ODDS AND BODS - FRIDAY - 7/31/26

Meet Tea and Coffee.

    Good Morning

        Tea                                    Coffee 

While we are here, let me introduce you to their friend, Stopthat.

Hi! My name is Stopthat.

Sometimes they call me Getbackhere.

I hope your day is starting out well and you are not feeling a little upside down like kitty here. On days like hers, we kitties drink a cup of herbal tea, definitely no coffee but a favorite drink is a whole pitcher of milk, or ….

one of those teensy glasses of Bloody Mary if we’re going out to brunch…or maybe that was a whole pitcher of Bloody Mary and one of those cute teensy glasses of milk? We have all our friends coming with us after all. I am confused! I am having such a good time, I can’t remember now. Definitely feeling more perky.

Here’s this week’s imaginary cottage…

with its gate leading to the secret garden... 

where all good things visit, like little birds in great numbers. Imagination is a great thing. All are welcome here.

I saw the quote on Donna’s blog and I

it made me chuckle. Thank you Donna! My dear other half and I were having a conversation along the same lines.

“One day you are young and the next, you are standing in your back yard looking at your bird feeder.”

While I am thinking of flowers, I thought I would put these on here.

I am going left to right on each line, reading the title first. 9 Container 

Combinations That Attract Pollinators. Every pot pulls bees, butterflies and 

hummingbirds. Lavender and Catmint - bumblebees. Salvia and Lantana - 

Hummingbirds + Butterflies. Coneflowers and Black-eyed Susan - Native Bees.

Bee Balm and Penstemon - Hummingbirds + Bumblebees. Zinnia and Cosmos -

Butterflies. Borage and Sweet Alyssum - Bees + Beneficial Insects. 

Sunflower and Nasturtium - Bees + Hummingbirds. Agastache and Sedum - 

Late-Season Migrants. Milkweed and Verbena - Monarchs (Breed and Fuel)

and another.

Title first and then I go down each line from left to right. Milk weed

(Asclepius): Host plant for Monarch Butterflies. Purple Coneflowers 

(Echinacea): Nectar rich and pollinator friendly. Lantana: Bright 

blooms all season long. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja): A magnet for

butterflies. Zinnias: Easy to grow and loved by butterflies all summer.

Verbena (Vervain): Long-lasting blooms that attract many pollinators.

Black-eye Susans (Rudbeckia): Hardy native plant butterflies love.

Lavender (Lavandula): Fragrant blooms that attract and soothe. 

Verbena (Vervain): Great for ground cover and full of nectar.

Phlox: Sweet scented flowers that draw butterflies in. I see that 

Black-eyed Susan has been repeated, but as the description is 

altered slightly, I kept it in. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia): 

Drought tolerant and butterfly favorite. Aster: Late season

blooms provide nectar when butterflies need it most - Plant 

diversity. Support Pollinators. Create a garden they’ll love.

One more!

Plant Once , Bloom for Months: Low Maintenance Cottage Flowers That Never Quit

(I am putting these here left to right on each line until I get to the bottom.

Black-eyed Susan - Garden Flox - Lavender - Salvia - Coreopsis - Coneflower -

Lavender - Catmint - Yarrow - Dianthus

Fingers crossed, we are off to the garden center today. I am hoping to pick up a couple of planters and a few flowers. I have put ferns and red geraniums on the list, and lavender (added note: We are home now and purchased two pots of red geraniums. I am loving them. The following photo shows the place on the left. 

We were at a traffic light waiting for the green before turning left into the entrance. It’s a big place but for all they were offering, I couldn’t find any planter pots that I loved, and those that were considered maybes, were over-the-top-expensive. I was happy to buy the geraniums. The color made me feel cheery.) 

I loved this beautiful art showing hairstyle, makeup and fashion, and look at those dangly earrings?

Golf anyone? I don’t play but it’s a pretty picture. 

A little humor.

I didn’t realize how bad my driving was until the GPS said, 

“In 400 feet do a slight right, stop, and let me out!”

She would not make a good getaway driver for her cousin. (I am watching way too many cops and robber shows.)

In the meantime…

When you rat on the dog and you need to enter the witness protection program.

It’s best to hide in plain sight, so say those cops and robbers shows.

He knows something but he’s not saying, tsk!

