Thursday, July 17, 2014

Chayote??????

I never heard of chayote, and this is really a shame, because I live in Texas where it is available all the time at the markets. It's called Agrocosco  and comes from Mexico.
 It's a pale green little squash, not much bigger than your hand, and it's usually smooth-skinned with large folds and puckers that look like a mouth pursed up.
It's from the same family as most gourds and squash, as well as cucumbers.


I am familiar with the chayote from my neighbor, Yvette.
She invited us to dinner Memorial weekend.
 I am  always excited to see what Yvette cooks.
 Mr. Sweetladyelaine not so much!

How do you cook chayote?
It's used in curries, raw in salads, boiled, mashed, stuffed and fried.
 It excretes a sticky residue when it's peeled, so recipes sometimes call for gloves.
 
 

Yvette & her husband Wallace come from Grenada.
She is making us goat, lamb, kale salad, and chayote.
We have never eaten any of the above before.
 We were a little nervous but willing to try.

Have you ever gone to someone's house and not sure if you will like what they were cooking?                            

                        
  You can see Yvette and her Mamma cooking lots of food.


                                        Mr. Sweetladyelaine watching...... lol
                                        He is not a big one on trying new foods!


                                           Yvette is washing kale for a salad.
                                     She told me to clean & soak kale in vinegar for a few minutes.
                               The vinegar is a cleaning agent and also softens the sometimes bitter kale.


                                  Add a little olive oil, juice of a lemon & a lime, salt & pepper!
                                                                That's it!

                                         The boys doing what they do best!


                                        This is a delicious Hibiscus tea!

                                         
                  Put in boiling water: hibiscus flowers, a bay leaf and a cinnamon stick.
                                          Let it steep until the water gets really red.
                                                           add agave to taste.
 
                                     
                                        I think you can add any sweetener you want!
                                     Pour half of the tea mixture in a glass with ice and
                                     add your favorite sparkling water to fill the glass
 
  
It was delicious!
Yvette gave me a packet to take home. I have not tried to make it on my own.
You can buy the flowers at a health food store too!
In Texas, I can buy them in the market!
 
                                                    
                          Yvette stuffed the chayote with ground lamb like you make a meat loaf!


                                                    When dinner was served we had soup.
                                                          I forgot what kind.

 
 
Curried lamb and goat
 
                                                 
                                                          Kale salad and stuffed chayote

                                                                       
                                                                       Spinach salad




 
Our happy faces!
We are always happy when we are eating!
 

                       It was so much fun trying new foods! I just was in my glory!
                       Maybe its because they cooked and I got to sit back and drink my hibiscus tea.
                       It's always a treat when someone else does the cooking!

I did try and cook chayote........I sliced it thin and  put it on an oiled cookie sheet. I put salt, pepper and garlic powder on the slices.  I cooked it in the oven on 350 degrees about 15 minutes or until soft.
It was delicious!  You need to try it if you can find it in your markets. Use it instead of potatoes.
Something new to cook and introduce to your family.

Thanks for stopping by.....I had fun reliving this weekend! Hope you have a great week!

I am joining

 Tablescape Thursday
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/rosedown-plantations-butlers-pantry/

Foodie Friday
http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2014/07/foodie-friday-july-18th.html



Blessings My Friend,






Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Loud and Clear

As I am setting this table I am laughing and saying oh dear! This is so not me..............or is it?
I dress in bright colors but my home furnishings and everything else is more traditional.
 Quiet. Not bold in color at all.......
I tend to like glitzy, pretty and soft colors on my tables. I always struggle when I have to set a different table.
I am struggling my way through this but decided I need a few bold colored accessories and two tall candlesticks that match!

I feel a day thrift day in the air!!!!!!!  lol

My inspiration for this table was the blanket I found at the Thrift Store a few weeks ago.
Of course, Sweet Pea is supervising!
In fact, she is  usually right behind me so that I am stepping on her!


                           I couldn't decide which salad plate I liked best so I used both of them.
                          The striped plate is "Set Sail" by DEMDACO. I use them almost everyday!


                            The green salad plate is "Home Essentials," Pisa Collection
                            The heart bowls are from Michael's a while back.


     This is what the blue & gold one looks like...........this was taken as I was setting the table.
     Like a picture was going to help me decide which plate looked better! lol
     It is "Mesa Alegre" from Pier 1 imports.


    Isn't that what setting  tables is all about, FUN!!!!
    If you can't have fun doing why do you do it!




