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

Friday, September 16, 2011

Japanese Woodblock Bird Prints


Sharing ♥

From Dover Publications







Enjoy!!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Fall Garden

Garden Parties:

Fishtail Cottage

Tootsie Time

My Fall garden is a mess.
The poor thing has been left to fend for itself.
Low energy and depression has crept in.

Thank goodness for survivors like:

 Purple Potato Plant
(Solanum Wrightii)


Sunflowers


Impatiens


We have Apples!


Figs are coming to the end


The gardens need a big time trim


So does the neighbors Weeping Willow


Cecil Brunner is reaching for the Moon


I will attack soon....
"my one trash bag a day" plan
will probably come into effect.

I did manage to make some Potion Bottles
to put in my Etsy Shop. 


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Sisters


A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day,
drinking iced tea and visiting with her mother. As
they talked about life, about marriage, about the
responsibilities of life and the obligations of
adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her
glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance
upon her daughter..

'Don't forget your sisters,' she advised, swirling
the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll
be more important as you get older. No matter how
much you love your husband, no matter how much you
love the children you may have, you are still going
to need sisters. Remember to go places with them now
and then; do things with them.'

'Remember that 'sisters' means ALL the women...
your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other
women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women
always do.'

What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman
thought. Haven't I just gotten married?

Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a
married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely
my husband and the family we may start will be all I
need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her mother. She kept contact
with her sisters and made more women friends each
year. As the years tumbled by, one after another,
she gradually came to understand that her mother really
knew what she was talking about. As time and nature
work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman,
sisters are the mainstays of her life.

After more than 50 years of living in this world,
here is what I've learned:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT.........

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how
many miles are
between you. A girl friend is never farther away
than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you
have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life
will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,
praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on
your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the
valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk
beside you....Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,
daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,
Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended
family: all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and
neither would I.. When we began this adventure called
womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or
sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we
would need each other.
Happy days!



























Monday, September 12, 2011

Pina Colada Jam

This recipe was in our local newspaper last week.
It caught my eye and since it calls for Zucchini
and I have lots of Zukes so I thought it was worth a try.

Pina Colada Jam

6 cups Sugar
6 cups Zucchini, shredded and peeled
1 (8oz) can Crushed Pineapple, undrained
1/4 cup Lime Juice
2 pkgs. (3 oz ea) Pineapple Gelatin
(I had to go to a couple of grocers to find this gelatin.
It will be in the Hispanic section)
1 teaspoon Rum Extract



Combine sugar, zucchini, pineapple and lime juice in a large pot.
Bring to boil.
Boil for 10 minutes, stirring constantly.


Remove from heat.
Stir in gelatin and extract until gelatin is dissolved.


Pour into jars or freezer containers,
leaving 1/2" head space.
Cool completely before covering with lids.
Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 1 year.
I made some Strawberry Fig Jam too, that's what you see in the back.


It reminds me of my Mom's Apricot Pineapple Jam she used to make each year.
It reminds me of my childhood so I really like it.
My older children remember Nana's jam too so they like it.
The younger ones aren't quite sure yet, but are coming around quickly.

My technical adjustments/differences ;):

I just canned it in vintage canning jars from my Mom and Grandmother
 instead of putting it in the freezer.
I didn't have enough Lime Juice so I added
Lemon Juice to make the right amount.

and

just rereading the recipe right now I realize
I put in 2 (6oz) gelatin packets
instead of 2 (3oz) packets...
oops

So that would explain why it's a little stiff....
Oh well, it's still good.

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