I bet the opossum would do the right thing. He looks such a friendly little fella. Did you know…

I will read these top row, middle row and bottom row left to right.

An opossum can: eat dozens of slugs each night - leave your vegetables alone

shelter in brush and leaf piles - devour beetles, grubs and snails

climb fences and trees with ease - patrol your yard after dark - live

peacefully with backyard animals. Welcome nature into your backyard.

I little bit of Ireland for the recipes today. I don't usually make these before I share. If any of you do, would you please let me know what you think of them?

Waterford Blass (Traditional Irish Bread Rolls) - Ingredients: 4-1/8 cups bread flour - 3 teaspoons fast-action yeast - 2 teaspoons fine salt - 2-1/2 teaspoons sugar - 2 teaspoons unsalted butter  1-1/4 cups warm water - extra flour for dusting - Instructions : Mix flour, yeast, salt, sugar, butter and warm water into a soft dough. Knead for 5 minutes until smooth, then let rise in a covered bowl for 1.5 hours. Divide into 12 equal pieces, roll into balls and flatten slightly. Place on a tray, cover and let rise for 45 minutes. Dust tops heavily with flour. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-35 minutes until pale on top with a crisp bottom.

Traditional Irish Colcannon - Ingredients: 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and chopped

4 tablespoons butter - 1 cup whole milk - 3 cups green cabbage, finely shredded

4 green onions, sliced - salt and pepper - Instructions: Boil potatoes until tender. 

Drain and mash with butter and milk. Cook cabbage until softened. Stir cabbage and 

green onions into potatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot with extra butter. 

Dessert?

Irish Cream Liquor- From the kitchen of…Preparation time…Serves….

Ingredients: 1 cup sweetened condensed milk - 1-1/2 cups of heavy cream

1/3 cup chocolate syrup 2 tablespoons espresso - 1-1/2 tablespoons vanilla

3/4 tablespoon almond extract - 1-1/4 cup Irish whiskey, chilled. 

Directions: whisk together milk, cream and chocolate syrup. Add espresso, 

vanilla and almond extracts. Add whiskey last and whisk until well 

 combined. Serve chilled over ice or added to warm drink.

Wise Words, Kindness and a pep talk.

A few careless words may be forgotten by the person who spoke them,

but linger in the heart of the person who heard them for years. Never

underestimate how long a kind word can be remembered. Intrepid quips.

If you could see the struggles and heartaches people carry that never make it 

to the surface, I think we’d all be a little gentler, a little more patient, 

and a whole lot kinder to one another - Cottage Whimsy

Kindness makes for a better world.

I will never believe that kindness and compassion are a weakness, they are our strength. But, while we are at it, sprinkle a dash of common sense in there too. 

Another quote I read recently. 

“Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.” 

and

Always remember you are loved.

Very true! Believe it for you are worthy.

Thank you for always being interested in all my nonsense.

That’s all for today. 

Happy Friday everyone and thanks for stopping by.

Have a great weekend!

(With my thanks to Pinterest for the inspiration.)

 

A BUSY MORNING...

6-16-26: Out relatively late at 10.00 a.m. I wanted to get to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get my license renewed. 

I have been noticing the sunflowers driving out of the neighborhood. Someone had planted a line of them by their letter box. The last time I saw them they weren't blooming. Today there was quite a show, and it was time to take my cell phone out. They made a very pretty sight.

When we got to the DMV, the first thing I noticed was that the parking lot was not overflowing like the times I have been there before. There were many empty spots. I was surprised how quiet it was. When we got inside and signed in, I was still filling out the form they gave me when I was called. We were in and out under 15 minutes. My Real ID license will arrive in the mail. I can't remember how long he said, hopefully under two weeks. In the meantime I was given an official sheet of paper which will act as a temporary one. We noticed a sign at the counter letting us know we could have done all this online, which is probably why it was so quiet, maybe. 

Our next stop was at Wegmans. I had a notice a few days ago to say I was due for my second shingles shot. No appointment is needed, you just walk in and wait your turn, which usually isn't very long. 

I sat myself down next to this very nice couple about our age. They were also waiting in the small sitting area. The man heard me and said, "You must be from Texas?" I looked at him and answered with a big smile, "I'm from England." He said he knew that and assured me he was joking. Ah, a comedian! He, his wife and I had a chuckle. After 50 years you can still tell where I came from originally. I'm always surprised when people acknowledge my accent. I do have a different one compared to how I used to sound. I think I have mentioned before that when I have gone back to the UK, people think I am Canadian.

