Welcome to my
Perfectly Imperfect Life..........

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Just Like Candy!

With Summer comes lots of fresh fruits and veggies.

No body loves Corn on the Cob more than our Russian Tortoises.


When they see it they come running!


May I introduce you to Boris and Natasha


Yes, their manners are lacking...


At about 6" in diameter they are still growing


When we got them they were about 2''-3'',
that was 10 yrs ago


They grow very slowly


even though they have big appetites.

Monday, August 29, 2011

The Cowboy Solution

Cowboy Solution (This is Good)


Cowboy rules for:



Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Nebraska, Idaho, and the rest of the Wild West are as follows:


1. Pull your pants up. You look like an idiot.


2. Turn your cap right, your head ain't crooked.


3. Let's get this straight: it's called a 'gravel road.' I drive a pickup truck because I want to. No matter how slow you drive, you're gonna get dust on your Lexus. Drive it or get out of the way.


4. They are cattle. That's why they smell like cattle. They smell like money to us. Get over it. Don't like it? I-10 & I-40 go east and west, I-17 & I-15 goes north and south. Pick one and go.


5. So you have a $60,000 car. We're impressed. We have $250,000 Combines that are driven only 3 weeks a year.


6. Every person in the Wild West waves. It's called being friendly. Try to understand the concept.


7. If that cell phone rings while a bunch of geese/pheasants/ducks/doves are comin' in during a hunt, we WILL shoot it outta your hand. You better hope you don't have it up to your ear at the time.


8. Yeah. We eat trout, salmon, deer and elk. You really want sushi and caviar? It's available at the corner bait shop.


9. The 'Opener' refers to the first day of deer season. It's a religious holiday held the closest Saturday to the first of November.


10. We open doors for women. That's applied to all women, regardless of age.


11. No, there's no 'vegetarian special' on the menu. Order steak, or you can order the Chef's Salad and pick off the 2 pounds of ham and turkey.


12. When we fill out a table, there are three main dishes: meats, vegetables, and breads. We use three spices: salt, pepper, and ketchup! Oh, yeah ... We don't care what you folks in Cincinnati call that stuff you eat... IT AIN'T REAL CHILI!!


13. You bring 'Coke' into my house, it better be brown, wet and served over ice. You bring 'Mary Jane' into my house, she better be cute, know how to shoot, drive a truck, and have long hair.


14. College and High School Football is as important here as the Giants, the Yankees, the Mets, the Lakers and the Knicks, and a dang site more fun to watch.


15. Yeah, we have golf courses. But don't hit the water hazards - it spooks the fish.


16. Turn down that blasted car stereo! That thumpity-thump ain't music, anyway. We don't want to hear it anymore than we want to see your boxers! Refer back to #1!


 And there is more.............


The COWBOY Solution to save Gasoline.

OBAMA wants us to cut the amount of gasoline we use.....

The best way to stop using so much gasoline is to deport 15 million illegal immigrants!
That would be 15 million less people using our gas.
The price of gas would come down.....

Bring our troops home from Afghanistan to guard the borders....

When they catch an illegal immigrant crossing the Border, hand him a canteen, rifle and some ammo and ship him to Afghanistan ....

Tell him if he wants to come to AMERICA then he must serve a tour in OUR military....

Give him a soldier's pay while he's there and tax him on it......

After his tour, he will be allowed to become a citizen since he defended this country.....

He will also be registered to be taxed and be a legal resident.....

This option will probably deter illegal immigration and provide a solution for the troops in Afghanistan and the aliens trying to make a better life for themselves. .......

If they refuse to serve, ship them to Afghanistan anyway, without the canteen, rifle or ammo.

Problem solved.....

Saturday, August 27, 2011

The Amazing Cucumber


This information was in The New York Times several weeks

Ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted
Creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.


1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every
Day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin
B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium,
Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.


2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the
Caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B
Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can
Last for hours.


3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower?
Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog
And provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.


4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a
Few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all
Season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give
Off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make
Them flee the area.


