A Sad Truth

Part of growing, maturing, and overcoming obstacles is recognizing that there are people out there who do NOT wish you well, even if they say they love you, who do damage to you, who kick you when you are down.  Part of reclaiming your own life, part of achieving success, part of getting well, is to be willing to really know what experience has taught you and to move on and move away from these  people.  It is NOT an act of love to allow someone to abuse you over and over, to gossip about you, to do damage to you, and to never apologize or change their behavior toward you.  Allowing that has nothing to do with love.  So move on, care for yourself, and let them handle their own stuff.  If they are lucky, life will be able to get through to them and teach them about being better and doing better.  If not, well then, they still have their stuff to deal with, and none of it is yours to handle.

A Short Update

Round One of Healing Treatments 

was over on August 31.  I am on a break of sorts until after the 18th of September.  I am doing well, getting good reports back and getting good and useful feedback.  I like my care team very much.  They are trustworthy people, and that is a quality that in the larger world has been all too rare.  I am doing my work, my part of my healing -- every day.  One of my care team members tells me that is not something they see a lot with patients, so I am something of an anomaly -- a good anomaly.  She said a lot of people never do their part in their own healing; they want the easy way, which does not exist.

I was running some errands a couple weeks back and came across this lovely collection of flowers in  a sidewalk garden, so I thought I would share it.  Of course, I love that there is purple in it.

After A Long Time Away...

I am back again.  Transforming...

It's been a very interesting few months, a time of some heavy-duty changes and inner transformations.  It's been a time of great blessing as I have received much tender caring from friends old and new.  It's been a time of intense meditation, prayer, and doing the work required when one is seeking spiritual connection, answers, and tools to live by.  Working at it is necessary because what is sought requires more of a person than who that person was at the starting point.  Work strengthens. There is no other way to get there than by doing the work in the journey.

I have been spending as much time in nature as I can.  Nature is one of life's Great Healers, Great Rejuvenators, Great Friends.  Several days per week I spend hours among the flowers, trees, grasses. I am there in both sunshine and rain, does not matter to me.  My time spent in the natural world has been amazing -- very cleansing of old inner junk that needs to go.

I am happy to say that the decision I made so many months ago is still firm in my soul, and it is one of the best decisions I ever made.  It proves to be increasingly valuable and helpful.

Something new...

Tomorrow, July 12, I start a new journey of discovery, healing, and again building my life.  I am quite nervous about it, but I am relieved and proud as well.  I did the work necessary to reach this place and go the next level.  I am ready.  Ready does not have to be synonymous with brave.  I don't feel so brave, just ready.  I know I need this gift of grace and I am accepting it, and I am beyond grateful to have the help and guidance I will need.

For now, a photo of one of my sweet nature havens:

Blessed Day

I just want to wish everyone a Happy Easter.  I hope you are all enjoying the spring season.

Holy Moly and Tasty Tuesday

March has certainly come in like a lion.  The wind has been wildly blowing for a couple of days now, and I am surprised I have not seen trees or animals flying by.  Prior to yesterday was actually warm and humid to the point of being uncomfortable, but the wind has taken care of that.  Brrrr.

For today's Tasty Tuesday, I am sharing a yummy and satisfying hot vegetable casserole with the main attraction:

Layered Hot Dish

Ingredients:

1 large package of frozen broccoli and cauliflower

1 can cream of celery soup (do not add water)

1 8-ounce jar of Cheez Whiz

1 can sliced water chestnuts

1 can French fried onion rings 

Instructions:

Layer ingredients in greased casserole dish according to the order listed above.  The French fried onion rings will go on the top.  Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  I cover the casserole for the first 30 minutes of baking and then remove cover and bake for the remaining 15 minutes so onions can get crunchy.

A nice hot comforting dish to compliment a main dish, or you can have this as a meal in itself if you prefer.

Dollar Tree Craft Item and St. Patrick's Day Recipe

Hello Everyone -- My apologies for delays in posting.  Things have been a little crazy around the home front.

Dollar Tree Craft Item Review:

To jump right in, I have a review of a Dollar Tree craft item that I intended to post last week and forgot.  Many people have jumped on to the adult coloring book trend.  People often find coloring relaxing, that it helps them to remove themselves from the hassles of the day and to focus on other things.  Some of the images available in adult coloring books are really beautiful and can be used as art to decorate walls or made into book covers or made into place mats, and more.

Dollar Tree has many adult coloring book choices from floral and garden designs to geometric designs to famous places around the world and more.  It's easy to see what you are getting when you can flip through the books, see the images, and get a feel for the quality of the paper.

