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Remember - Sunday Sketches

This is for Sunday Sketches.  Visit BlueChairDiary for sketches from other artists.  Thanks!

It's the Season for Pink!

It's time to think PINK!!  It's September!  The Susan G Koman Race for the Cure Walk is the 18th here in my hometown.  Do you have one scheduled in your city?  Here's a link to find one near you.   As a Breast Cancer survivor, I am always grateful when funds are raised to find the cure!  Find a walk near you and participate!!

Also, that's why I am so excited to find Pink Saturday Link Party over at How Sweet the Sound blog 

I make Breast Cancer Awareness quilts.  They are made with a crazy quilt block with a white center sporting a pink ribbon.  It is my hope that  these quilts will encourage those battling the disease; or trying to remember to take care of themselves;, or remembering a loved one lost. They are available in my shop or at this listing.

Here's the link for the Saturday Pink Party.  Visit some of the other participants, I'm sure they will appreciate a visit.  Thanks! 

Str-e-t-c-h-ing the Budget

Lately, many of us (actually, millions of us in the USA) who are underemployed or unemployed, are having to stretch our budgets.  Money is in short supply and expenses are at the same level that they were when we were employed.  In our experience, budgets now only cover housing (if we haven't already lost our homes), food, utilities and maybe a car payment (so we can get to interviews and also answer in the affirmative on an application that we DO have transportation!).  Other debt payments are waiting to be resumed when jobs are obtained.  Anyway, stretching our budget is the norm.  We don't eat out anymore.  We don't drive far, since gasoline is expensive. We get help from a food bank and our family. And we stretch our food budget.  We have reverted to cheaper casserole recipes rather than a more expensive roast.  I'm not complaining (just saying it how it is) and believe this is just a phase--how long we don't know--and know many of us will find work eventually.  I am grateful--and I'm sure others are too-- for the many resources available to us.

Anyway, I just want to share this "stretching" recipe.  Instead of having a single small steak for each person, and supplying several side dishes, like potatoes, salad, veggie and bread, you can make a one pot meal that is good for you and use the summer veggies in the refrig that you have on hand. 

1 small top round steak (enough for Two servings)

2-3 teaspoons fajita seasoning

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon butter or olive oil

various vegetables of your choice i.e. onions, carrots, broccoli, radishes, cabbage, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers

Cut steak in thin 2-3 inch long slices.  Brown meat in  a fry pan with the oil or butter until no pink remains in the meat.  Add fajita seasoning and the water.  Simmer till most of the liquid is gone.  Add vegetables that have been cut julienne style and cook/steam and stir until vegetables are tender crisp.

Serve as a stand alone stir fry dish or serve with rice, if desired.   Enjoy! 

Any budget stretching tips to share?

Baby Ducks Wordless Wednesday

Note:  This is easier to enjoy, if you zoom in or enlarge it. 

Labor Day!

Today is Labor Day and a holiday here in the United States. Most of us have the day off, although in our house we are currently unemployed and home everyday anyway!  So to celebrate, I decided not to do any housework--no cleaning, no making the bed, no window washing!  Just being lazy on the couch and watching old movies!  Since it is also the time for the Muscular Dystrophy telethon, usually hosted by Jerry Lewis, another channel celebrated by running a marathon of Jerry Lewis movies!  We watched a couple of these slapstick, silly movies and enjoyed our relaxation! When I was young, I watched many many of his movies. (For those of you who are not an oldie like me, Jerry Lewis' humor was much like current comedian Jim Cary with facial expressions, antics and silliness!)

I just wanted to take the time to honor the man!

Do you have a favorite Jerry Lewis movie?

Afternoon Nap - Sunday Sketches

From our vantage point on our patio, our view is straight into three pine trees about twenty feet up from the ground.  Many times we have seen squirrels pick out a comfortable limb and sprawl out on it for a quick nap.  Sometimes they cradle their head in their arms like a human.  Other times they hang their arms down around the branch.  This one, today, backed up to the trunk with his tail up, although we have seen them with their tails hanging straight down over the side.  I decided to sketch this behaviour today.  Enjoy!

This is for Sunday Sketches presented over at Blue Chair Diary.  Have a look at all the other sketches, if you have time. 

Misty Morning Fog

I don't know if it is because it is early September and school is starting  . . .  or if I miss my hometown after visiting it on vacation . . . or if it is just my wishing for cooler weather,  but I have been thinking about fog.  Yes, FOG! I remember one of the only poems I memorized from my high school years:

FOG by Carl Sandburg

THE fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbor and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

My home town was always filled with early morning fog in the fall and winter.  I walked to school in the fog, except when it was really bad.  On those days school didn't start for two or three hours later, waiting for it to move on.  Anyway, I remember sitting in the fog in the quad at my high school waiting for school to start, after my dad dropped me off early on his way to work.  Those were quiet solitary days that I will remember always.  I guess, all this reminiscing has inspired me to post these Friday Finds from Etsy shops who feature items of a misty or foggy nature. Please take time to visit these lovely shops. You might find something that you like!



Misty Morning by pbphoto on Etsy



Morning Fog from impulseART on Etsy

In the Fog by theHourglassStudio on Etsy

And last by not least, (and not for sale), is my own painting of the mist in the morning. (Sorry, my photograph does not do the misty quality of the painting justice.) I share it for here for the first time.  It hangs the my entry way of my home.  I painted it in 1982, so might say that it is 'Vintage' :)  Enjoy!



Bovine Dawn by Linda Easter Pruitt

How about you?  Any memories of an early morning school day?   

New Ways for Brussels Sprouts

From my childhood, Brussels Sprouts have always been cooked whole, usually steamed in a little water.  Some people then added a cheese sauce or butter and served.  But my daughter prepared them a little differently, at a family function the other day, and I really like them better, cooked her way!    She also prepared them roasted another day, which adds a new dimension to the flavor.  So I got the recipes from her and present them for your pleasure:



Sauteed Shredded Brussels Sprouts

Cut Brussels sprouts in half and V cut out the core.  Then slice/shred the sprouts like you would cabbage for a slaw.  In a large fry pan or wok, drizzle a mixture of olive oil, a little butter for flavor and (optional) a tablespoon of bacon drippings/grease for flavor.  Add sprouts and saute until tender crisp. Turn out into a serving bowl and serve hot. 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Halve your Brussels Sprouts and V cut out the core as above recipe if desired. Drizzle olive oil on a cookie sheet before adding the halved sprouts.  Cook under the broiler, stirring occasionally to prevent burning for 10-20 minutes (depending on how many you have) until they are caramelized and lightly browned on the edges.  Serve hot!