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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Searching The Meadow.....

One of my childhood memories on my
Grandparents farm...

Going there in the evenings during the summer with my daddy
and picking Meadow Tea...

Meadow Tea grows wild and spreads very
quickly in any area it grows...

Meadow Tea is a Mint/Spearmint flavor
and is so refreshing on a hot summer day...

During a conversation with friends last summer
as we sat around our pool,
the topic of Meadow Tea was mentioned.
To much surprise, our friends were growing
this tea in their small garden at their Townhouse.
I came home several days later to find a bag filled with
a rooted plant of this wonderful tea.

I found a plastic container not in use,
my husband removed the bottom as instructed:/,
I filled the container with a good potting soil
and planted the tea plant in the container.
My husband then planted the container, bottomless
about 1/4 into the ground.
This enables the roots to grow beyond the container and
draw nourishment from the area as though
it was planted directly into the ground, while the container keeps the plant growth under control and raised for easy pickin..

It was near the end of summer when the plant was
transplanted, so I did not get enough leaves to make tea last year...
But this year we got lucky..!

Yesterday was my first picking for the summer,
I was able to make a large pitcher of this,
oh so wonderful tea....

Place the tea plants in a pot of water, bring to a boil
and then simmer for about (1) hour...
Remove the tea from the water and drain through a very fine strainer or cheese cloth...
You can add sugar to taste if you wish and then refrigerate.
I prefer my tea unsweetened.























My container of Meadow Tea growing in an area along side my brick walk...






Container growing is a great way to grow this tea if your limited for space,
the confined area allows you to keep the growth under control....
Other wise, it will over take a large area where planted and you'll have a
never ending job of thinning it out..

My first taste of this tea yesterday took me back to my days on the farm,
hand in hand with daddy as we walked to the meadow in search of our favorite
summer time drink...

Sunday, June 21, 2009

The next phase begins....

Well I must say, the week ended on a very high note...

After finishing my official last day of class,
My Best Friend Kathy arrived at
my home with this beautiful bouquet of flowers
in honor of my completion with school...



After we had pics taken and chatted a bit,
we headed out for dinner.
Our meal was absolutely delicious...
The menu for the evening was,

"Chicken Crissfield"
Sauteed Boneless Chicken breast topped with fresh crab meat,
garnished with cheese, spinach and asparagus.

When we could not take another bite,
we then met up with more friends
and enjoyed the remainder of the evening

with good company and a great atmosphere....

My very good friend, Laurie surprised me with this gift of
Flip Flop Coasters...
She knows me all too well,
I love my flops and for me there is nothing better than having my
Glass of Wine....



It's a great feeling to know after so many years of being out of the classroom,
I was able to take on this challenge and do very well...
What I thought was my last day of class,
appears to not be so...
I was approached by my Instructor and
very much encouraged to continue with school and obtain
my teaching license....

After giving it much consideration and discussing the options with my family,
I am going for it..!!

Stay tuned for the next phase of this new and very exciting
Journey !



Thursday, June 18, 2009

I Did It...I Done It....I'm Done!!!!



My classes to obtain my Nail Technician's License is completed!

I have a day of Pampering for myself tomorrow
and then I say "Byes"

The past 6 weeks have been nothing short of a learning
experience in so many ways...

After more than 20 years I found myself back in the classroom,
I was among high school students as a student and not as the "Adult" in charge,
and my mentors were younger than my son...!

OH...MY!

I would not change a thing if I had the chance....
I learned so much about myself and those around me,
as I took on this new challenge in my "Middle Of The Road" life
and learned a new skill as I worked towards a new profession..
Me with my Instructor, Mrs. B



My buddy, Joe....
Joe is also an Adult Student working towards his Cosmetology License.


Darlene, Me and Antonina

Darlene has such talent with nail art and along with Antonina,
both gals are on their way as they spread their wings
to being an asset to the world of beauty...





I will miss this class of talent, and feel so privileged to have been part of an
awesome group who have a focus and drive to make a difference...