But what about the colored pencils for use in coloring those images?  Dollar Tree carries a convenient pack of colored pencils, but you can't really tell how they will work or how the colors will look on paper until you get them home.

I picked up a pack of the Dollar Tree colored pencils.  The brand is Liqui-Mark, and the pack contains 10 pencils.  The colors look very vibrant in the package, and I was pleased to see that they were already sharpened to a fine point.  Colors included are:  dark green, brown, red, orange, yellow, bright green, sky blue, violet purple, black, and navy blue (the black pencil is in the box, did not realize it had not shown up until after I posted the photo).  I thought, "not bad for a buck."

But how do they work and look on paper?  I tried each one by coloring a little swatch of each color on a piece of white paper.  I found them to work smoothly on the paper.  I did NOT press hard with the colors because I have arthritis in my hands and do not want to use art or craft tools where I have to really press hard to get them to work.  Thankfully, that was not an issue as the color went onto the paper well, and the pigment was good without having to go over and over it.

Here is how the colors came out on paper.  If you go to Dollar Tree and wonder about the quality of the Liqui-Mark colored pencils, here is how they look.  I think for a dollar, you can't really beat it.

The black one (because I forgot to use it on the example with the others):

The colors would probably be more vibrant if I chose to go over them a few times or to press hard with the pencil, but for basic colored pencils to keep on hand for your coloring books or journals, this is a great buy, in my opinion.

Now, how about a fun salad or dessert idea for Saint Patrick's Day?

Pear Salad (to get your Green on)

Ingredients:

1 3-ounce package of lime jello

1 cup pear juice

2 3-ounce packages of cream cheese, room temperature

1 16-ounce can of pears, drained (save juice for the 1 cup of juice required)

1 8-ounce carton of Cool Whip

Instructions:

1)  Bring the 1 cup of pear juice gently to a boil.  Remove from heat.  Remove juice from pan and put into a medium size mixing bowl.

2)  Dissolve jello in the hot pear juice.

3)  Beat the cream cheese into the jello mixture.

4)  Crush the drained pears, and add them to the jello mixture.

5)  Chill until the mixture is turning thicker (like syrup).

6)  Fold in Cool Whip, and chill until firm.

Wishing everyone a great weekend coming up!

Dollar Tree Show and Tell -- Items I Have Tried and Like -- Part 2

Today's post is Part 2 of my Dollar Tree experiences, likes, and opinions.  Today I will be talking about Dollar Tree food.

As well as checking the expiration dates on food items at Dollar Tree (and any other grocery store), you might want to check the label to see where items are produced.  I am happy to say that I have found many Dollar Tree food items that are produced in the USA.  Some are produced in Spain, Germany, and other European countries.  Some are produced in China, India, and other countries in the near and far East.  It's up to you which items you choose to purchase.

Also, Dollar Tree will often carry its own brand (Greenbrier Farms) of many different items, but you will also find several well-known name brands at Dollar Tree such as Campbell's, Kraft, Libby's, Uncle Ben's, and more.  

NOTE:  Not every DT carries the same things at the same times.  Each DT store carries what they are able to procure at any given time.  You will find many of the same items at each DT, but also different items as well.

NOTE 2:  If you find something you like at DT, buy it then, and don't wait.  You can never be sure that same item will be in stock the next time you shop there.  Inventory, brands, types of items change all the time.  Once it is gone, it may not come back.

On to the photos:

Above, I have a photo of some of my recent food purchases.

Back row first:  

1) Crush sugar-free drink mix -- 6 packets, intended to put one packet of mix per one 20-ounce bottle of water.  I only purchase water by the gallon, so I just add a packet to a regular glass of water.  The flavor is a bit stronger that way, but I like it.  The Crush flavor shown is Pineapple, which I like.  DT often carries other Crush flavors like Strawberry, Orange, and Grape.

2)  Hawaiian Punch sugar-free drink mix -- 8 packets, also intended to add to a 20-ounce bottle of water, and I also just mix this with a regular glass of water.  This flavor is Wild Purple Smash (grape), though there are usually a few kinds of Hawaiian Punch mix at DT.  I see the fruit punch quite often and more types as well.

3)  Campbell's Chicken Gravy -- Great over potatoes, rice, noodles.  I frequently mix this with baked chicken and cooked veggies to put over egg noodles.  Yum.

4)  Cream of Wheat in Cinnabon flavor -- OMG.  In my opinion, this is so good.  There are 3 packets of instant Cream of Wheat in this box.  If the sidewalk outside tasted like Cinnabon, I would eat it, so this flavor is A-OK with me.

