Weekend Getaway

My husband and I were able to get away this past weekend. Its been a long summer. A lot has been going on. My work place has been stressing me out. Not the job but the people I work with. My daughter moved out on her own leaving me in an empty nest, and with all the recent world news, we simply just needed a break. Some alone time together. A date.

This was our last beach trip of the year. Yep, its that time of year we go to the beach and winterize the camper and leave it alone until spring. I already cant wait.

The weather was beautiful. It was in the 70s and 80s all weekend with only sunshine and no rain in site. Each morning we would take a stroll on the beach. We saws happy fishermen sit watching their lines while some people were walking their dogs or walking hand in hand with the ones they love. Just enjoying life.

One morning we walked a mile up the beach to visit my brother-in-law and niece. Then we walked around a yard sale and back to our place. Another morning we took a walk the other direction which goes past preserved land. We wanted to see what was on the other side of the dunes. As we approached the top of the dunes we saw benches in the distant.

It was rather weird as there were no trails leading to them. I felt like I found a secret place. I wonder what it was or what it had been. Whatever it was, It looked peaceful.

We sat our chairs out in the afternoons and soaked up the sound of the sea and fresh air. One afternoon we stayed out until sunset.

We went to our favorite places to eat and one night while at a Mexican restaurant, the power went out right after we ordered our food. There were more customers there and no one seem to mind even thought it was dark. You could see the glow of cell phone lights and lighters. Speaking of cell phone lights, I used mine as a lamp so we could see what we were eating.

It was pretty funny. I'm still confused on how they got our order out. I guess they used gas ovens, stoves and grills. Its was delicious all the same. It was was fun and certainly something different.

While packing up to leave on our last day, we got a call from our daughter. Her car battery was dead and didn't know how to get to work. She ended up calling her uncle to pick her up on his way since he worked near her workplace. While it brought on more stress and rushed us back on the road, It also reminded me that it was time to get back to reality and no matter how grown up my child is, she still needs her mom and dad at that makes me feel warm inside. Its also time to get back to work which I dread. But it gets me where I am and what I need. I am thankful for that. So for now, I will just dream of the day we can spend more time at the beach. Hurry up spring.

Pumpkin Spice Biscotti

Ok all you coffee lovers out there. Here is a wonderful recipe for Biscotti with a touch of Autumn, and spice. Perfect dipped in your favorite hot drink.

 

 

This biscotti is not too sweet but just sweet enough to get your day started and Im going to share the recipe with you. But first, make sure you read the baking directions correctly. I thought I was miss Betty Crocker and went ahead of the directions then realized I was doing it all wrong. It was almost a mess but was an easy fix.

 

Pumpkin Spice Biscotti

 

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees

 

Sift together,

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

 

In another bowl whisk together,

2 eggs

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

1 teaspoon pumpkin spice

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

Directions:

• Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and blend together. (it will be dry and crumbly)
• Flour your hands and a clean counter top and kneed the dough.
• Form the dough into a log about 6 inches wide and 1/2 inch high.
• Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool for about 15 minutes.
• Cut into 1 inch wide pieces.
• Turn oven down to 300 degrees and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes .

Makes about 24 pieces.


These turned out a little soft. If you like them more crisp like I do, just bake them a little longer and/or leave out uncovered overnight.

Biscotti also makes great gifts for neighbors, work, or friends.
Store in an airtight container or baggies.
Enjoy.


Ive shared this at:
mix-it-up-monday at flourmewithlove
inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome
monday-handmade-linkup at judyscardmakingandpapercrafts
something-fabulous at roubinek
full-plate-thursday at mizhelenscountrycottage
thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop at katherinescorner

The Corn Starch Experiment

I've always heard that you can use talc powder or cornstarch to remove grease from kitchen walls so when I got some on my practically new leather Toms, I had not choice but to try. Im not real sure how the grease got on my shoes but It was also on my jeans. I washed the jeans and it didn't come out .

