Blue Monday and the winner is…..

 

 

Many thanks to Smiling Sally, not sure how she packed, looked for an apartment, moved and still never lost track of posting for Blue Monday…what a gal, you go Sally.

 

  

My friend Karen, is in Hawaii for a week with her granddaughter.  I called her on my cell phone and ask her for a number between 1 –67.  She gave me the number 12.

I looked at the list I had made as people registered and number 12 is ……..

Debbie @ There’s an Angel on My Front Porch.

Congratulations Debbie, I hope you enjoy the cake plate and the blue bracelet.

Please email me your address and I will put the prize in the mail .

I want to thank everyone that came, commented and left a Blue Thing.

Special thanks to Smiling Sally for letting me post my giveaway on Blue Monday.

Here is the creative list.

1. yard full of blue jays

2. blue corn

3 blue hot air balloon

4.blue Kodak camera

5 blue sapphire earrings

6 blue heron

7. blue cell phone

8. blue lagoon

9. blue gardenia

10 blue magpie

11. blueberries

12. blue moon

13. blueberry cobbler

14. blue sky

15. blue skies

16 blue salvia

17 granddaughter’s blue eyes

18 Blue suede shoes

19. Blue ribbon

20. oceans

21. an in internet explorer logo

22. blue lobster

23. blue recycle bin

24. blue plate special

25. blue light special

26. bluebonnets

27. blue clues

28. code blue

29.  wild blue yonder

30. blue spruce

31. blue rose

32. crystal blue persuasion

33. blue man group

34. red roses for a blue lady

35. blue jeans

36. baby blue birds

27 grandson’s blue eyes

30. blue boy

31. blue baby

32. blue walls in office

33. American flag

34. Texas flag

35  four o’clocks

There are 45 more because some participants choose to add more than one.

Happy Blue Monday!

Barbara

Pink Saturday/ Last Day to Sign Up for Giveaway.

Sweet Beverly is sponsoring Pink Saturday today, just like every Saturday,  Thanks Beverly. Please go to How Sweet the Sound.

The cake plate that I am giving away is my pink thing for today. If you are interested in signing up, just leave the name of something blue and a comment today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Pink Saturday.

Barbara

FOODIE FRIDAY

Hey visit Gollum at Designs by Gollum to find more wonderful recipes and ideas.

Thanks Gollum for sponsoring this day.

 

Egg Salad Sammies

Ingredients:

8 hard boiled eggs

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1Tbs. Dijon mustard

1 Tbs. chopped fresh chives

1/4 cup thinly sliced celery

1/2 tsp kosher salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

8 thin slices of sourdough bread, toasted if desired

8 small better lettuce leaves

Directions:

The egg salads tastes better if it sits for a while before serving so, if possible, make it a few hours ahead of time and refrigerate it.  Slice the eggs into a bowl.  Then, using 2 table knives, scissor-cut them into smaller pieces.  Add the mayo, mustard, chives, celery, salt and a few grinds of pepper and mix to combine evenly.

To make each sandwich, top a slice of bread with about 1/4 of the egg salad and then with 2 lettuce leaves.  Top with a second slice of bread and press down gently.  Cut in half to serve.  Makes 4 sandwiches.

 

 

And then we need a delicious drink to go with our sandwiches.

Cranberry Limeade

Ingredients”

2 quarts prepared limeade

2 cups cranberry juice

2 limes, thinly sliced

Ice cubes for serving

Directions:

Combine the limeade, cranberry juice and lime slices until blended.  I ladled mine into eight 1 1/2 cup Mason jars with screw caps. Keep  refrigerated until ready to serve.  You may also store it in frig and then pour over ice in tall glasses.

Good Eating!

Barbara

TABLESCAPE THURSDAY

 

Be sure you visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for a list of participants in Tablescape Thursday.  Thanks loads Susan for all your work…

THE STORY OF THE FORK AND ITS LONG BATTLE TO TAKE IT’S RIGHTFUL PLACE ON THE TABLE!

 

Once upon a time, the fork was used primarily as a serving piece.  Its path to popularity as an everyday utensil  had lots of objections. Many thought it was either too common or too effeminate.