Front Row:

1)  Butterfield Farms White Meat Chicken -- Chunk style, 5-ounce can.  Packed in water which is almost like a broth.  I add the water to whatever I am cooking with the chicken.   This is very good for adding to casseroles, and I often add it to soups to increase the protein content.  Made in my home state of Minnesota.

2)  Palmer's Peanut Butter Hearts -- These are similar to the peanut-butter cup idea.  They are shaped like hearts and taste very good, though they do not taste the same as Reese's so don't expect that they will.  The hearts might be sold out now since Valentine's Day is past, but Palmer's is a pretty good candy manufacturer and I have enjoyed their candies at each holiday.

Detail photos:

Other foods I purchased recently:

1)  In the foreground, there is a 4-ounce pack of Planter's Salted Peanuts.  I keep a pack or two of these around because I like to add peanuts to my cooked ramen noodles, and I like to add peanuts to my home-made coleslaw (to add some protein).

2)  From the left in back is a 10-ounce jar of the Pampa brand mushroom pieces and stems.  This product is made in Holland.  This comes out to be a great deal since a 4-ounce can of mushroom pieces and stems at my regular grocery store runs about 75 cents.

3)  On the bottom is a can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup, It is 13.8 ounces, and it is condensed, so you do add a can of water when preparing.  This item is a staple in my household, and I do add the canned white chicken (see above) to increase the protein content in this soup.  This size can is 25% larger than the regular can of chicken noodle soup in the regular grocery stores, and it only costs one buck.

4)  On the top of the soup is a can of Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli.  And while you can often get this product for the same price or even a bit less than a buck at your regular grocery store on special or with a store coupon, it is handy to get at Dollar Tree if you are already there.  Also, my local grocery store often charges $1.25 per can, while DT is always a buck.  To add more protein and nutrition to this, I often heat up some frozen broccoli and add it to the pan of ravioli, along with some of the mushroom pieces I mentioned.  It makes a nice meal in a hurry.  It isn't fancy, but it tastes pretty good and fills the tummy.

5)  Next, we have a shaker container of  Garlic Salt.  Because this is salt, I do use it sparingly, but it is perfect for adding that little extra flavor to a dish.  Dollar Tree has a great selection of spices -- each for a dollar.  Such a great deal compared to the regular grocery stores.

6)  Next, there is a can of Libby's Whole Kernel Sweet Corn.  The Libby's vegetables at DT sell for 79 cents per can.  I know I can get canned vegetables cheaper at Aldi, but if I need something and I am at DT, I will often purchase it rather than make the drive to Aldi.  I love Aldi, but the closest one to me is almost 10 miles.

7)  On top of the corn, there is a pouch of Velveeta Cheese Sauce -- the kind of cheese sauce that comes with the Velveeta Shells and Cheese.  This particular pouch is Jalapeno Cheese Sauce, which I did not realize when I picked it up, but it is fine with me since I enjoy Jalapeno.  DT also carries the regular flavor cheese sauce.  I use this product in making a quick pasta casserole with cooked chicken chunks, steamed veggies, and a bit of chopped onion.  I add a little bit of milk if it needs more moisture.

So there you have it, folks, just some photos and thoughts and opinions on Dollar Tree from my perspective.

I also want to let you know that Dollar Tree accepts manufacturer coupons, and they often carry products on which you can use those coupons.  

Overall, I love Dollar Tree, and I actually need to limit my shopping trips because there is a tendency to spend more money than I intend because everything is only a buck (or sometimes less).  And saving a buck is sometimes wiser than spending a buck.  But Dollar Tree has great products available when I need them.  So YAY for Dollar Tree!

Dollar Tree Show and Tell -- Items I Have Tried and Like -- Part 1

Today I am posting some photos for you of items I purchase at Dollar Tree.

If you have never been to Dollar Tree, or don't go often, or if you just enjoy shopping at Dollar Tree like I do, this is a post for you.

If you went to a dollar store over 10 years ago and did not like what you found, if the food items were expired or very near expiration or if the cans were mostly dented or damaged, then you need to know that Dollar Tree is not like those old sad dollar stores.  

You should be checking expiration dates on food items at any store, but here is the deal with Dollar Tree -- most of the food products that I find at Dollar Tree either expire in 1 to 2 years, or are at least months out from their expiration dates.  And the instances of finding dented cans has gone way down.  These days you might find a few dented cans, but not more than you find in just about any grocery store.

Dollar Tree might not always be your least expensive store on some items.  

Yes, one might be tempted to think Dollar Tree means rock-bottom savings.  This is not always the case.  But Dollar Tree offers some really great items for a price lower than you can get at regular stores.  Dollar Tree also offers convenience and an easier time shopping since you don't have to wander a huge store to find what you are looking for.  And Dollar Tree changes up their inventory a lot, so part of the fun is finding something you have never seen there before.  Sometimes Dollar Tree will acquire name brand items that you cannot even touch for a buck in the regular stores.