After wearing my shoes all day with the stains on them that I tried to get out with water, They made me feel ugly. I was mad that this had happened. I was ready to toss them to the side but not until I at least tried the corn starch thing. The cornstarch is suppose to absorb and pull the grease out. We'll see.

I took pictures incase it worked so I could share it.... and well..... see for yourself.

Here is the greasy spots. Ugly right?

Here they are with the cornstarch on them. I let it sit on there for about an hour.

After about an hour, I used an old toothbrush and scrubbed around on the spots and brushed the leather until the cornstarch was gone...

and so were the spots.

It didn't take the spot out completely but at least they don't look like a giraffe anymore. If I would have left the cornstarch on longer it may have absorbed the spot more.

Pretty neat huh? I think I may go try it on my jeans now.

Ive shared this at:
tuesday-pin-spiration at thestitchinmommy
before-after Wednesday at thededicatedhouse 

DIY Hat Pumpkin

Happy Fall everyone! First I want to share this perfect leaf I found laying on the ground at Walmart. I was not sure if it was real or fake. I took it home and used it. It will work perfect on my Pumpkin I made.
So I thought.

   
Every year I come up with some way to recycle something from the house to create a pumpkin for Fall.

As I was searching around the house, I came across a bag of things I was going to take to the local Goodwill store. The bag was over stuffed and an old hat kept falling out. I kept stuffing it back in the bag as I searched for something of a sweater material to create a pumpkin with. There were no options in there. As I turned around to leave the room, the hat fell out again. That's when it hit me. "It is the perfect color. Could I? Will It work? I will make it work".

So, I filled the hat with stuffing.

With a string of yarn, I sewed and gathered the hat closed. Then I ran out into the yard and grabbed a piece of stick for the stem. and.....added the leaf.

I had some raffia and it was perfect for the bow. Remember the leaf? It turned out that it WAS real because after a day, it was not this pretty. This is a very easy project.

Here are a few of the other DIY pumpkins I've made through out the years.
DIY Lace Pumpkin
DIY Book Pumpkin
DIY Toilet Paper Pumpkin

Anything you see that can be gathered at the top, you can make a pumpkin. Now go round up something.

Ive Shared this at:
monday-handmade-linkup-party at judyscardmakingandpapercrafts
tuesday-pin-spiration-link-party at thestitchinmommy.
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome
something-fabulous-wednesday at roubinek
thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop at katherinescorner

Good Ol Tent Revival

With all that's going on in the world today and even right here is our own towns, it is great to see a revival. There doesn't seem to be as many revivals today as there was in the 80's. So when I hear of one going on, I get all tickled inside.

Well I get to share with you the tent revival my own church held this week. I have been following the progress so I could share with all of my readers, careful not to let it take my mind of the true meaning of worship. It was way more than just something to blog about.

I got up early one morning to catch the men of the church lifting the tent to the sky. They worked so hard and proud. The young and old were strong just the same. They stretched, and pounded. They pulled and leaned. They worked for hours until it was just right.

As I rode by each day on my way home from work, I could still see men putting in the chairs, putting together the stage and having fun fellowship with each other. This was the beginning of the revival. Little did they know the impact they may have had on the passer-bys.

Finally, its time. The sun has gone down and the air is cool. You can see the lighted tent for what looked like 1/2 a mile away. The neighborhoods around will hear song and worship as they sit in their homes. Maybe they will decide to step out and come down. Maybe they will open the windows and turn off the TV. Either way, we will be heard.

 While the crowd packed in, you could smell the rain in the air and hear thunder in the distance. That didn't bother anyone. The music and worship would make the hairs stand on your head as they echoed across the field. Tears of hope filled my eyes in hopes that a lost soul would be saved.

Some had their hands folded or in their pockets, others clapped, while some had their hands in the air, all with spirit in their hearts. There were also knees buried in the dirt as they knelled in prayer.

I was not able to attend each night but It was great to be there when I could.
It was refreshing and reviving.  New friends were made and hearts were changed. Everyone seemed to have a great time and left with revival in there soul.