This chapter has taught me that at any age,
one can be a friend and learn from those who have lived so little of their lives
and have so much of life a head of them...



So tomorrow I will give a wave,
But it will not be "Goodbye"...



Sunday, June 14, 2009

Summer Time Treat

Cupcake Kebabs..

How cool is this for a fun and refreshing treat..!

I am certainly going to try and create some Kebabs this summer and let you know how yummmy they are:))


UPDATE TO POST:


Recipe:
Cupcakes, Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry Creme Wafers
And Marshmallows dipped in white chocolate...

Nora, who created this tasty looking treat has seen my post and shared the recipe!
I had found the picture on Flickr...


Thanks, Nora!


Friday, June 12, 2009

Super Friday Savings...


Today was a very good day for last minute shopping and savings...

I literally walked right into a Fantastic Super Friday Savings
at
Esbenshade's Greenhouse
http://www.esbenshades.com/index.asp

As I was out and about today, I decided to stop in at Esbenshades
and take a look at their flowering pots.
I was so excited to find they were having a sale on their 8, 10 and 12 inch pots.
Buy one get the second...
FREE

Yes, that is right..
FREE

I walked away with four planters costing me less than
two 12 inch pots would have cost me at
regular price..!!

I so love a bargain on stuff you really want..


Monday, June 8, 2009

My Bucket List


I have always wanted to compile my own "Bucket List".
A fellow blogger listed hers, and I decided to follow her lead and list mine.
~So, here it goes~


1. Travel the entire coastal highway of California, Oregon and Washington States
2. Travel to Europe
3. Pass my wedding gown on to my grand-daughter
4. Purchase a vacation home
5. Go on a Safari
6. Create a cookbook with ALL my Grandmother and Mother's recipes
7. Finish ALL the scrap books of my grown son's years of achievements
8. Drive the Southern Route to California, returning the Northern Route
9. Purchase a new convertible

God willing I will complete this Bucket List....

If you would like to create and share your own list,
I welcome you to do so.

Make your list and copy/paste it to my comment page on this post
for me and others to read.....




Friday, June 5, 2009

Florida Family

This past week my very good and long time friend,
Sue and her family came for a visit from Florida.
Sue and I met many years ago when we both worked as Nurses in the local hospital where we resided. My son and Sue's daughter are the same age and were friends just as quickly as Sue and I became...
We spent a lot of time together outside of work doing the girl friend thing and also with the kids...So many memories!

Sue lost her father two years ago to cancer and made arrangements
with his widow to obtain family treasures that rightfully so belonged to Sue.
So, my family had the pleasure of having a fun-filled week with Sue and her family.

Since I still had classes the beginning of the week before my "official" vacation,
Sue had many things planned...
Hershey Park with her Best Friend from School, Self Tour of Amish Country
and packing up the family treasures...

Thursday started my first full day of vacation and we too had a full day planned..
We started out doing some shopping to purchase those "extra" pieces you need to store all the stuff you purchase while on vacation..
You know, ALL the Hershey's candy that filled two coolers..OMG!
I thought I loved chocolate..?!!

After our little shopping excursion we headed to one of our favorite places to eat,
Shady Maple in Blue Ball, PA

http://www.shady-maple.com/

If you live in the area and have never been or your coming through the area,
and you LOVE food..
Shady Maple is the place visit..!!

After our belly buster lunch my role as tourist guide began..



Sue and I before our lunch in the Lobby of Shady Maple..



Sue, Me and Deb



Deb and I in Lititz Springs Park


Lititz Springs Park



My son, Jere and Sue's son, Mike...

When did they grow up...??!!
Seems like just yesterday they were strapped in car seats:((


This good-bye was a bit hard,
We had a very relaxing visit with lots of laughs and just doing FUN stuff...

What Sue and I miss the most..
Those long talks over a good cup of coffee....!

Oh...I'm planning a trip this fall to Florida:))