 Of course, my favorite drink since I have a pool and live in Texas is a frosty Margarita!!!
 The tall blue glasses are at least 30 years old.
 I bought them in Bradley's Department store in my home town.
 The Margarita glasses are from Marshal's.




I did change my centerpiece as I was writing this post..........
I think I like the sunflowers much better!


Which one do you like? I find if you play around enough it does get better. I really like to take a few days to set a table. It always comes out much better, when I am using colors that are different or new to me.



Well there you have it, a Mexican kind of table set by a New Yorker at heart!  I may never be a Texan but I do love the weather, food and people! Come visit Texas! Everything is bigger in Texas!
See you by the pool!



Thanks  for visiting!
I will be joining:

Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/a-garden-moss-table-setting-tablescape/


Blessings My Friend,







Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Happy Fourth of July

Hi Everyone!
This week has been crazy........
I just was out of sorts all week, a very stressful week!
But I won't bore you with the details since we all have those weeks! Right?????
 Guess what put me into a good mood?????????
I wish I could have recorded it. My friend Carol from Buffalo sang me a song!

"Bind us Together"

I found this one on YouTube.
I have to be honest.....I was so happy after she sang to me!
Soooooooo  when someone you know is down, SING to them!
You don't have to have a great voice just pick a great song!
They will light up like I did at someone loving on them !

I am glad to be able to share a table with you this week too!
 I have to admit, I thought I wasn't going to remember how to set a table;
 but once I started the juices got flowing!
I had fun even though I had not planned on doing a Fourth of July table! LOL

 
I used a rattan charger first. I thought it would break up the red and blue a little. 
Then I used my favorite blue chargers from Pier One!  I bought them at Something Special in Houston the last time we lived here two years ago. 
 Can you keep up with our moves?? I can't! lol
 

                               Next These fabulous star plates! They are "Galaxy" by Sakura.
                                               I love the name and the deep blue color!

  
The last plate is "Hampton's flag by Ralph Lauren 
All my plates were bought at Goodwill or thrift shops. 
I have so many I forget where I have purchased them.
I would have to look in previous posts. 
 



                                     Why or why do we buy things and not use them a lot????
                                                        Am I the only one that does this?
                                                           I love these casserole dishes!
                                   I just don't use them except when I have a lot of people.

 
This was a great Thrift Store find recently.
Eight bowls and a salad bowl!
                 My little blue bird of happiness, just had to make his way on the table!



                                                  Other birdies jumped on the table too!


                    Cardinals are all over our backyard. I didn't realize Texas had so many!

 
                                   Using my Memorial Day star I found at the Dollar Store.
                                                         I wish I had bought a few more.
                                          I always do that...........not buy enough and wish I had!
                                                      Story of my life! I will never learn!




Thank you for stopping by today. Please leave a comment I miss all of you so much!
 I am so happy to be back blogging again!

I will be joining:

Tablescape Thursday at  Between Naps On The Porch
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/4th-of-july-nautical-table-setting-tablescape/

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/


                              Have a Happy Fourth of July!!!!

 
 
Blessings My Friend, 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, June 26, 2014

IT"S GOOD TO BE BACK!

HELLO!!!!!!

I have been so busy that there hasn't been enough time to blog!
I never thought I'd be saying this........ I really didn't have the will to bother!
Mr. Sweetladyelaine is back to work and pumping iron three times a week at 6:00 am!
Praise God!
Me, I'm trying to get myself into a routine. It's been tough!
 
After several months of being a care giver, I got out of sync.
I am finding that I have all I can handle just getting up every morning!
I am tired!
I have been relaxing as much as I can........
I love Texas and the warm weather!
We have been getting storms but when it beautiful out! It is hot and humid...my kind of weather!
This is our great place every morning to take in His Splendor!!! I love the stillness,
 so does Chloe!


Sorry for such a long time being off the radar. I am back and will blog a little more.
 I have been out and about so I do have new things to share!

IT"S GOOD TO BE BACK!!!

Blessings My Friends!



Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Coming Up Roses

I am in a rosy mood today. I went grocery shopping this morning. That did not put me in a good mood! The prices are sky high...... But the sun is shining and I am happy to be breathing!
Even in my pain, I am grateful for the little things. I am choosing to be happy!
 

