and yesterday, David and I worked at cleaning out my thread baskets--all 24 of them, plus two full shelves.  I half filled a 5 gallon pail with discards, and filled a grocery bag with better quality thread, that just isn't going to be used by me.  That bag was to go to the thrift store, but David offered it to the lady across the back to use in her volunteer work with MaryMound.  She was pleased to get it.

I may have mentioned being very pleased and satisfied with getting all of my windows washed.  This was part of a list I made up of 24 items that I would like to see done before snowfall.  Another one was crossed off the list yesterday--cleaning all of the floor level went covers.  Making the jam perhaps should have been on the list, but wasn't.  And yes, cleaning out the freezer and pantry are actually on the list.  I figure that if we can do one or two a week, we should make the deadline. If this all makes you wonder where I'm finding my energy, you have a point.  I think the new medication is working very, very well.  It's as though I have come awake after a very long nap. It's surprising how chronic pain can weigh you down, both physically and spiritually.  At this point, I haven't taken a Tylenol since Monday--and they haven't been missed.

So, for today, I am grateful for Aleve/Motrin, someone to help me with my job list, and, unfortunately, prune juice, yet again..

Friday

My last official day of holidays.  I have done absolutely nothing since Tuesday.  It has been great.  I've read a couple of books (okay, more than a couple)  I even got in the pool finally.  It was empty for a change.  I also turned into the "Little Dutch Boy" and had my hand over a leak in the side of the pool.  It sort of looked like a little boy peeing.  Jim put about an inch of silicone on it and covered it with duct tape.  We couldn't let the silicone dry since I was trying to keep the leak covered from the inside.  It is a little damp on the outside of the pool, but the water isn't spewing forth anymore.  The garden is mostly weeded.  I need to run the tiller down a couple of rows.  The wood pile is tidied up.  We never did finish cutting since the new chain doesn't fit our chain saw.  I was sitting outside reading, but the chair is one of those cheap plastic ones and my back started to ache, so I came inside for a break.  I didn't even shut up the house today.  It is so hot by evening anyway, that I decided not to bother.  We went to the new Target store in  Brandon yesterday.  I doubt if I will make an effort to go back.  The prices seemed a bit higher than I would have expected.  Walmart may not be my favourite store, but at least it is cheap.  Holiday Festival starts tomorrow.  One of Keri's friends is teaching the children's drama, so she will have company for the week.  It will be nice for her.  I guess I should pretend to do something ambitious.  Like read another book!

A little bit of rain let me down.....

Scooby and I were working in the garden when a storm came up with thunder and then lots of rain only for a little while. enough to drive us into the house and start pumping at the front but as quickly as it came, it has gone. Taking advantage of some free time and free computer access haha We went up to North Bay quickly this morning to buy another budgie because one died last evening. They need company so thus needed another to make up the pair. Right now they are just looking at each other and getting used to new companions. I have found a really nice yoghurt called Astro Original Natural Yoghurt that comes in 8-100g containers in a sleeve. The flavours are: Vanilla, Black Forest, Caramel and Cappucino. I know it is a treat but I have really enjoyed the taste. They say to have one yoghurt a day to ward off "the blues" and although I don't think its really working, I am liking the yoghurt haha.  We got 4 baskets of strawberries yesterday and I baked most of the day - kuchen, pie, and cake. Also made a banana cake with some overripe bananas. And eating lots of fresh strawberries in yoghurt. I had to get a bag of ice to put into a cooler because I didn't have enough room in the fridge to store the baskets yet to be consumed. Well the rain has stopped and I should get on with the rest of my day. Just got a call from the insurance company to say they had a message that our automatic deduction of house insurance for end of June was returned with note that it was NSF. This is embarrassing so I must now run down to the office and pay them cash and then go onto the computer to figure out what went wrong. Never rains but it pours - oh well, keeps we busy haha Take care

Still hot and humid

We are spending a lot of time staying in the cooler house. In someways I miss being able to sit in the yard,but it was never one of my great pleasures, although a small treasure periodically.  Beth, your love of your yard shines through in your postings, even if it is a lot of work.

Saturday we went out to "Selkirk to pick up my piece from the show there.  I was very surprised to be told that my piece had received more favourable comments than any other in the show. this is the Marsh in the Mist piece that I had been unhappy with.  Monday evening I took a pictures, of the things I have been working on lately, to my Ravenesque meeting, and there were more very favourable comments, with people saying that it was their favourite, of all the pictures I showed them. So maybe there is something there that I'm too close to to see properly.  This has certainly happened before.  I will take it to the Pinawa sale and see how it's received there.

I mention our little trip as I took the camera searching for willow trees.  The piece I am working on now is of a Prairie "wind break", also known as a shelter belt.  This is working well enough that I want to put a little extra effort into it.  I didn't get any pictures, but came to realize that there are scrub willow, weeping willow, and thewonderful willow trees depicted by the great Regency painters.  I did some internet research and got some very nice pictures, did a lot of sketching, and on my bike ride Sunday morning, discovered a magnificent willow tree in the park close by.  I'm now in the process of sketching the basic trees onto my background and will then fill them out with thread painting.  So today we went over to the local quilt  store to buy thread.  Certainly no joy there, so I ordered some of the internet, but don't expect it to arrive until, at least, Friday. Delayed gratification is not one of my secret pleasures.

Tomorrow I have promised to spend some time baking.  We are finally going to make our yearly rhubarb pie, and maybe two batches of jam, and two or three banana loaves for the freezer.  ( Bananas were on sale today)  Two weeks ago the doctor started me on a new medication, and I have gained over 7 pounds since starting to take it, so not the best time to be baking goodies.  But he also recommended an otc medication that may be just as good, although less strong, so we bought it today and we'll see what happens.  I'll let you know.

So how is the holiday girl ??

Assuming Cathy that you are relaxing under the umbrella and reading a lot? Regardless, it is a nice feeling to know you can sleep in each morning, right?  Are you really thinking of not having the swimming pool next year?
Not much new here....I mentioned the situpon ( the little gazebo thing we have in our garden) that we were cleaning out and refreshing with a new coat of paint.  I got it all sanded down ready to paint when discovered one of the supporting beams - a six foot long 4X4 was rotting. So a few trips to the hardware store and a few hours of hard labour, and a few words, and it has now been repaired satisfactorily. It is now painted and sits proud as can be. I have already taken my usual  morning coffee sitting in it once and intend to do so many more times. Tomorrow we are off early to pick strawberries. Most of my days are spent working in the yard as there is so much work to be done. I haven't even been out on my bike lately. I bought the next book in the series by Steve Berry off of KOBO the other day but will keep it on hand until I  have finished the real book I am reading just now. I say real because it is there in your hand and you can turn pages and feels good. I love the e reader but I also love to feel a book book ! Hard to think that it is July already, and before long we shall ask where was the summer - so I make sure I enjoy every day by walking to the lake and soaking in all the niceness of it! Harry went garage saleing on Saturday and brought home a box full of old magazines pertaining to quilting. Some are really old (1983 ish) and few really recent but I am gradually looking through them. I mostly just turn the pages and think of all the fine projects I would like to do, but realize will never be accomplished. But it is fun to look! Quite a change from todays "modern quilting" methods that was highlighted in the recent Canadian Quilter magazine I just got a week or two ago. Anyway, time for bed. Take care