5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite
Before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers
Along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the
Cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer
Layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles
Too!!!


6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a
Few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache
Free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to
Replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in
Equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!


7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking
Binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European
Trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.


8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you
Realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a
Freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and
Durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.


9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a
Cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the
Squeak is gone!


10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or
Visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot
Of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with
The boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing,
Relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and
College students during final exams.


11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have
Gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your
Mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the
Phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing
Bad breath.


12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks
Or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you
Want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the
Shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails
While you clean.


13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of
The cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great
On crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!



Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Fairy Images

Sharing!





Enjoy!
♥♥♥

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Fun Finds


I was so excited to see there was going to be a Flea Market in our little town.
It was being put on by the local consignment store.
They have recently moved into a larger store that was previously a lumber store.
There is a large lot that comes with the store and that is were they were having it.

My daughter and I went to check it out.
There were only a few tables but we were already there
so decided to get out and look.

I was able to snag this wooden..what I thought was a wine holder to repurpose into something else. Once I got home I found hangers on the back..so not sure what it's original purpose was but it will find a new one with me.
Also snagged lots of vintage jewelry and jewelry pieces for a song.


On the way out I saw these boxes and thought they would be great for organization.
I ended up getting them ;)


I was talking to the owner of the store and
found out they plan to do this once a month!!
Yippee!!

I think once it gets to be a regular thing there will be more participants
which means more to pick through ♥♥

Monday, August 22, 2011

Busy Weekend!

I was a busy bee over the weekend!

I know it's sooo hot, too hot for the oven, but I just couldn't help myself.
So I compromised and did it in the early mornings.

First I made 2 batches of Strawberry Fig Jam


Next came Fresh Fruit Crisp using up the rest of the Nectarines




Fresh Fruit Crisp

1/2 cup quick cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter or margarine
5 - 6 cups sliced fruit
2 tablespoons sugar
Vanilla Ice Cream

Combine oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and dash salt. Cut in butter till mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside. Core and slice fruit. Place fruit in a 10x6x2 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with sugar. Sprinkle crumb mixture over all. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes. Serve with ice cream. Serves 6.


And last but not least I needed to use up some of the Zucchini,
so 2 loaves of Zucchini Nut Bread was made.



Zucchini Nut Bread

1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 cup finely grated zucchini
1 egg
1/4 cup oil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

In a bowl stir together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and baking powder, set aside. In another bowl beat together sugar, zucchini and egg. Add oil and mix well. Stir flour mixture into zucchini mixture. Gently fold in chopped nuts. Turn batter into greased 8x4x2 inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 - 60 minutes or until a a wooden toothpick insert in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan; cool thoroughly on rack. Wrap and store loaf overnight before slicing. Makes 1 loaf.

Of course with this crowd it wasn't long before the Crisp and Breads  were gone!

♥♥♥

Saturday, August 20, 2011

They Seem to Always Find Us

The other night my Daughter ran out to get the mail.
On the way back in she tripped over something while looking at the mail
and thought she broke her toe.
We couldn't figure out what she had tripped over.
She thought it was a big rock.
She was on the sidewalk the entire time so there shouldn't have been anything in her path.

We walked to the front door and saw a big something in the walkway.
The way it was it looked weird, like a one eared cat that was sick and curled up.
Hey, it was dark!

We all slowly opened the screen...
we each had our "weapon" of choice..
mag light
golf club
baseball bat
&
BB Gun

Now we probably wouldn't have grabbed "weapons"
but we have been having prowlers at night in our court for the last week or so
and everyone is spooked.

It was dark and about midnight...
we just needed to be prepared.
Right? Right!
OK I'm a scaredy cat.

We all walked slowly up to this thing that was about
5 feet from our front door.

It was really hard to see what it was until we were practically on top of it.

It was a large Red Eared Slider! LOL
When I say large I mean huge!
It was about 12"-14" in diameter.
That is what she kicked! LOL

After seeing us it headed for the street...
can you blame it?