The short list of best items I have found at Dollar Tree:

1) Party supplies -- paper plates, napkins, gift bags, gift wrap, cards -- lots of variety, and fun.

2) Hair styling products -- headbands, head scarves, brushes, barrettes, pony-tail elastics, combs.

3) Nail polish and supplies -- I personally like LA Colors nail polish the best of any I have tried (including brands like Revlon and L'Oreal.  For me, that brand is the most long lasting and goes on nicely even with my clumsiness.  

4) Body wash and soap -- Lots of selection here.  Generally, DT carries a lot of Soft Soap products.  They have also been carrying Dial hand soap in the pump recently, and I like that a lot.  If you do purchase a product in a pump, test the pump first to ensure it will function.  I have run into some off brands that are good, but the pump does not work.

5) Hair care products -- Now, understand that great name brands like L'Oreal or Wen will not generally be available at DT.  But for the basic "get the job done" to get your hair clean and conditioned, there are several good choices.  VO5 is a common brand at DT, or White Rain shampoos and conditioners.  DT also carries Silkience products and more.

6)  Facial tissues, paper towels, and toilet paper -- Not all brands are equal, but I do like the Bounty 1-ply paper towels (44 count for a dollar).  You can get this same pack for 97 cents at Wal-Mart, but I don't generally enjoy going to Wal-Mart as it is just too big for me.  Scotties brand facial tissues are 120 count for a buck.  I always get a box or two when I go to DT.  They are soft enough to not bother my nose when I have a cold or my allergies are acting up.  And surprisingly, the Home Store brand toilet paper is not bad at all.  I place it a step up from Scott toilet paper and a step down from Northern.  I actually prefer it and pick up a pack when ever I am at DT.  There are 4 rolls in a pack for one dollar, and I have not paid that little for toilet paper since I was in college (a long time ago).

On to the photos --

Cleaning / Household Supplies:

1)  Good Sense Lawn and Leaf Bags -- In my opinion, the Good Sense brand has decent trash bags, both for the kitchen can and for the large garbage can.  I feel the same way about the lawn and leaf bags which I just use for garbage.  These are NOT heavy-duty bags, but they are good for normal use. Don't over-stuff them or stuff them full of heavy books or boxes with corners, and they will be okay. Do NOT buy the brand with the really thin bags -- the thin bags will break even as you are filling them.  Good Sense bags work much better.

2) Good & Clean Disinfectant Wipes for the bathroom or kitchen -- I personally find that these do the job just as well as any other similar wipes I have tried.   These are 24 wipes for a buck.

3)  White Distilled Vinegar -- I use this for cleaning windows, mirrors, and to clean the hard water scale off of the ends of faucets.  Works really well.  32 ounces for a buck, and it does not take up so much room like a gallon jug from a regular grocery store.  Those of use with limited space need to think about that stuff.

4)  Baby wipes -- I like these particular Sesame Street Baby Wipes, but DT carries several brands.  I use baby wipes all the time in making art projects and for cleaning small items where a rag is too thick.  This pack contains 72 wipes, and they do not shred apart or disintegrate when used.

5)  Brillo brand household gloves, great for protecting hands while you clean or work on projects.  I am able to re-use a pair at least 4 times.

That is it for my post today, All.

I will post Part 2 tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 20.  Part 2 will contain food items and a craft item.

So long for now.

Happy Valentine's Day and Tasty Tuesday

I want to wish you all a very happy Valentine's Day!  

I hope all of you receive the gifts of love in all kinds of ways this coming year -- love among friends, love in a marriage or significant relationship, love and fun with your pets, and more.  I also hope that you all have the chance to do something that you love -- get into cooking, read more good books, make things, travel, play sports, learn to play an instrument, and other things you might want to do. 

Love makes life rich!

In keeping with the sweet theme of the day, I am sharing a dessert recipe:

Pecan Pie Bars

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 cup margarine or butter

1 cup sweetened, condensed milk

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 (6-ounce almond brickle chips OR toffee chips)

1 cup pecans, chopped

Instructions:

1)  Mix flour and sugar.

2)  Cut the margarine or butter into the flour and sugar mixture.

3)  Press mixture into 9 x 13" pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.

4)  Mix together the remaining ingredients and spread that mixture on crust.

5)  Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden.

6)  If you need to store the bars, store them in the refrigerator.

Tasty Tuesday -- Beef and Spinach Over Rice

My routine has been upset recently...

