Is It Fall Yet? Fall Goodies

 A bit of Fall decorating to welcome guests ♥

Simple Table Vignette

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 Current Fall Projects I've been working on

which you can find in my Etsy Shop.

 Rose Bud and Pearl Garlands

They really have a nostalgia feel when paired with old photos

or draped on your fav things

I've picked the Conifer Cones for some rustic Fall décor

along with a sweet Fall basket of Acorns

Saved the seeds that fell out for an unexpected

Primitive Fall Bowl Filler ;)

Dried Rose Hips from my gardens,

to make a Harvest Scented Hips 'n Sticks mixture.

Nothing says fall other than these!

Dried Pomegranates

In small

medium with Pears

or large with glass Berries

Whether you use these as is or as supplies for your Fall Décor Projects you won't be disappointed :)

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Now if only we could get some cooler weather!

Life Tips From Those Who've Been There

These life tips were collected from men and women 85 or older. Some have been through wars, others through depressions, sickness, and even concentration camps. They are a generation that was unlike any other, and we can all profit from their advice. Even those of us over 85 ourselves, because these days, it is never too late to get good advice.

Health

1. Drink lots of water.

 

2. Eat your breakfast like kings, your lunch like princes, and your dinner like beggars. 

3. Eat more things that grow on trees and plants and less things that are made in factories. Remember your digestive system doesn't know it's the 21st century, so help it out by feeding it stuff it's built for.

4. It's always a good time for some TEE - Truth, Energy and Empathy!

 

5. Walk 10-30 minutes a day. 

6. Get more actual games in your life, games that have no gain but the simple pleasure of playing them.

7. Read more books than you've read last year. 

8. Sit silently (without a TV) for at least 10 minutes a day and take time to ponder things (for some - pray). 

9. Invest at least 7 hours a night in your sleep. It'll pay back big time later on.

 

Character

10. Smile while you walk those 10-30 minutes a day.

11. Do not compare your life to those of others, it's easy to see the good but the bad is as well hidden as yours, or better. You have no idea what their lives are really like or if they are happy inside, get on with yours instead.

12. Don't waste time and energy thinking of things you will never be able to change. Instead, use that energy to works towards future positive moments.

13. Don't be extreme in any action. Remember that truth is mostly in the middle, and life is hardly black and white. 

14. Accept the fact that you will sometimes lose the argument, and that you were wrong. Or if you still think you are right, agree to disagree. Very few people have ever been shouted into true agreement.

15. Don't waste your energy complaining about people you don't know and their actions. You have no idea what motivates or what lead them to that decision. Judging is so easy even 4 year olds can do it. The driver honking at you might have had a horrible day, or is anxious to see his sick wife at the hospital while worried about making rent. We only see the behavior, never the events leading to it. 

16. Dream more while you are awake.

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have what you need, and being envy won't create more for you.

18. Life is too short to hate people. You should fear some and pity others, but hate is a bigger waste of time than any other emotion.

19. Make peace with your past, or it will make short work of your future.

20. No one controls your level of happiness but you.

 

21. Life is the school, remember that you are here to learn. Problems are like tests, and the lesson you take will help you solve the next one correctly.

22. Smile and laugh more with your entire face, including your eyes. Find humor when you can.

23. Don't take yourselves so seriously, no one else will!

 

Community

24. Call your family often enough so they feel like you are walking besides them in this life.

25. Every day - do at least one good thing for others that really helps them out. It will make you feel better about your own and later on - someone grateful will help you when you need it.

26. Try to forgive, it's the hardest thing there is, much harder than hate, but it's doable. 

27. Spend some time with people over 70 and under 6 - it will teach you patience and empathy.

28. Try to make at least 3 people smile, every day.

29. What other people think of you is none of your concern, since they'll never tell you! So why bother? Live your life and stop wondering what's on the other side of their skulls, you will never know the complete truth!

Life

30. Do the right thing.

The kind that doesn't leave anyone hurt, despite your personal feelings. It will be worth its while in the long run.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, sentimental or brings you true pleasure in life.