In the early 16th century, the fork finally took its place on the table, thanks to Italian nobility and upper class. The forks acceptance began to spread, first to England in the 17th century, then it became part of the place setting, but was considered a Berry Fork.

It was designed for eating strawberries  and other berries and has either 2 or 3 long tines.

 

The forks usually came in a set of 6 along with the berry spoon.

Today these old berry forks are collector items.

 

This fork  can be purchased at Replacements for 229.00 and they have 3 of them

 

There is one that is defective and you may purchase it for 172.00

Happy Shopping!

Barbara

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY/104 DEGREES IN TEXAS YESTERDAY

HEY, DIXIE THANKS FOR SPONSORING THIS DAY.  IT IS REALLY HARD NOT TO TALK……..

 

 

 

HAPPY WORDLESS WEDNESDAY!

BARBARA

Outdoor Wednesday/ Hamilton Pool/ Giveaway!

 

Many thanks to Susan for sponsoring this day, so we can enjoy beautiful  outdoor pictures.

 

Hamilton Pool is a bit of a drive out to the countryside west of Austin, Texas. It requires a steep hike "in" and an equally steep hike back "out"... but the trip is SO worth the effort. This pool and collapsed grotto was formed by thousands of years of water erosion; and when we are not in a drought, a 50 foot waterfall spills over the top of this canyon. Before the 1800's, Native Americans lived in this natural shelter because its water and lush plant life; and its beauty no doubt.

Happy Outdoor Wednesday.

Please don’t forget to register for my giveaway.  Go to my post for Blue Monday to see the gift and how to register!

Barbara

Father’s Day Weekend from Hell!

 

Boy, do I know how to ruin a perfectly good weekend….

Paddling the Forks …. was not exactly what they made it out to be, the write-up said it was for novice and experienced paddlers, well I am here to tell you they painted a pretty picture.

Number 1.  The B&B was not what it was cracked up to be, the lady running it was very nice, but the facilities were terrible.  The house was in great need of repair and TLC.  The owners were in a foreign country and came home only several months a year and it showed.  The house was still decorated for Xmas and things were falling apart and dying a slow death.   Am I being hard ..yes, but if you are going to advertise and run a B&B, then I think you should keep it up.

We didn’t breakfast on either morn, we got up and left Sunday at 4:30 am.  Our Bathroom was stopped up and we had to use one down the hall, thank goodness we were the only people up there.

Sorry Swann Hotel and B&B, but you should close until the place is redone.

Here are a few pictures and I realize it does not look too bad, but….

 

Number 2.  When we arrived at the launch site for the canoe trip, we were told that this trip was NOT for novice and remember this is my first time in a canoe and I don’t have a clue as to how to paddle,etc.

Topping off that little bit of info was the fact that there would only be 4 canoes and 7 kayaks and these don’t mix well. 

We left about 8:15 and took 2 breaks totally about 35-40 minutes all day.  We ate lunch with me sitting in the canoe and Roy standing on the bank and we used the front of the canoe for our table.  There was one gentleman, age 73, that came by himself and he couldn’t paddle against the wind and keep up with the kayaks.  I realized about lunch time, that I was going to have to help Roy paddle, the wind was blowing in our face, the sun was beating down and most important the kayaks were setting a pace that was almost impossible for the canoes to keep up with.  Our lady from the park service was a darling person, but was very ineffective and the guide was not sure at times which fork to take until he sat and studied it. 

 

As my kind husband said, Barbara we have made a memory…boy what a memory.

I do want to say that once this little woman started paddling, I almost killed myself, but brother we were headed to the dock as fast as I could help Roy get us there and by golly we were the first ones and out of our canoe and headed to our cool car before most of them got to the dock.  Time 2:00pm. We had been on the river about 6 hours and paddling like heck for at least 5 and I mean paddling, never being able to slack off for fear of falling too far behind.

I was going home (to B&B) to shower and go get food and a cool drink.

I am usually not real critical,I go with  the flow, and try to fine the good in everything, but this was really bad.  There was little if any planning and no guidance hardly at all.

Our trip home was great, we did finally began to laugh and still complain about the Trip from Hell, but now that  we are home at the best B&B I know, we are laughing a lot.

