Felt Like Knitting

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Things to Put in a Salad

    

What?  It's Tuesday?  Memorial Day has thrown me off.  I'm laughing at myself because when I read Carole's blog this morning I thought something was off with the posting day - why was her ToT post showing up on Monday?  :)

Lettuce - Most of my salads begin with lettuce.  My favorite is Romaine (right) but we also planted Black-Seeded Simpson.

--Cheese--

Feta - I love feta cheese on salad.  I think this is the favorite at our house.

Gorgonzola - But this is my personal favorite!  It has so much flavor that you don't need to add much.

--Crunch--

Pecans - I love the sweetness and crunch that chopped pecans give to a salad.  Sometimes I throw in candied pecans.

Sunflower seeds - Chick-fil-A puts these on their salads.  Yum!

Slivered almonds - Another favorite but not at the same time as the pecans or sunflower seeds.  :)

--Fruits and vegetables--

Dried cranberries - I've been forgetting to put these on lately but they really make a tasty salad.

Roasted butternut squash - Mary first served this to me and now I love putting warm squash on my salads.  It's filling and tastes delicious with gorgonzola and pecans.

Olives - Again, I think these add lots of flavor to salads.  I usually use black olives but if I have kalamata olives, I use those for a special treat.

--Dressing--

Balsamic vinaigrette - I enjoy other dressings, but if I could only pick one dressing it would be balsamic vinaigrette.

I've gotten to ten too quickly!  I never mentioned tomatoes, cucumbers, caprese salad, ...  What a great topic this was!  To share your favorites or to get ideas, head on over to Carole's!

 

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Things to do Outside

1.  Praying/meditating - I often feel closer to God when I'm outside in the world He created.

2.  Gardening - Sometimes it can take a lot to get me out there, but once I'm busy in the yard/garden I really enjoy it.

3.  Picking vegetables and flowers - It gives me a lot of joy to pick vegetables and flowers from my yard, especially when I get to share them with friends.

4.  Reading on the deck - I still remember one Sunday where I sat out on the deck and read the whole afternoon.  That doesn't happen often, but it's so nice when it does.

5.  Knitting on the deck - See #4.  :)

6.  Grilling out - Steve told me just the other night that this is one of his favorite things to do - grill our dinner while drinking a cold beverage and catching up on his reading.

7.  Visiting with neighbors - Not much time to do this, but it sure is nice to catch up ona neighbor's porch or out in the cul-de-sac.

8.  Celebrate July 4th - Speaking of our cul-de-sac, we often have a mini block party with fireworks, homemade ice cream,...

9.  Enjoying the ocean - One of my favorite outdoor places

10.  Camping - Around a lake or in the mountains, I love being able to "live" outside.  Even though we stay in a cabin and not a tent, being able to walk out the door and into the woods or down to a lake is wonderful.

Check out Carole's blog for more ways to enjoy the outdoors!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Birds

Ack!  Today was really busy so I'm late - and no photo even!  The topic is favorite birds. 

Bluebird - so pretty!

Owl - not sure what kind lives near me, but I love hearing it hoot

Cardinal - another pretty bird

Goldfinch - it's so fun to watch them perch on the heads of flowers to get seeds

Blue Jay - they can be mean but I love their color

Swan - very graceful

Chickadee - don't they just seem really cheery?

Hawk - again, I'm not sure what kind but it's very exciting to see them swoop down on their prey

Hummingbird - so tiny and noisy!

Wren - these little guys are another cute kind of bird

I'm sure I'm forgetting some.  To share your favorites, head on over to Carole's!

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Reasons to Use the Public Library

What a great topic!  I love the library!  I used to work in a library when I was in high school and I still find myself re-shelving books if they're out of order.  :)

1.  Books, books, and more books!  Where else can you get this selection and all for...

2.  Free!  Instead of just wishing you could buy a particular book, you can check it out at no cost.  It makes me feel like I'm shopping and getting a fabulous deal.

3.  Audio books - These are a really great deal because they are so expensive to buy.  I always see books I'd like to listen to but Steve is rather picky in his listening so we usually end up listening to science fiction when we're on a trip.

4.  Movies - There is such a great selection and again - for free!  The other day I checked out My Fair Lady, Gigi, and A Streetcar Named Desire.

5.  Story Time - I went to Story Time when I was little and I took Emma when she was little.  Great memories!

6.  Computer services - I don't have to use this service often, but it's nice to know I have a backup if my computer at home goes down.

7.  E-services - Another great thing and you can use it from home.  There is  more here  than just downloading e-books and it's an area I need to utilize more often.  I also love the fact that I can access my account online.  That saves so much time!

8.  Music and art - When I was growing up, you could check out CDs and artwork.  We would check out a painting and hang it up in our house for a month then go get a new one.  Interesting idea.  I wonder if any other libraries did/do that.