We kept moving it out of the street so it wouldn't get hit by a car,
should one come by.
But it kept heading back.

It stayed under my car for a bit.

We know a little bit about turtles and tortoises...
We've had Box Turtles in the past and currently have a pair of Russian Tortoises. 



Sliders can be aggressive and this one did try to bite while being picked up.
They live mostly in the water
 and need to eat their food in water because they don't have any saliva.
  

We weren't sure where this one came from.
They are native to California so he may not have been anyones pet.
Thought for a brief moment about letting him roam the backyard...
but he would probably jump in the pond and have sushi.
That wasn't an option.

We ended up putting him in a box.
We figured we could figure it out in the morning.
But he was so big he climbed the side of the box
and kept knocking it over and getting out.

Yes, Turtles and Tortoises climb.


We decided to release him in a water overflow area just a few blocks from us.
The sprinklers in the park would be coming on soon
and water would collect in this basin.

Animals seem to find their way to our home no matter where we are living.

In Miami a white dove, then a Sparrow showed up at our door.
Neither didn't look too good.
Cared for them and eventually released them when they were better.

In Sacramento a pigeon did the same thing.

And, of course, kittens and dogs find their way too.
Kinda makes you wonder if they can sense animal lovers..... 

Friday, August 19, 2011

In The Blink of An Eye!

Fall is upon us, the Seasons are changing...
The kiddos are back at School which only means
Halloween is right around the corner!

I've made my first decoration for the Fall Season
and added it to my Etsy Shop.
It sold within 2 hours!!

Delighted, excited and eager to make more!!!

Wanna see?
Well, I'm showing you anyway!
and my description too!

Primitive Witch Spell Book 


"Double double toil and trouble..."
Conjure up spells with this highly detailed Witch's Book of Spells!

Made from a grungy old book, it will delight all visitors come Halloween.
Faux antiqued leather cover embellished with stained cheesecloth and feathers.
The securing strap, made from an old watch band, has an attached chain for 'double locking'.
An old key hangs from braided jute secured with wire.

Inside you'll find diagrams, spells, 


and illustrations on the first few pages. 


Once past these the book it opens up to a center cavity holding 3 potion bottles,
 


Fur of Werewolf (cat hair), Graveyard Dust (dust),
and Vampire Fangs (handmade faux fangs).
Each bottle is wrapped with stained cheesecloth
and feathery yarn topped off with a cork.



Once the bottles are removed, the 'creature' is revealed...
through a small opening of the 'green door'
you can see the eyes of the unspeakable.
Don't dare open this door!


The back inside cover has more diagrams.
 

Several ways to display:
lay closed or open to pages,
open to potion bottle cavity (bottles in or out),
stays open while laying flat,
in an easel
or anyway you desire.

Disclaimer:

This entire book and potions are fake.
For your enjoyment and entertainment purposes only.
Inside creature door does not open.

xoxoxoxoxox

Sometimes I am so terrible at my descriptions.
I tried really hard to make this one stand out
I think I did OK this time.

I am feverishly creating more Halloween decorations!

BOO!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Etsy Treasury Feature

Jeffersgirl330 included my


Vintage Pearl Button Bracelet 
in her In With The Old Out With The New Treasury!

Thank you!
♥♥♥

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

What's Blooming in This Heat?


We are still in a heat wave here.
The heat loving plants are enjoying it,
the others...not so much.

One of my climbing Roses.
It's 17 yrs old now, it was a slip from my Mom's garden.



The came from her garden also.
They are some type of bulb.
I love the color.



The Water Lilies love the Sun.


Blue Potato Bush (Solanum rantonnetii)



These Cannas are from my Parents garden too.
Ye, I know they need to be trimmed....
just too darn hot out there!


I love this pink Ivy Geranium.
It is also from my Mom's garden.


My poor wilted Swiss Chard :(


About 75% of my garden is from my Mom's garden,
which is why it means so much to me.

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

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