Wisdom Wednesday - July 29th

"Rest is not idleness, & to lie on the grass under the trees on a summer's day, listening to the mummer of water or watching the clouds across the sky, is by no means a waste of time." John Lubbock

 "If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit."

... and now having said that, I'm taking this wisdom to heart & having a little rest.  I'll see you back here on Friday August 7th for the 2nd link in for SPSH.

Me On A Monday - July 27th

As there isn't a lot happening on or off the patio, I thought I would share a new favourite recipe.  Tradition has that if a single woman makes this dish for her gentlemen friend, after he's eaten he will immediately propose.  Seeing as we are already married, Mr Man requested I make this again soon & has promised he'll do the washing up afterwards!

Marry Me Chicken

Prèp Timè: 5 mins Cook Timè: 30 mins Total Timè: 35 mins

Ingrèdiènts

• 1 Tablèspoon Olivè Oil
• 3-4 Largè Chickèn Brèasts (I also used soy for me)
• Salt
• Pèppèr
• 2 clovès Garlic (mincèd)
• 1 tèaspoon Thymè
• 1 tèaspoon Rèd Pèppèr Flakès (may add only 1/2 tèaspoon for lèss spicè)
• 3/4 cup Chickèn Broth (I use vegetable broth)
• 1/2 cup Hèavy Crèam
• 1/2 cup Sundrièd Tomatoès (choppèd)
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup Frèshly Gratèd Parmèsan Chèèsè
• Frèsh Basil

Instructions

1. Prèhèat ovèn to 375 dègrèès.  In a largè ovèn-safè skillèt hèat oil ovèr mèdium-high hèat.  Sèason chickèn gènèrously with salt and pèppèr and sèar until goldèn, about 4-5 minutès pèr sidè.  Transfèr chickèn to a platè. 
2. Rèturn skillèt to mèdium hèat.  Add garlic and cook for 1 minutè. Stir in thymè, rèd pèppèr flakès, chickèn broth, and hèavy crèam.  Cook for 5 minutès, stirring oftèn.  Stir in sundrièd tomatoès and parmèsan chèèsè.  
3. Rèturn chickèn to skillèt and spoon saucè all ovèr thè chickèn brèasts.  Bakè until chickèn is cookèd through -- about 15-18 minutès.  Garnish with basil and gratèd parmèsan chèèsè, if so dèsirèd. 

NOTE: I omitted finishing the chicken in the oven & just left in the skillet to finish off.  Too hot to turn the oven on over the past week.  I served over noodles, which I had prepared while the chicken cooked.  Our favourite type of noodle is fresh linguine.

Source:Internet

Wisdom Wednesday -Thinking on July 22nd

Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought (JFK)

Me On A Monday - July 20th

Good morning.  What a wild weather weekend it was.  On Sunday we had tornado watches & warnings for the afternoon.  We lost power for 3 hours & in spite of the storm that blew through, it did not drop the temperatures much past 31(c) - oh & let's not forget the 71% humidity!

Nothing much happening on or off the patio, so let's take a walk around my garden.  Once we are done, how about a chilled glass of white with lime & of course there's some nibbles...

watching the soy crop grow

Nellie Moser clematis

a very full on in bloom Jackmanii (purple) clematis

Saint Fiacre - patron saint of gardeners

Ville de Lyon clematis

"never under estimate the healing power of a garden."

Wisdom Wednesday

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” —Aristotle

 

 

 

Me On A Monday - July 13th

Hello & good morning.  I hope that everyone had a good weekend.

Currently In the Shopping Cart:  Mr Man had ordered these tooth paste rollers back in November 2019 as stocking stuffers.  They were finally delivered & proving to be quite useful - worth the wait.

Currently Spending: to have our two Ash trees treated for that nasty invasive Asian Emerald Ash Borer.  We had the trees inoculated last year & the arbourist that does this, suggested we do two years in a row.  He said that the infestation is less than it was two years ago, which is a good sign for the Ash trees of Ontario.  Our arbourist charged us the same price as last year, which is his way of saying thank you for looking after the trees.  As you know, we, Mr Man & I, name our trees & we certainly wouldn't want to loose Money Penny or Mikey, as they both provide marvelous shade in our yard.

Currently Laughing:  at this little stinkers, who we came across on one of the back roads we were traveling.  No Mamma in sight, but no scent that she had been killed.  We could not get too close as they are already at an age that they can spray; see the raised tail on the one, that's an indication of a scent release. Four setting off a sink bomb just wouldn't be worth the closer photos.

"summer weather,like being in love, is a philosopher's stone, which turns our ordinary days to gold.  But not the whole day ... for it is never the whole day, never all our life which is transformed in any happiness, but only the exquisite moments."  Nan Fairbrother

Wisdom Wednesday - With A Dash of Humour

Sometimes getting a message across is best when served with honey or humour ... 

For wearing a mask & staying out of large groups:

Corona Virus  explained in crafting terms.  You &  9 friends are crafting, 1 is using glitter.  How many projects now have glitter? (hint, all of them)

For staying home & out of groups:

"I cannot go out because of the virus, sounds boring.  Try instead; I've sworn an oath of solitude until the pestilence is purged from the lands!"

Yeah this sounds much more valiant & heroic, people might even think you are carrying a sword!

Me On A Monday - July 6th

Greetings & Salutations

What a hot week it was & the forecast is for another 6 days of temperatures over 30+(c) . The sun was so intense everyday.  Giving thanks that we have air conditioning & nothing to do out doors except water flower pots for a friend & other than that, not a lot happening on the patio or off the patio - it's a quiet time.

Currently Dealing With: one of the circle patio twin chipmunk babies has decided to stay on & likes to dig in my flower pots of the circle patio. This is Patio Pete.

Currently Reading:  Me & White Supremacy, it's not an easy read, but a necessary read.  I've also started with the re-read of Harry Potter books.  I have not done a read through of the series in two years.  

Currently Wearing: a bathing suit as I am flower pot sitting for the lady I've cat sat for (the cats are away this time) & she has a very large inground swimming pool that she is allowing me to use.  Of course I take Mr Man with me as you cannot swim alone.  Oh the bliss & there's a few scrap book pages formulating in my mind!

Current Angel Thought:  July's Angel focus is New Love. Not sure what this message is about or for, but I do have the celebration of another friend's arrival of a baby boy.  Lots of boys being born this year.

Currently Watching:  a new to me series which I re-found as I had missed the last two episodes; Home.  Also a 1 season series, Beecham House. It's rich visual delights make me sad it's not got a second season in the works.  Now that the library is allowing new hold requests, there's a few DVD series I'm hoping to get.  Summer TV is awful.

SPSH - thanks to all those participating & I forgot to mention in the first link in when the next link in will be; Friday August 7th.

Wednesday Wisdom - Canada Day

Today's Wisdom, for Canada Day, is more of having the wisdom to give thanks for living in such a wonderful country as Canada.  

I am very proud to call myself a Canadian & I give thanks daily that I live in such a country.  We are a nation not without fault, but certainly a country that tries hard to be better than we were, 153 years ago at Confederation, better than we were even last year. We are a country that are loyal to & remembers who our friends & allies are, a country that, for the most part embracing of our diversification, although we all need to be better, do better on this, oh yes we need to do much better.  We are a country often over looked for our many contributions to the world.  We are a country proud of our British & French heritage, but also building our individual presence with all those that enrich us from other cultures & lands.  We are considered by many to be a young nation, so maybe that's OK, we can look & learn.

 

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.