9.  Special events - The library in my hometown had a little art gallery attached to it and there were always neat displays to look at.  Another library I used to use offered a service where patrons recorded books for adult learners so they could hear the words as they learned to read them.  The library system I use now has book clubs, lectures, book sales, etc.  Each library offers more than just books.

10.  Helpful people - I have always had a great experience with the people who work at libraries!  They are kind and knowledgeable.  I've had excellent reference help, heard great kids stories, and gotten some wonderful book ideas.  The people at my library always seem to be a happy bunch!

Why do you use the library?  I'm sure there are many more reasons - like those comfy chairs, study rooms, etc.  To share your list, visit Carole's blog.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Smells

Here are some of my favorites smells...

1.  Rain in the woods - I love this smell!  It reminds me of being at summer camp when I was younger.

2.  Baking bread - Possibly everyone loves this smell!

3.  My mom's spaghetti sauce  - Not only do you get a wonderful smell, you also get a delicious meal.  

4.  Clean house - I like the smell after I finish cleaning my house.  Granted, this isn't a smell I often get to enjoy.  :)

5.  Flowers - My favorite flower scents are lilac, lily of the valley, peony, lavender,...

6.  Clean laundry - I don't use scented detergent but the clothes still smell so good when they come out of the dryer.  

7.  Soap/shampoo - There are some soaps and shampoos that smell really nice, too.  My daughter's shampoo and the bayberry soap I bought at Williamsburg are two good ones.  I even like plain old gold Dial.  What is it with the "clean" smell?!  :)

8.  Grilling out - I love when it's finally getting warm again and you walk outside and smell people cooking dinner.  It's even better when it's your own dinner and you're not having to cook it.  :)

9.  The ocean - I wonder if I'd like the smell of the ocean if it was in a bottle like a perfume?  Maybe not.  What I like about the smell of the ocean is being there.

10.  My dog after a bath - Not right after a bath but when he's had a chance to dry off.  I love to hold him then - he smells good and he's really soft!

I know I've forgotten a bunch of good smells.  What are your favorites?  Head on over to Carole's to share your list.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Things to Like About the Month of March

Lenten Rose

March, how do I love thee?  Let me count the ways...

1.  It's my birthday month!  It's also the birthday month for many of my cousins and lots of people I've met through the years.  I've often wondered if there are so many birthdays in March because of all those June weddings people used to have.  :)

 

2.  Green!  Here in the south, things really start to green up in March.  We're just starting to see it now.

 

 

3.  Blooms!  In front of the backdrop of green is a beautiful array of colorful blooms.

 

4.  Garden time - While it may be safer to plant in April, March is definitely the time to start planning and preparing.  And there is always the cool weather garden to plant if you desire.

5.  Green! part 2 - Green is my favorite color and you can see it a lot in March due to St. Patrick's Day.

6.  Weather - Growing up in Ohio, the weather in March was very unpredictable and often unpleasant.  But in Atlanta it is beautiful and sometimes even hot. 

7.  Lent - While Lent is not my favorite season of the church year, it is a deeply meaningful one.  It is a time of reflection and helps me to take my focus off of myself.

8.  Summer clothes - Around here the summer clothes start coming out in March.

9.  Sandals - Along with summer clothes, it's time to start wearing sandals.  Time to break out the toe nail polish again!

10.  All in all, I start feeling good in March.  Warmer weather, bare feet, beautiful flowers...ahhh!

Why do you like March (or not?)  To post your ten items, head on over to Carole's blog.

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Non-Knitting Blogs

I don't currently read too many non-knitting blogs, but I just happen to have exactly ten on my reader.

Craft Apple - Sewing blog.  Lovely sewing patterns!

Nesting Place - Decorating blog.  Beautiful colors - her house looks so peaceful.

Something Woven This Way Comes - My friend who used to live here switched to weaving when she moved.  I always tell her that it's like she's speaking a foreign language when she talks about weaving.

Suburban Tree Hugger - My friend Reesa has her own Internet business featuring cloth diapers and environmentally friendly baby products.

The Unsinkable Molly - One of Emma's teachers from a few years ago has become my friend.  And she blogs!

Transformers Robotics - The robotics team's blog.

Culinary Memoirs of a Soulful College Girl - Mary's daugher's cooking blog.

Geninne's Art Blog - Recently found this somehow and I really like the artwork.

Mama the Reader - One of my previous knitting students blogs, too.  While she does sometime have knitting on there, it is a blog of her life.  She has some great recipes on there, too!

Tartlet, Tartlet, Tartlet - A cooking blog by Mary and her two daughters.

There you have it!  To participate, check out Carole's blog.

 

 

 

Ten on Tuesday - 10 Favorite Health and Beauty Products

1.  Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation - It is rare for me not to have this on my face.  I feel so much more confident with my rosacea hidden.  They have a mineral version that I'd like to try but I doubt I'll get enough coverage with it.

2.  Esteee Lauder Lucidity Powder - EL recently discontinued the powder I used but I've substituted this and I like it.  It has this really pleasant smell that makes me happy when I put it on.

