Category: THOUGHTS

If you use a gas grill, then THIS will make your day!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Deal of the century!

We ran to Costco last weekend, as we walked in we spotted this sign.

Do you see these prices? WOW! We pay so much more than that this is hard to believe! A (regular) gas grill propane tank is 20#. So the max cost would be $7.49 (+ tax). If you took it in to have it filled and it wasn’t quite empty it would be even cheaper!

We pay more than twice that right now!

NOTE:

Tanks are not refilled inside the store, so do not take your empty propane cylinder into the store. The Charleston store refills propane near the Tire department (I think that’s what I read). Definitely not inside the store (for obvious reasons).

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Charlie (Jack Russell Terrier) Before (the hair) and After

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, Photograph, THOUGHTS4 Comments

Charlie - Before

When Charlie came into our lives he didn’t have “big” hair. They said it would get fuzzy in time, boy were they ever right! Look at the difference!

Charlie After

When this dog gets a bath you see how he’s not so big, but with all this hair he sure looks big! I wish I had his curls, ha ha. It’s fun looking back through old photos.

Enjoy your Sunday and I’ll catch you back here tomorrow!

Easter Lily Idea…

On By Barbara StroudIn Charleston, Daily Blog, THOUGHTS2 Comments

Easter Lily

Such a pretty photo of the sunlight beating down on the Easter Lily!

Do you still have an Easter Lily and aren’t quite sure what to do with it? We always plant them outside (Zone 9 – Charleston, SC). They appear each year so beautifully. This time I moved the plant outside and cut the flowers and put them in a glass jar. They were beautiful for 4-5 days. When I Googled it, the directions said to keep about 1/2 of the plant, so I couldn’t put it in a tall vase, which was fine.  When I have cut lilies, I do remove the stamen (see inside of lily where there is yellow, I just snip them off).

I will put the plant into the ground and see what happens next year! The lilies from years past mulitply!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

A healthier version of a cheese toast – so wonderful!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Grilled Cheese & Arugula with Balsamic

I could eat this Every. Single. Day. I always keep baby arugula in the fridge, I love it in omelets, on sandwiches, pizza and all by itself!

This looks very decadent, but these pieces of bread are small (wonderful bread from a local bakery. Very rustic, bread with substance).

Cheese Toast

I lightly toast the bread first, then add some grated sharp cheddar, put it on a baking pan and put it under the broiler for just a minute or two (HAVE TO WATCH IT – Don’t walk away!) Once the cheese starts to bubble, pull it out, cut it in half and put a heaping bunch of arugula dressed in olive oil & balsamic (you can even add to the dressing a tiny bit of honey, but not much). Then eat the rest of the arugula on the side.

This is a FABULOUS LUNCH!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Have you tried these? Wonderful!!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments

ArtFoodHome.com

Since many of you are away visiting friends or family, I will be posting photos this week – enjoy!

You know how sometimes you just crave a wonderful cinnamon roll? Just once in a while, like Christmas or Easter or a day off? I found a brand without many of those ingredients that we try to avoid. Of course this is an indulgence nonetheless and not considered health food in any way, but I probably didn’t have to tell you that, did I?

Another use… If you have your house on the market, and someone is coming to see it. Bake some cinnamon rolls! Seriously! SOLD!

Read about these wonderful cinnamon rolls:

ArtFoodHome.com

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Violets Secrets…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Violets | ArtFoodHome.com

Look at this violet! It’s going wild! Tons of beautiful flowers, there is also a smaller (baby) violet to the left… I’ve had good luck with them, this is what I do…

I set the three violets that I have in a butchers tray (any tray will do) and add 1/4″ + of room temperature water (they really don’t like cold water). Let them sit until the pot feels heavy, then I transfer them back to the plate, etc. that I have them sitting on. My baby violet is in a self-watering pot, which does not self water. I never understood that… but it’s pretty, so I keep it.

I have them in a sunny room. Right now they don’t get direct light, but the room is very light. Those are my secrets ;) Go get one, they’re wonderful plants!

Taking a few days off, posting some photos this week, back to normal posting next week!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Daylight Savings Time Begins – Time to Spring Forward!

On By Barbara StroudIn Lifestyle, THOUGHTS2 Comments

spring forward

A good trick I use to remind myself to set the clocks back before we go to bed… Set the clock on the stove forward an hour this morning… then you will notice the time is wrong when you see it later in the day, and that prompts you to change the rest of the clocks. I know the entire country doesn’t participate in Daylight Savings Time, but for those of you who do… you know what to do (Ex: If it’s 8AM, set your clock to 9AM, ahead one hour)!