The man played a guessing game as to where I was from. Not from Wales, he said, not from Scotland, he said. You did say England right? Not from the North, and then the Pharmacist opened the door, and they got up and as they went into her office I told him I grew up near Birmingham, but moved to Devonshire when I was 15. He nodded sagely as he disappeared out of sight. They saw them again a few minutes later. Gregg had joined me. We had another short conversation about the man's time in England. He had been over there working for a while. It was a very nice conversation. 

When we joined the pharmacist she had heard my chat with the couple. After I received the shot, she told me she had vacationed in the UK with an aunt who lived in Reading. This was when she was young and remembered what a great time she had at a rock concert. I should have asked her whom she saw. I told her that when I flew into Heathrow, I would go to Reading to catch the train down to Devon. She was lovely and great at doing her job. I hardly felt a thing.

Gregg told me later he noticed a sign showing an award that Wegmans received, for being the best pharmacy in America. I can believe it. We have never had anything but the best service here and every pharmacist has been very professional and friendly. Most importantly, all the inoculations received have been painless. I was glad to get home, however, and found myself dozing off for a few minutes.

And they are back!

Hello there my little darlings! Got out again did you? 

I had a chuckle. These photos were taken in seconds as they heard Gregg’s voice calling them. He exited via the garage door in the front of the house, had already told me not to open anything, even though I badly wanted to fuss them. Last time they slipped through a crack, and one followed the other before I could blink an eye. After remembering the last time, good sense prevailed. 

Gregg said they were fast as lightning. They wouldn't listen to him and made their way further down the street to the corner house. Soon after, their human turned up and said to Gregg, "They got out again?" He apologized but Gregg told him don't worry, we love them. We do, but at the same time we’re glad they are now safely back in their own garden.

I made a concoction the other day but didn't take a photo of the finished product. There is no link. I got the idea from several similar recipes I've seen over time and put this together from memory. Definitely not a lot to remember and you probably do something similar.

In the blender I added 2 bananas, 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey and a splash of vanilla. Mixed until blended and poured into a freezer-proof container. It is supposed to take 1 to 2 hours before it is ready, but it took much longer I found. No, it's not ice cream but it satisfied a sweet tooth, and I enjoyed it very much. My dessert makes enough for 4 small portions and I ate it with blueberries on the side. I will be making it again. It will be a fun recipe to play around with, using different ingredients. If you make something similar, please share as I am always looking for good ideas.

It was a great day for weather. The high was 72 degrees F. and I didn't think it was humid. I hope the weather is treating you kindly in your part of the world. 

Have a great day!

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - INTERESTING STORY ABOUT THE DOG

 This is another from my archives. We are all of different faiths and beliefs. However, I hope all dog lovers will enjoy this story. The dog I mentioned below has long since moved on with his humans.

This is dedicated to my sweet four-legged neighbor across the street, with his cold, wet nose often pressed against the glass door, who always barks a welcome when I return home from a trip be it long or short. I wave and he wags his tail.

How the Dog Got a Cold, Wet Nose.

When a man named Noah started building a boat in the middle of the desert, everybody laughed. They thought he was daft. But Noah wasn't listening to them, he was listening to the God of the Hebrews, who said to build a boat.

So Noah built a boat. Noah called his boat an ark. When he finished it, he rounded up all the animals, two by two, to travel on his ark. People laughed at Noah's opossums and panthers and penguins. They laughed at his cheetahs and chinchillas, giraffes and gazelles, and rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses. Into the ark went all the animals, two by two.

Pretty soon, it started to rain. It rained, and it poured, and it rained some more. People stopped laughing and the ark started floating. Noah and his family and all the animals, two by two, rode safely on the waters.They sailed for 40 days and 40 nights. When the rains stopped, out of the ark came Noah and his family and all of the animals, two by two. Except one.

No one could find the little dog. Noah searched everywhere. He looked on the first deck. He looked on the second deck, then the third deck. Finally, in the farthest corner in the lowest deck, he found the little dog. The dog was shivering and standing with his nose pressed hard against the side of the boat. "Come here, little dog!" called Noah. "It's time to come out! Here, doggie, doggie!"