God is Good.

SlimCado Cucumber Sandwich

I discovered a new Florida grown fruit (or is this a vegetable?) called a "SlimCado". Its basically an oversized avacado with half the calories and fat of a regular avocado.

They are large and pear shaped with a smooth or bumpy skin and have 35% less calories than a regular avocado.

I also discovered that it was delicious paired with a cucumber for a sandwich.

Two slices of bread, mayonnaise, sliced cucumber and slimcado, and salt and pepper. Thats it. Just like you would make a tomato sandwich. It was delicious!

The cucumber made the taste and the slimcado made a nice buttery taste that added the wow.  Ok well, maybe it was the cucumber that really made the "wow", but I'm sure the slimcado did something.

Slimcados do not turn black like an avocado and have a much larger seed in the middle. Raw they are very firm and will have a slight give in the firmness when ripe. The skin will peel away very easy.

Reading reviews on this diet food, I noticed most people do not prefer it over the regular avocado. Of course, like any other "Lite" food, It has half the flavor. I do not eat avocado alone that often so I could not really tell a big difference in the taste. I did notice that it did not turn black over night either and that made me happy.


I've shared this at:
full-plate-thursday at mizhelenscountrycottage
weekend-bloggy-reading-link-up at serenitynowblog
mix-it-up-monday at flourmewithlove
inspire-me-monday at create-with-joy
amaze-me-monday at dwellings-theheartofyourhome
 

Constipated Fish

I know this is a total random post but I thought I'd share some advice to all you Beta Fish owners.

For starters: Do not flush your fish yet until you have read this post. He may not be as dead as you think.

This is Duncan ↓ and he is constipated.

Do not feel sorry for him. He is absolutely spoiled, and we love him. He loves us too. He knows when we enter the room each morning. If we walk by him without speaking to him or feeding him, he will throw his glass rocks to get our attention. Then of course we have to show him some attention.

He is two and a half years old. In the past he has suffered tail rot in which you can read about it here.
But twice he has gotten constipated. Both times was when we went on vacation for a week and left him with a beta feeder tablet. I think he eats to much that way or either stresses out that we are gone. Id say its the second reason mentioned.

What is it? Its also known as "Swim Bladder" and its common for Beta Fish. 

Symptoms: Duncan was unable to swim right. He swam sideways often floating on top or sinking to the bottom. I was preparing his funeral because this can be deadly if left untreated. His digestive track was enlarged and pressing on his swim bladder. I bet he was in pain too.

Possible causes: This is caused by flake food or freeze dried food which expand in a fishes stomach and a fishes eyes are bigger than their stomach. It can also be caused by the water being to cold making their metabolism slow down. Their water needs to stay around 76-80 degrees.

How to fix it: Start with clean warm water (close to 80 degrees, but add it slow so it doesn't shock him). Take all the rocks off the bottom so you can monitor his poop. Do not feed for 3 Days!!! He will be fine. Betas can go as long as a week without eating even though I wouldn't suggest it. That would be just mean.
After 3 days, take a frozen pea (not a fresh pea, it could have pesticides on it) and thaw it out. Pinch off the pea skin and chop up ONLY a quarter of the pea in tiny pieces and feed the fish. Its good for him and he will love it. This will make him poop and no longer be constipated.


How do I know this? Well, I am no pet expert but I used Google and looked up his symptoms and how to fix his problem. and it worked.

Duncan is fine today, back to his old self and still throwing his rocks and begging for food. I only feed him pellet food and I may just have take him with me on my next vacation.

His fish cave shown in the photo was purchased at WhiteCitrus and she has alot of other cool ceramics. Duncan stays in his all the time. When I clean his bowl, I have to make sure I place it back in the same position or we will have another problem. He will pout. Hes a hand full I tell ya.

Ive shared this at:
thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop at katherinescorner
weekend-bloggy-reading-link-up at serenitynowblog