Daylight Savings Time begins at 2AM (Sunday), but not many of us wait up for it!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Embrace the cloudy days…

On By Barbara StroudIn Photograph, THOUGHTS6 Comments

Tree of Life

I saw this tree a month or so ago and it stopped me in my tracks. I quickly grabbed my phone and snapped a photo. I walked out of a neat little design shop (Elizabeth Stuart Design or ESD as we call it), and walking back to the car saw this tree in the parking lot. It was the wild sky and the bright sun that made it stand out.

This tree makes me think of how strong people are when they need to be. When the wind is whipping, the sky is gray and life has problems or uncertainty remember…

The sun is soon to follow.

Let the sun warm you and make you smile. Soon things will turn around, there will be leaves on the trees, more sun in the sky and life will feel better…

Embrace the cloudy days, for they make the sunny days that much more special.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Captivating design – this is something you don’t want to live without!

On By Barbara StroudIn ART, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Image via Rad Empire

R A D Felt Pouch

R A D EMPIRE – brilliant design. Clever. Modern & sophisticated. MADE IN THE USA! This company should be on your list of small businesses to support. RAD Empire was started by Ross DeWaard, a 17 year old high school student from Viroqua, Wisconsin. Ross started R A D Empire “in an effort to create a useful, everyday product that was well designed, beautiful in its simplicity, but most importantly, handmade in America (by me).”  Handmade in the USA.

GO ROSS!! We need more people like you!

Photo: R A D Empire

Cool branding… I am impressed! I love the website, the cool tags, every detail has been thought of and it shows! In addition to the wonderful products and the visual appeal is a stunning website. 5 stars!! The website has a link to R A D Empire’s Etsy shop, where you can order online. I was happy to see that they also accept PayPal. Shipping is free… prices are great… check it out!

Image via RAD-EMPIRE

R A D Canvas Pouch

I placed an order and quickly received a shipment confirmation, and not long after it arrived in the mail. Wrapped in brown paper and tied with string – First class!  Again… impressed! I didn’t show you everything on his website so go check it out! I cannot wait to use it!

Read a bit about R A D Empire, from their website:

In the year 2015, RAD Empire was created. My goal was to create a beautifully hand made, durable, made in America product. 
RAD Empire utilizes high quality materials, some new, some
recalimed (to give reclaimed materials another incredible life in this world). With great attention to detail, every bag is designed to withstand the test of time. The more you use it, the better it looks, and everyday use is what this product needs and wants. New, reclaimed, we’ve joined these two materials to create one great product!At RAD Empire we don’t tell people our dreams, we show them.Look, seek, find!!

All images via R A D Empire, used with permission…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Recipe: Ham & Cheese Noodle Casserole – The ultimate in comfort food!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, Recipe, THOUGHTS5 Comments

Ham & Cheese Casserole

A friend sent me this recipe. Oh. My. Word! I changed up only a few things, I used less butter, substituted low-fat sour cream, used a little more cheese, and a wonderful noodle I found, I also thinned with milk because Fred likes a thinner sauce – I included the original recipe, and then my version below. This casserole is comfort food at its very finest. There are no cream soups with unknown ingredients, good ingredients = a healthier meal for sure!

You can make this as healthy as you like. Less cheese, no problem, I think I’m going to try using Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. One day. So afraid to mess it up. But I have substituted Greek yogurt in recipes in the past with good results. I will update this post if I do!

Click to print (both) the recipes (minus all my words)!

The original recipe (from a friend, thank you Heather Locke!!):

HAM & CHEESE NOODLE CASSEROLE

4 Tablespoons butter

1 small onion, chopped fine

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese

1 ½ cups finely chopped cooked ham

Salt

½ pound noodles, ¼ inch wide, cooked.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 2 quart casserole dish. Melt the butter in a skillet and cook onion over medium heat until soft.

In a small bowl: Mix the eggs and sour cream together, then add onion, cheese and ham. Add salt to taste. Put the noodles in the casserole dish, then add the sauce and toss gently. Bake for 45 minutes or until a straw inserted in the middle comes out clean.

_________________________________________________________

My variation (was more clear to re-write, even though there are only a few changes)

1-2 Tablespoons butter

1 small onion, chopped

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup low fat sour cream

~1 cup sharp cheddar cheese

1 ½ cups cooked finely chopped ham

8 oz (½#) egg noodles (I used Amish Country), cooked and drained

Milk to your taste – I thinned it a bit using probably ⅓ – ½ cup 2% milk.

Follow above directions, I also topped mine with a little cheese. I baked it covered for 30 minutes and uncovered for 15.

Catch you back here tomorrow!