My Addiction

Yes, I have to admit.... I have an addiction

October of 2008 with a wonderful weekend of friends, music and laughter in Starkville Mississippi did my addiction begin.

I remember the day like it was Friday, October 17, 2008.In must anticipation of meeting my friend Kathy for the first time the mood was set with happiness. As I walked up to Kathy and said hello.

THEN it hit me...her perfume!!! "Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir"

Through all the hugging, laughter and talking this fragrance was ...WOW!

With curiosity, I asked the name and it has remained etched in my mind to this day.

Throughout the weekend whereever Kathy was so was the fragrance..she was my piped piper so to speak not to mention how so many other people had the same feeling as me.

Now my addiction had taken over... I had to find this stuff so I got home from my trip and googled it....Jo Malone

Come to find out there are many fragrances and you are encouraged to mix them.OH NO ...could be trouble.I then went to Ebay and did a little ordering.It was like Christmas waiting for my package to arrive.With a little testing my combination has become Lime Basil & Mandarin & Pomagrante Noir.I have even joined a Jo Malone fan club on facebook and yes it goes with the addiction.

Christmas in my house was a treat and so many people that love me knew about my addiction.Jo Malone for Christmas is about the best gift I received !!

Well time has passed and still I have this addiction.Saks Fifth Avenue in Birmingham has this but I have yet to take the plunge and go.My kid in the candy store feeling I know would take me over and I know I would have to take a second mortgage out on my home.

I do have a little control over the addiction.

So.... let me start my day with a little squirt...well maybe a big one!

A Fine Feathered Friend

Be still, and know that I am God.....

Psalm 46:10

God never ceases to amaze me.So many time as I look out the window
and things might not be going the way I think they should...God gives me this cardinal.

Touch of Spring

With all the rain for the past few days I thought I would bring the spring flower arrangements out and brighten up my front hall.

On The Rise

This happens to be the Mulberry Creek here in Plantersville and my yard.

Selma Times-Journal
Rivers and local creeks and streams are on the rise.
Rhonda Abbott, interim director of the Dallas County Emergency Management Agency, said residents living near or having property along the Alabama or Cahaba rivers should remain aware.
The Alabama River is expected to crest Saturday afternoon at 36 1/2-to-37 feet. The Cahaba River at Marion Junction is expected to crest today at 28 1/2-to-29 feet.
“Residents living in low lying areas with cattle or equipment need to make arrangements to get them relocated to higher ground,” she said.
By late afternoon, the weather system causing the latest rain should have moved out of Central Alabama, giving way to partly cloudy skies Saturday evening, according to the National Weather Service in Birmingham.
As flooding around Oakmulgee Creek begins, cattle need to be moved to higher ground. Overflow of pasturelands increases at stages above 20 feet along the Cahaba River, Abbott said. Pastureland below Selma becomes flooded at stages of 35 feet and above along the Alabama River.

A Time For Everything/Skywatch Friday

Click for the full image.

So often as I pass one of my Iris gardens ,I can't help but think that this little statue is reading to the plants.Perhaps she is reading this.......

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sow;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war; and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For more Skywatch Friday Click HERE

Crock Pot German Potato Salad

Crock Pot German Potato Salad

7 strips of bacon

3 lbs. raw potato's

1 medium onion (diced)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

2 TB. sugar

1 TB. brown mustard

1 1/2 TB. dry parsley (or real)

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Add water, apple cider vinegar, sugar, brown mustard, parsley, salt and pepper to crock pot

Peal and boil potatoes for about 30 minutes.Dice potatoes and add to crock pot.

Fry bacon .Once bacon is done set aside.Add onions to bacon drippings left in skillet and saute.

Add onion and left over drippings of the skillet to crock pot.

Crumble bacon and also add.

Slow cook on high for first 3 hours then to med for about 3 more.

Stir every now and then.

* Note if it looks like more water is needed just a little will be fine .If you add to much water it will become like soup.

Spring Break 2009

Just my own thoughts......

I think I will go on off season when the crowds are not overwhelming.

Funny thing about it is that about 20 years ago,

you would have found me right in the middle of all of this!

A Beautiful Day of Spring

While enjoying my springtime day yesterday my Grandchildren came to put an extra smile on Grandma's face!

Spring Time in Plantersville

Just one of the goats that you will find all over Plantersville on this fine springtime day!

Blue Skies/Skywatch Friday

Callery Pear or better known in our area as a Bradford Pear.

The blooms of this beauty only lasts about a week and so pleasing to the eye.