I have been spending a lot of time in doctor's offices and waiting rooms.  For one thing, I broke my foot.  Not sure how I did it, but it started hurting one day and swelled up and did not really get any better, so I went in and found out I broke it -- in several places.  Go me!

I get to go in to town again tomorrow to find out whether or not I will need surgery.  I am wearing a big ugly boot on my foot, but it does minimize the pain a lot since it holds the foot in one position.

There are some other issues that require appointments as well, so I am trying to keep up with business and home tasks as well, but it is a challenge.

ANYWAY...

Our Recipe Tonight is Beef and Spinach Over Rice.

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef

1 (4-Ounce) can mushrooms, drained

1 medium-sized onion, chopped

1 package frozen chopped spinach, thawed

1 can cream of celery soup (do not add water)

1 cup sour cream

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or to your taste)

1/2 teaspoon oregano (again, to your taste)

Salt and pepper to your taste

1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1)  Combine beef, mushrooms, onion, garlic, and oregano.  Brown in skillet.

2)  Salt and pepper to taste.

3)  Place thawed spinach on top of browned beef mixture and cover.

4)  Add the cream of celery soup and the sour cream.

5)  Let the spinach steam this way (just a few minutes) until it is soft enough to mix in with the other ingredients.

6)  Stir to blend all the ingredients in the skillet so far.

7)  Place mixture into medium-sized casserole dish.

8)  Sprinkle the Mozzarella cheese on top.

9)  Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 35 minutes.

10)  Serve over cooked rice.

Well, gotta get to bed.  That doctor appointment tomorrow is early in the morning and I have a ways to drive.

Tasty Tuesday and Bidding Farewell to January

Tasty Tuesday is here again...

Today's recipe is for a super quick and easy side dish that will go well with almost any meal.

Seeded Bow Tie Noodles

Ingredients:

8 ounces bow tie noodles

3 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon poppy seeds

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon coarsely-ground pepper

Instructions:

1)  Cook noodles according to package instructions, al dente.

2)  Drain water from noodles.

3)  Toss noodles gently with remaining ingredients.  Serves 4.

Today is the last day of January.

It has been a whirlwind month -- a new year, a new President, a new outlook, a new opportunity for change, exploration, and building.  I have been working on inventory organization, improving business practices, setting new goals and doing my best to meet them.  Tomorrow a friend is coming to help me haul many items out for donation and for trash.  Some of the items are big (chairs) so the help is much appreciated.

I did not make any big New Year's resolutions this year.  Instead, I am doing weekly goals, which I am happy to sat I am keeping pretty well so far.  Last year I made one big resolution, and I am happy to say I kept it all year.  It was a major decision having to do with my freedom, well-being, and progress, and keeping it faithfully has certainly been paying off.

Do you make resolutions every year?  How is it going for you?  I have found that keeping the resolutions to a minimum helps me a lot.  Trying to accomplish too much at once is not something I do well.  For me, the small number of weekly goals tends to work better.

I hope you are all having a good week, and that your goals and efforts are yielding good results for you.  

Welcome to Tasty Tuesday, Everyone

Today's recipe is for a hearty, elegant main dish:

SHERRIED BEEF (serves 8 to 10)

Ingredients:

3 pounds stewing beef, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 cans cream of mushroom soup (do NOT add water)

1 package Lipton Onion Soup mix

3/4 cup sherry wine

1/2 pound fresh mushrooms (can use canned mushrooms)

Optional: about 15 pearl onions

Optional: about a cup of cut carrot slices (about 1/2 inch thick)

Instructions:

1)  Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

2)  Mix all ingredients together and place in heavy ovenware casserole dish with lid.

3)  Bake for 3 hours at 325 degrees.  

4)  Serve with noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes.

Tasty Tuesday (Sorry for my absence recently)

Hi All -- I have not blogged for a few weeks.  It's a long boring story, so I am just going to jump in to sharing a recipe with you for Tasty Tuesday.

The recipe this week is for a hearty, hot, flavorful soup.

Cheese and Onion Soup

Ingredients:

1 large onion, chopped in small pieces

3 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp flour

1/2 tsp. salt

Pepper to taste

4 cups milk

2 cups shredded Monterey Jack and Colby Cheese

Seasoned croutons

Instructions:

1)  In large saucepan, saute onion in butter.

2)  Stir in flour, salt, and pepper until blended.

3)  Gradually add milk.

4)  Bring to a gentle boil, then turn heat down a bit and let the soup thicken, stirring constantly.  

5)  Add cheese and stir until melted.

6)  Remove from heat and serve in bowls.  Sprinkle surface of soup with seasoned croutons and serve.  Yields about 6 servings.