3.  Mascara - My eyes are fairly sensitive so when I find a mascara that doesn't irritate them, I stick with it.  Right now I'm using Maybelline Define-A-Lash.  (Love the green container, too!)

4.  Eyelash curler - Let's not forget this!  Very important tool for me.

5.  Tweezers - Speaking of tools, I have to have my slant tip tweezers.  And a mirror.  And some bright sunlight.  :)

6.  Brushes - I use my makeup brushes all the time and they're very helpful.

7.  Lipstick - My favorite color is Bobbi Brown Blue Raspberry but I usually buy drugstore versions of a similar color.

8.  Lip Gloss - I buy this in a similar color and layer over my lipstick.

9.  Moisturizer - Very important!  My skin is pretty sensitive so I've switched to Cetaphil.

10.  Makeup removers - I really like the Estee Lauder products but I usually end up using baby wipes and any kind of non-oily eye makeup remover.

I could go on to talk about cleanser and shampoo and lotion and...but I'll stop.  :)  What are your ten favorite health and beauty products?  To share, head over to Carole's blog.

 

Ten on Tuesday - 10 favorite games from your childhood

1.  Monopoly:  I have mostly fond memories about Monopoly.  But there was the time that my mom threw away our Monopoly set because none of us would pick it up.  We've told her that set would be worth something now if she hadn't tossed it.  :)

2.  Card games:  Rummy, Go Fish, Solitaire...  Once it was so hot that my mom and I couldn't sleep.  So we sat at the kitchen table and played double solitaire.

3.  Battleship:  Wow - look how fancy the game is now!

4.  Trouble:  I loved playing this game at a friend's house.  It was so much fun to make the dice pop up in the middle each time.

5.  Candy Land:  I loved this game!  I remember really wishing that all the candy was real.

6.  Chutes and Ladders:  Fun but frustrating.  I hated going back down those slides.

7.  Stratego:  I don't remember much about it, but I do remember playing it.  I think it may have been my brother's game so it was "hands off!"  :)

8.  Chess:  One year for Christmas I got my very own chess set and chess table.  

9.  Chinese Checkers:  I loved all those colorful marbles and the sound they made rolling around in the tin.

10.  Trivial Pursuit:  This was popular with us when we were teenagers.  That's when we had our Atari, too.  Remember those games?

I'm sure I've forgotten some games.  And here I thought I wouldn't be able to think of ten things!  To share your Ten on Tuesday list, stop in at Carole's blog.

Ten on Tuesday - Ten Way to Be More Organized

Today's topic is probably the topic most on my mind these days.  I will definitely be reading Carole's blog for everyone's tips.  Here's what I've been trying or think I need to try:

1.  Look ahead - Just a few weeks ago I noticed that Steve unconsciously asks himself "What's tomorrow?" when he gets up in the morning.  I've started looking ahead a few days, too.

2.  Calendar / planner - The best way for me to look ahead is to use a calendar or planner.  Google has a calendar that works well for me and I put it on my iPhone, too.  I have several different calendars (youth group, acting group, etc.) merged with mine and it all shows up together.  Now I just add something electronically instead of writing it in my planner.  I do miss holding my pretty green planner but this is a lot better system for me.

3.  Toodledo - Speaking of iPhone apps, this one is great!  Carole recommended it to me and I love it.  I add tasks as they pop into my brain, organize them into folders and assign due dates.  When I check my calendar, I check Toodledo, too.  I think there is a way to merge them but for now I don't mind them being separate.  One of the best things:  I set up a folder called "To buy" and now I check that list when I'm out.  This has helped a lot!

4.  Old fashioned to-do lists - I stopped making to-do lists when I got my phone but I'm going to go back to them.  It is more satisfying to cross things off a sheet of paper than to delete them from Toodledo.  Plus the visual reminder will help me.  If I can figure out how to link my iPhone with the Toodledo online feature, I think I should be able to print out tasks from there.

5.  Purge - There is less to organize when there is less sitting there.

6.  Find a place for everything - I think it was my grandma who always told me "A place for everything and everything in its place."  It's true.  If I don't stop and ask myself "Where is the best place to put this?" I end up having piles of stuff everywhere.

7.  Use a system - Though Getting Things Done has been around for a while, I've just recently learned of it.  Using a system like this could be the key for me to finally get things whipped into shape.  What system do you like?

8.  Do things right away when possible -  When I don't do this, I tend to put things off more.  Example:  Right after I get home from band practice, I send the practice notes out to the group.  If I don't do it right away, I find myself typing them up Saturday evening - that's a little late for our Sunday morning service!

9.  Make an appointment with yourself - Schedule in some fun time and that can help keep you on track with the things you don't want to do quite so much.

10.  Ask for divine intervention - A few years ago our pastor preached about asking God to organize our days.  He suggested praying that in the morning before you get out of bed.  When I do that, my days do go better.

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