For More Skywatch Friday Click Above

Chicken Yum-O

I love to buy used cookbooks and the treasurers of hand written recipes are such fun to find in between the pages.This recipe below is one of my favorite finds.It did not have a recipe name so I gave it "Chicken Yum-O"

Chicken Yum-O

4 skinless boneless chicken breasts

2 TB. Olive Oil

1/2 cup TeriyakiSauce

1/2 cup Ranch Dressing from bottle

1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded

2 Green Onion tops chopped fine

Bacon Bits

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F

Heat skillet and add Olive Oil. Lightly brown chicken breasts on both side.Transfer chicken to a 9x12 baking pan.Drizzle Teriyaki Sauce on top of chicken do the same with the Ranch Dressing.

Bake for about 35 minutes or till chicken is a honey brown color.Remove from baking pan to a serving dish.Scatter shredded cheddar cheese, green onion and bacon bits

Serve with any side dish...Brown rice is my favorite side for this chicken recipe

Happy St.Patricks Day

To my Grandfather and Grandmother McQueen

Thank you for my Irish Roots
Happy St.Patricks Day!

What are you looking at?

While out and about yesterday in Plantersville my little friend Joshua was watching me take photo's of the railroad tracks."What are you looking at Ms Kat?" he asked ,I told him, "Nothing, just looking down the tracks." So he turned and looked also.

Then turning..... he lost interest real quick .......he was like the wind and was off to ride his bike.

My Husbands Is Also An Artist

My husband has been a master of his trade for over 28 years.Most anything you see from Miami to Alabama ,he has had his hands in .High rises, Gas Station, Malls, Shopping Centers, Government buildings, homes ....you name it with his constructed foundations the list goes on and on.

The photos above show the art that he has constructed at Marbury High School here in Autauga County, Alabama.This is the front of the school entrance.At sixteen feet up on scaffold's the mold of the arch was put in place and poured with concrete.In weeks to come more of the progress till the finished product will be seen here.

I am so proud that he has stepped out of his box and expanded his artistic talent!

For more of the construction of this building including the foundation can be seen HERE

1960's vs 2000's

My family in the 60's

1960's vs 2000's

Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1960's - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up mates.


2000's - Police are called, Armed Response Unit arrives and arrests Johnny and Mark. Mobiles with video of fight confiscated as evidence. They are charged with assault, ASBOs are taken out and both are suspended even though Johnny started it. Diversionary conferences and parent meetings conducted. Video shown on 6 Internet sites.




Scenario: Jeffrey won't sit still in class, disrupts other students.
1960's - Jeffrey is sent to the principals office and given 6 of the best. Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.


2000's - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. Counseled to death. Becomes a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra funding because Jeffrey has a disability. Drops out of school.




Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbour's car and his Dad gives him the slipper.
1960's - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.


2000's - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. Psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mum has an affair with the psychologist. Psychologist gets a promotion.



Scenario: Mark, a college student, brings cigarettes to school .
1960's - Mark shares a smoke with the school principal out on the smoking area.


2008 - Police are called and Mark is expelled from School for drug possession. His car is searched for drugs and weapons.


Scenario: Mohammed fails high school English.
1960's - Mohammed retakes his exam, passes and goes to college.

2000's - Mohammed's cause is taken up by local human rights group. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that making English a requirement for graduation is racist. Civil Liberties Association files class action lawsuit against state school system and his English teacher. English is banned from core curriculum. Mohammed is given his qualification anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.



Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers, puts them in a model plane paint bottle and blows up an anthill.
1960's - Ants die.



2000's - MI5 and police are called and Johnny is charged with perpetrating acts of terrorism. Teams investigate parents, siblings are removed from the home, computers are confiscated, and Johnny's dad goes on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again.



Scenario: Johnny falls during break and scrapes his knee. His teacher, Mary, finds him crying, and gives him a hug to comfort him.
1960's - Johnny soon feels better and goes back to playing.



2000's - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces three years in prison. Johnny undergoes five years of therapy. Becomes gay. Even though this is based on the US, it showed me where we get our influence from. It's quite funny on how much things have changed in 48 years and scary........



For better or worse??

Stumped For A Title!

I have sat here for a few hours and have tried to come up with a title for the shots

and so many have run through my head.

You tell me!

For more Skywatch Friday Click HERE

Oh My Aching Back

All the hours I spent out in my yard yesterday pulling up weeds from my flower beds and I didn't even think to take a photo.

I woke up to start my day today and OH my aching back.Walking through the house I noticed it was so bright and the first thought was the moon ... yes you know what I went to get and what I did.