Yes, we did make a memory.  It was kind of like child birth…you forget the pain….HAHAHA!

If you are interested in going, just call me and I will be happy to give you the phone number.

REMEMBER YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP FOR MY GIVEAWAY POSTED ON BLUE MONDAY POST. JUST LIST A BLUE ITEM AND POST A COMMENT ON THIS POST.

IT’S THE OLD PADDLER, BARBARA

Name Something Blue and Win the Giveaway on Blue Monday

 

Loads of Blue Monday thanks to Sally for letting me use Blue Monday for my list making and a giveaway.

Let’s get creative and add something Blue, no one else has thought of…when you post your comment, put your blue item first.

Next week I will post the list and announce the winner of the giveaway. Please advertise the giveaway on your post. 

You can post until  Saturday, June 27th at midnight, something blue and be entered in the giveaway.

The giveaway is this beautiful Blue Bada Bling bracelet to always remind you of Blue Monday and this beautiful cake plate.

 

 

 

The plate and cover are hand painted with cupcakes, cookies and sheet cakes and the words “life is uncertain, eat dessert first”

The plate is hand painted with fruit.

 

HAPPY BLUE MONDAY AND MANY THANKS TO SALLY …. I would never reach this many people without letting me to this.

Barbara

Happy Father’s Day!

Thanks Ginger and Charlotte for sponsoring this Blessed Day.

I am dedicating this to my Father, who passed away many years ago, but is and always will be in my heart and on my mind.

his  is also for my wonderful husband, Roy.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL FATHERS!

Let’s remember all the Fathers that are serving our country to keep us free!

Blessings  to all.

Barbara

Pink Saturday on the River!

Wow, it is already Pink Saturday!  You can find all the participants at How Sweet the Sounds and our wonderful hostess is Beverly.

Well, it is Saturday morn and we have arrived at the river and there is our Pink canoe.

I have brought all of the necessary things.

 

I have on my pink attire.

 

So we are off down the river, praying this doesn’t happen to us!

 

Opps….it wasn’t my fault, I am sitting still as a mouse.

Hope everyone has a great Pink Saturday and stays cool and dry where ever you are.

Pink Hugs,

Barbara

PS.  I did get to go to one shop after we got here today called  The  Cottage and wow ….some gorgeous things, I will show you next week, they are not pink.

Be sure and check my blog on Blue Monday, I am starting a give-way.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADVENTURE!

ADVENTRUE AHEAD/ HAPPY FATHER’S DAY/OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY

Thanks to Susan@SouthernDaydreamer for hosting this day . You can find tons of other posting for today at her blog.

Many thanks Susan!

I have been looking for an event that Roy would really enjoy and I found one. He does so many things I enjoy, I wanted to return the pleasure. I checked the Texas Events Magazine and found the perfect Father’s Day gift.

Paddling the Forks

At the Martin Dies, Jr. State Park, just outside Jasper, Texas in the piney woods of deep east Texas, you can take a guided canoe trip from Bevilport (7:30am)paddle down the Angelina River, navigate through Bee Tree Slough and encounter the forks. This is where the Angelina and Neches Rivers come together. We will then paddle (I guess) back and arrive about 3:00pm.

OUR GUIDE??????

When discussing with the lady at the park about the size of the canoe, she stated that a third person could ride in the center seat of the canoe, but would not be paddling……hehehe…… neither will the person in the front seat, ME.

Roy said it would be better if I just sat still..emphasis on still and took pictures.

AAhhhhhhhh a day on the river!

When discussing what to bring the park attendant said, lunch, snacks, water, sunscreen, bug spray and toilet paper. That last item made my day!

I found a nice Bed & Breakfast in Jasper and we are going to stay for 2 nights. There was only one restaurant listed besides fast food places….oh well, Roy is so excited, I will not complain.

He is an outdoor person, hunting and fishing and kayaking, etc.

Think of me on Saturday when the temperature is predicted at 100 degrees, paddling down the river with a smile on my face. Do you think my makeup will melt?

I know you all will be waiting impatiently to hear about this wonderful trip and see the pictures next week, assuming we don’t turn over and lose the camera.

Bon Voyage!

Happy Father’s Day

Lots of Hugs,

Paddler Barbara