The little dog wouldn't move. Noah gently pulled him away. "What's this?" said Noah. "A hole in the ark! The ark might have sunk! Little dog! You kept us safe - me, my family, and all of the animals, two by two! With your little nose!"

The little dog was proud. But mostly, he was hungry. "Little dog," said Noah, as he pulled out a juicy bone, "so all the world and all the generations will know your great deed, your nose will always be cold and wet, just as it is today."

That's how the dog got his cold, wet nose. When you feel it, remember the little dog who used his nose to protect Noah, his family, and all of the animals, two by two.

~Stanley Coren~

Thanks for visiting and 

Happy Sunday Everyone.

Enjoy your day!

ON MONDAY...

we were out bright and early that morning and were off to Costco to pick up my prescription (prism) glasses, which will fix my double vision. I went to the ophthalmologist a few weeks ago, which I mentioned on here at the time. I was told I had an astigmatism. 

We had momentarily forgotten that it was Memorial Day and Costco was closed. No matter, we decided to go shopping. Driving out of the neighborhood we saw a few houses decorated with flags and banners. This was one of them. On the way to the supermarket, we stopped at a traffic light and this dog very kindly posed for me.

He was definitely showing me his best side.

and was momentarily curious about us.

A few days ago we had glorious skies and I was interested in this cloud formation...to me it looks like someone is lying back on a deck chair.

But the skies have been more like this lately.

For years we used to pass this old house, and it had been empty for as far back as I can remember. It had seen better days. One day when we drove by, there was fencing all around. We realized its days were numbered. Not long after that it was bulldozed.

They have been building this ever since. It's for people to rent personal storage spaces. There are another two similarly designed buildings nearby, one right next to it and another not too far behind. We are still in our decluttering stage at home, and this place always reminds me, we need to get cracking on that again. 

Gregg got his linguiça (pronounced "leen-GWEE-sah) from Harris Teeters on our shopping expedition. We don't have it all the time, but I found a recipe for smoked sausage, cabbage and potato cooked in a slow cooker. I asked him if he would like to try it, as a potato and cabbage combo are a favorite dish of his. His mom used to cook it for his birthday meal when he was young, but with a boiled ham. He's not a big fan of smoked sausage and the only time we ever go to this particular supermarket is when he gets a yen for linguiça. I will use it in this recipe. We can't find it anywhere else around here.

It's a Portuguese sausage that is a real nostalgia item for him. He remembers when he visited relatives in New England. His mother's family used to fix it - very popular up there - and when relatives from that area visited, they would always bring a batch for the family. Gregg's step-grandfather was of Portuguese heritage. I only met him once, not too long after we were married. He passed away and I didn't get the chance to meet him again. I took to him right away, a dear man. Wonderfully gracious and kind in nature. He was a true gentleman, everyone loved him including me.

Added this the next day (26th). Up early again and were at Costco’s at opening time. We were still third in line to see the lady at the eye-glass department. After 20 minutes she handed me my eye glasses that I had ordered. I didn’t want bifocals/trifocals as the last time I was never able to get used to them, and as at this stage I am worried about falling, I splurged and bought three pair. I now have reading, distance and sunglasses, all prescription and prisms. 

I was very nervous but she gave me the long distance ones first. I put them on and my double vision disappeared immediately. I just about clapped my hands. It sounds dreadful but I have been living with this double vision for a year. At first I was waiting for it to get better. It took a while for me to go to my doctor, but eventually admitted to myself it definitely wasn’t going away. I did have my eyes checked by another ophthalmologist in the beginning,  as I already had a regular appointment. I can’t remember what he said about my double vision, after just getting the usual things done. Everything else was tested. He suggested going to my regular doctor if it didn’t get any better. 

Many appointments at the doctor afterwards, it was off to an ophthalmologist who was more local. She was amazing, looked so very young, was incredibly thorough, softly spoken and the kind of professional who puts you at your ease immediately (you can see the post about that visit here). She diagnosed the astigmatism after looking at all the results. 

I will take photos of the new glasses soon. They have boring frames and maybe I should have spent more time with frame designs, but I didn’t hang around and wanted out of there.

Anyway, a little bit of a ramble today.

Thanks for visiting and I hope

your day is a great one.