32. Forgivness can heal more than you can ever imagine. Forgiveness is way to show strength, and strength is impressive and attractive.

33. Doesn't matter how good or bad the situation is - it will change at some point. So plan for either and don't lose your head to overjoycing or over fearing.

34. Doesn't matter how you feel at this particular moment - get up, get dressed and be there on time. A good start will help get rid of that feeling.

35. If actors can become huge successes in their 70's, you can believe that the best is yet to come. And if it isn't, then try to create the best for someone else, it will often be suprisingly great for you as well.

36. When you wake up alive in the morning, don't take it for granted - embrace life!

37. The biggest secret is that anyone can be happy. But some decide they won't be and then look for reasons to support that theory. Don't fall for that! Assume you are happy and find reasons to support that claim! Keep creating these reasons, and you just might start believing it.

38. Enjoy yourself, every day. Remember, life is just a ride, and you are shown many different things, some wonderful, other awful. But you always continue and it is always just a ride. Enjoy it.

 

So remember! "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think... enjoy yourself, while you're still in the pink... The years go by... as quickly as a wink...."
 

 

 

 

NATIONAL TEDDY BEAR DAY!!

 

 

September 9 celebrates National Teddy Bear Day.  We have all had a special cuddly teddy as a child.  Some of us still have our teddy bear from our childhood.  Whether or not you still have your childhood teddy, today is the perfect day to celebrate your childhood friend!

The teddy bear, which is celebrated in story, song and film and is an iconic children’s toy, was created simultaneously by toymakers Morris Michtom in the United States and Richard Steiff in Germany in the early 20th century.  The bear was named after President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, Jr.

Teddy bears are one of the most popular gifts for children.

Teddy bears Signify love, congratulations or sympathy when given to adults.

Easy Peasy BBQ'd Pulled Pork Sandwiches

I cam across this idea on Jillee's blog One Good Thing and

 then ran into it again on her Pinterest Page. 

She had found it on Pinterest (of course!) LOL

It was a quick and easy way to shred cooked chicken

with your KitchenAid!

Her photos are pretty self explanatory.

Using the paddle while the chicken is still hot,

start out slow on low speed then increase speed as

the chicken becomes for shredded.

*

SO, the other day I needed a quick and

easy meal to come home to.

I threw a pork roast into the Crock Pot so it

would be nice and done for Pulled Pork Sandwiches.

After I got home I removed the roast from the Crock,

let it drain, then started the task of pulling.

 Jillee's idea popped into my mind.

I thought it was the perfect time to try it out.

Did as she described

And Voila!

All shredded super quick and easy.

All I had to do was add a bottle of

BBQ sauce and we were ready to eat

 our Pulled Pork Sandwiches!

 L♥ve my KitchenAid!

How To Stop Church Gossip



"How To Stop Church Gossip"

Mildred, the church gossip, and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business.

Several members did not approve of her extra- curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused Frank, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. 

She emphatically told Frank (and several others) that every one seeing it there would know what he was doing!.

Frank, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny.

He said nothing..

Later that evening, Frank quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house ... walked home .... .and left it there all night.

(You gotta love Frank!)

 

Water, Water, Who's Got the Water?

Surely not us!

More water cut backs are in place.

My gardens are so dry.

I'm going to have to look up how to do a rain dance!!

Wanted to pick a bouquet for the house,

but so many plants are wilted.

Scared I'm going to lose some during this drought.

I managed to find a few Honeysuckle blooms - you know Honeysuckle, you can't keep that one down!

So I made a small bouquet.

Yes, it's a little puny, but let me tell you the scent isn't!

One of my fav scents, brings back a lot of

memories from my childhood.

Which normally I would relish,

but been kind of melancholy lately.

More on Infused Spa Waters

I've been broadening my horizons since my last post on

 Infused Spa Waters.

I've figured out what to do with some of my Grapes...

Make infused water!

You could use red or green Grapes, but since I have Thompson Seedless coming out of my ears that's what I used.

I cut each Grape in half and threw about a couple good sized handfuls in. Since Grapes have a mild flavor, I didn't even bother measuring.