My table today is a happy table. I am not sure it is an Easter table but I stuck in a few marble eggs around the bottom of my centerpiece. I haven't even had time to think about Easter! I'm getting that way as I get older. We don't have any family in Texas so I tend to just move through the holidays. Does anyone else do that? Besides, I have been so busy taking care of Mr. Sweetladyelaine & myself. Time just seems to march on.........

I love this tablecloth with roses all over it! It just makes me want to dance and sing around the table. I love roses so it was right up my alley so to speak. I bought it at a flea market in Illinois last year.



 I think these were the first set of dishes I bought when I became a blogger.
 They say "United Utilities Corp Sovereign" on the back.
 I looked them up and the pattern is Lyric.  

 
I jazzed them up using zebra chargers.
The little silver clam dish is so versatile. I am using to hold used teabags in this tablescape. 
 

                       My cardinals came out to play in the sunshine too!




                             I am starting to love creamer and sugar bowls!
                            What's not to love???????/
                             I have a few but I know I am in trouble.....
                             I am trying so hard not to collect. Are you still collecting?
                             I collect what I love but I love so much! LOL


 I was a teenager when the  love of old teapots, teacups, creamer & sugar bowls hit me.
I loved matching sets then, now, it doesn't matter I just use everything!
The teapot is from East Liverpool Potteries, Semi vitreous Porcelain, USA.
The creamer is Limoges, France and the sugar bowl says nothing on the bottom.

 

Roses, Roses and more roses! I think I just love old..........


A Memory....
My Aunt Emily gave me this Blue Victorian Vase years ago.
It is a favorite treasure! It usually sits in my bathroom on my tub.
I just love, love, love it!
                                              Do you treasure one item over another??????



Someday I will have to take pictures of all my glass pieces.
I love glass because its shiny!
Why else!



I have to thank Mr. Sweetladyelaine for this centerpiece.
 It was a gift from some friends. I just changed the bow, put it on a plate, threw some marbled eggs around it and there you have it!




I am so happy you stopped by to see me. Please come again.
I am in the middle of a few projects.
No sure when everything will get done......but I have lots of time!
 
 
One last picture
 
 
 
I will be joining:
 
Susan at BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday
 
Alma's Seasonal Sunday
 
 
Blessings My Friend,
 
"Our self worth can only be found in the yeses of the one who made us". 
 

Saturday, April 12, 2014

My dear Blogger,

I am so sorry I haven't been posting.  I had all good intentions but Mr. Sweetladyelaine has been sick. He was in the hospital for some time. He is on the road to recovery but it will be a long one.  So, as his caretaker I have been quite busy keeping him comfortable! Of course cleaning and entertaining all the well wishers too! It has been a great experience and life changing for us both. We saw God every step of the way!

In all our turmoil  Spring has arrived in Texas! The weather has been beautiful! Today it was warm enough for me to put on shorts !  I have taken some outdoor pictures of my new front and side yard to share.
I have been anxious to see what pops up if anything. This house is not as well landscaped as our other houses but I can fix that a little at a time.

This is the side yard. Those are my kitchen windows. Not too much growing here.


A closer look. I bought a new humming bird feeder for this sunny spot. I open the blinds and peek at the birds. Our hummingbird feeders are mostly in our backyard. So far no hummingbirds but lots of others visiting my bird bath!!


The tall tree in the first picture is my lemon tree. Here is a close up. I can't wait to see them grow!
I have two very small orange trees and a grapefruit tree in our backyard with flowers on them.
I find this exciting!
.
 
This is sitting in the corner, just above the birdbath in the first picture.
Just one lonely flower.........
 


We live on a corner lot so this is looking down the street from our driveway.


We have lots of "Forever Roses" all around the house.




The front of the house is mostly greenery.


 I would like to have more color. Behind the bushes are red roses.


 It's a little plain for me. They put rocks close to the front door on each side.  Our house doesn't have any gutters, so when it rains it kills whatever is growing there.
That will have to change in the future. I don't like the rocks. Too many weeds are popping up. I like a clean front way.



To tell you the truth, I don't like bugs therefore I will not dig in the dirt in Texas. So gardening is out for me. Texas just has too many big bugs for me plus red ants etc. I am not a fan of any kind of bug. I scream like a wild woman.
When I was about ten years old,  I bolted through glass shower doors because I had a spider visit me while I was taking a shower. I didn't get hurt just scared me to death!

I am glad I sat down today and wrote to you. I feel much better. I will try to keep up with it at least once a week or so while Mr. Sweetladyelaine is recovering.

I hope you have a great week and thank you for visiting.
Blessings My Friend,