Visit With A Friend

While in Selma the other day I had to stop and see my Butterfly.

Don't forget to click on photos to take a closer look!

There are more than 40 Butterflies that grace the streets of Selma.
To see more click HERE

Its a Beautiful Day!

It is so hard to believe that last Sunday there was snow coming down in our neck of the woods.

Yesterday the weather was just right for outside fun in the upper 70's.My kids stopped by and as you can see my daughter was out on her ATV with Grandson and my son went fishing in the Alabama River, bringing back a mess of fish.

I think I will enjoy today because we are to have the same weather...maybe I will do both of the above!

Rosanne Cash's Potato Salad

ROSANNE CASH'S POTATO SALAD

3 pounds medium red-skinned potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed

8 dill pickle spears, coarsely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)

3 celery stalks, chopped (about 1 cup)

1 medium red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

5 hard-boiled eggs, peeled, chopped

3/4 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Cook potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain; cool. Cut potatoes into 1-inch pieces and transfer to large bowl. Stir in pickles, celery, onion, eggs, mayonnaise, and mustard. Season potato salad to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)

Rosanne sometimes adds two-thirds cup chopped fresh cilantro and two teaspoons curry powder.

Rosanne 's sister Kathy Cash Tittle has said this is so good the next day

White Sky Plantersville 3-1-09/Skywatch Friday

34th ANNUAL HISTORIC PILGRIMAGE AND ANTIQUE SHOW & SALE
MARCH 20-22, 2009

North of Selma in Dallas County Alabama is one of the most historic homes in my area.

Driskell/Martin Home

In the closing days of the Civil War, as General James H. Wilson advanced on Selma, with the purpose of knocking out this important center of munitions and supply to the Confederacy, Mr. Driskell, his wife, their two sons: Will and Tom, and their three daughters became forced hosts to General Wilson. General Wilson made his headquarters in an upstairs bedroom and for this reason the house was saved. Driskell’s store, cotton gin containing 63 bales of cotton, and warehouse were burned to the ground by the Union Army.

Years Later...
When my daughter was in her teens Mrs. Martin shared a story with a group of girls in this home and it was passed to me.
Just before one of the sons of the Driskell family went off to the civil war, the young man and his sweetheart sat on the front porch with a piece of Ivy in hand. The young man planted this Ivy and told the girl as long it grew he would love her. The Ivy is still growing from what I have heard and in months to come I will ask Mrs. Martin for the chance to show you.

As for the snow?

The thrill of this happening in our area may come very few and far between.We were lucky to see the white beauty this year and last for the day.

For more Skywatch Friday click HERE

Comfort Food

For the past few days cold has hit the deep south and nothing better than comfort food!

Beef Stroganoff

2 teaspoons beef bouillon cubes

1 cup boiling water

1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

9 ounces sliced mushrooms, drained

1 large onion, chopped

1 medium bell pepper

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 pounds boneless round steak (1-1/2 to 2 pounds), trimmed and cut into small cubes

2 tablespoons olive oil

8 sour cream

Hot cooked noodles

In a slow cooker, dissolve bouillon in water. Add soup, mushrooms, and Worcestershire sauce.

In a skillet, brown beef in olive oil. Transfer to the slow cooker. Add bell pepper and onion to skillet, saute till transparent(last 2 minutes add minced garlic do not let it become brown).Transfer to the slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until the meat is tender. Stir in sour cream last 20 minutes until smooth.

Serve over noodles.

Time to Exercise

Favorite Snow Shots

3-1-09

Determination of the citizens to insure an educational opportunity for their young people never wavered despite difficulties. In the late 19 th century Plantersville had its own college, founded by and chartered under John L. Dodson LL.D., who had formerly been president of Oxford College at Oxford, Alabama. Dallas County High School of Plantersville finally came into existence in 1909 and absorbed the facilities of Plantersville College. It is claimed that the Plantersville secondary school was the first public high school in the state. The school was financed by a $4000 grant from the state legislature and by $6000 in local contributions of money and labor. A permanent, continuous public elementary school was established soon afterward.
Dallas County High School was the oldest public high school building in existence until fire destroyed the main building on April 19, 1982. Arson was suspected and many of the community mourned the loss of the building and also old records, trophies and other memorabilia. The school building was reopened by the fall of 1983 and restored to its original antebellum style architecture.

I thought I should post a few extra photos of the snow we had yesterday.This does not happen often in Plantersville Alabama.

Snow For My Birthday

I have been waiting for snow all winter and here in Alabama we got some !

Thank For The Beautiful Gift God!