I had purchased a pineapple and had some leftover so I threw in a small handful, I didn't want the Pineapple to overpower the grapes.

Let is sit till the next day and yummy!

I still had some Pineapple left so I threw the rest in along with Strawberries. A light tropical flavor, but need to watch how much Pineapple you throw in, as it can over power!

My Cucumbers are coming in, more than that first lonely one!

 I tried Cucumber, Mint and Lemon.

I have Mint in my garden and my neighbor gave me some Lemons off her tree. Cost - zip!

The flavor was  mile yet invigorating, probably from the Lemon and Mint ;)

My neighbor also gave me some frozen Lemon juice she squeezed from the her Lemons, so when the fresh ones are gone I'll try that. But when using the whole Lemon you get the oils from the rind too. 

But my all time fav is Watermelon!

Tastes like Summer!

Confession, I don't know what others do, but I always eat the fruit/veggies that makes it into my glass or is left over when the waters gone. Waste not want not!

  

What's NEW at Dragonfly Treasure?



It's getting to that time of the year again to

beware of things that go bump in the night!

New at Dragonfly Treasure on Etsy for your pleasure!



Witches Apothecary Cabinet

 Filled with all kinds of concoctions!

To see click here 

 A plethora of bottled Potion Ingredients for

the Witches' Apothecary

here

 here

and here

BOO Pumpkins here

Coffin Box

Check what's inside here

 Rare Ingredient inside here

Be Vewy, Vewy Quiet....

''Be Vewy, Vewy Quiet.......I'm hunting meals on wheels!   Shhhh!''

5 Easy Ways to Conserve and Reduce Your Water Bill

Summer’s heat means you’re bathing more,

watering plants, filling swimming pools

and making gallons of iced beverages.

Here in California we are having a very bad drought.
Some Orchards are being removed,
Cattle and Dairy Farms are going out of business, 
all due to lack of water.
It just breaks your heart.

 

Despite all that extra water usage,

you can help reduce your water bill

by following these simple tips.

1. Stop Leaks Check all your faucets for leaks. A month of drips can add up to anywhere from 200-250 gallons of wasted water. Also, be sure to check your toilet. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank and waiting 15 minutes before flushing. If any food coloring appears in the bowl before flushing, you have a leak. If you decide to buy a new toilet, look for one with the EPA WaterSense label. They use at least 20% less water than a standard toilet.

2. Shower Power
The EPA reports showering saves significant amounts of water. A bath tub can use 30 gallons or more, depending on the water depth. If you DO soak in the tub, use the bath water on your plants, if you Do Not have a water softener. Gray water is fine but not if it's salty!Try to limit your showers to 5 minutes or less. Also, think about getting a water-efficient showerhead to save even more.

3. Go Easy on the Dishwasher
Run the dishwasher only when it’s fully loaded and use the economy setting. Newer models run on different cycles, so check your manufacturer’s recommendations for the most efficient setting. Also, scrape dishes if they have a large amount left on them rather than rinsing them before placing them in the dishwasher.

Ditto with the clothes washer, only do full loads. 

4. Garbage Disposals: Cash Down the Drain They can use as much as 4 gallons of water per minute!

Consider disposing of food waste by composting or

by wrapping it and placing it in the trash.

5. Outdoor Water Use It’s okay to let the soil dry out between watering's.

Water your vegetables and annuals as soon as they start to wilt. Perennials are tougher and only need water when they get droopy. Water during the cooler parts of the day to reduce evaporation. Make sure your sprinkler is only watering plants and grass,

not your sidewalk.

Check hoses for leaks, and collect rainwater in barrels to water plants.

The EPA suggests using soaker hoses because they use less water than sprinklers.
Eye-Opening Facts
These facts from the EPA may inspire you to do a few things differently.

• The average family of four uses about 100 gallons of water per day.
• Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth twice a day can save over 100 gallons a month.
• A high-efficiency toilet saves 2.2 - 5.7 gallons of water per flush.
• Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as leaving a 60-watt bulb on for 22 hours.
• Less than 1% of the water on earth is available for people’s everyday use.

We all need to do our part!


The Golden Years

OH MY!