Sunday, er... Monday Morning Chit-Chat

This picture is of Buckwheat. My husband plants it as a cover crop in part of the garden to add nutrients to the soil. I will post more about this later in the week. I thought it was pretty with it's little white blossoms!


Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily had a super busy week with sick kids, a photo shoot (check out her photos--impressive) and "forgot" the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! It was missed BUT she decided to turn it into a Sunday Morning Chit-Chat instead! Works for me:) Sooo, here goes!


What am I...


Reading...Perusing crochet books looking for my next project. I am going to need some help with the Wheat Doily so it will have to wait till my next trip to town.


Watching...Watched The Shunning (finally) on Netflix yesterday. It was a really good movie but I couldn't believe they left us where they did:( Hope there's a sequel like there was with the books by Beverly Lewis. I will be pretty busy today so not likely to watch any TV. 


Listening to...The windmill (actually wind turbine)--not loud but the window is open and I can hear it. And of course, Rocky, our English Bulldog, is snoring beside me. He has a comforting little snore:) 


Cooking/baking...I will be making bread today! 


Happy I accomplished...Trip to daughter's (check); Stampin' Up! order sent in (check); laundry done after trip (check); house cleaned (check); blogged consistently (still working on this one--getting easier). I am good:) 


Looking forward to this week...Independence Day (July 4)! Parade; Picnic with family and friends! Shopping for it today and cooking for it tomorrow!


Thankful for today...My mom seems to be feeling a little better today. Hopefully this marks a turnaround for her health issues.


The top 5 tasks on my to-do list this week are...

1. Get ready for July 4--shopping, cooking, serving.
2. Work on organizing my craft room (daunting task)
3. Make more cards (seems I'm always behind)--need 4 birthday and 6 thank you.
4. Start on new tote bag.
5. Design new blog header (in the works but need to finish)

Well, that's it for my week. I hope you have a wonderful Monday! I am hoping to be back tomorrow with a card or two. Wish me luck!  Kat

Last Minute Nellie

I really am a Last Minute Nellie about this great Giveaway from Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. She is giving away a Custom-made Wallet but you have to hurry because it ends in just a few hours! My 1/2 Dozen Daily is my new (for a few months now) favorite blog! Sometimes I feel like a "blog stalker" because I check in often to see what she's posted:) Whereas I am lucky to post once a day, Carla often posts several times a day! Please check out her blog and tell her Kat sent you:)

Kat

Giveaway to Shout About

I am very excited about the Giveaway Carla has going on over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily! The Canadian company NBW is giving away one tub of Marigold Magic Body Butter to a fortunate reader of Carla's blog! 


So, why am I excited? Besides the fact that I love to win stuff, the Marigold Magic Body Butter has healing properties for eczema--the bane of my existence! In the Bible Paul talks about his "thorn in the flesh"; do you think he had eczema? (Just kidding) I have had eczema since I was an infant. At times it has gone away for a few years at a time but it came back again about 5 years ago and has been my constant companion since. Yuck! Oh Carla, please pick me!!!


You can read Carla's critique of NBW's Marigold Body Butter at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. Be sure to also check out NBW. They ship to the US:) 


Have a great weekend and I will see you back here for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat!


Kat

What's for Breakfast?

What could be better than a delicious Raspberry Smoothie first thing in the morning? How about a Vegan Raspberry Smoothie?!!! My handsome hubby and I are trying to go vegan and for the most part are doing pretty good (if you don't count my visit to my daughter's last weekend). We have purchased several protein shake powders over the years that contain dairy--usually whey. Some are good; some are not so good. We recently purchased the Sunwarrior Plant-based Protein Powder. 


Sunwarrior Classic Protein uses an old world process, combining the endosperm and bran from raw sprouted whole grain brown rice to create the first completely hypoallergenic protein, containing all essential and non-essential amino acids in a perfectly balanced profile. Sunwarrior Classic Protein has the highest amount of (non-soy) raw, whole grain, sprouted vegan protein of any product available.
--from the Sunwarrior website.


We purchased the vanilla flavored protein powder which is sweetened with stevia but I read that the natural flavored protein powder is not sweetened with anything. For our Raspberry Smoothie this morning I used:

• 2 cups water
• 1 banana
• 2 scoops Sunwarrior Classic Vanilla Protein Powder
• 2 cups fresh raspberries from our garden
• 8 ice cubes

Blended in my Vitamix Blender for about 1 minute. There was enough smoothie for my husband and me to each have a glass and a half.

We purchased our Sunwarrior Classic Protein Powder from Azure Standard where we purchase our bulk foods but I noticed that it is also available from Amazon. The reviews on Amazon gave this product 4 out of 5 stars!

So, if you are looking for a non-dairy, plant-based protein powder that is also soy-free and gluten free, try the Sunwarrior Classic Protein Powder. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Kat

Pasta and Spinach Salad

Pasta salad close-up. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the Summertime we love Pasta Salads! One of our favorites is a Pasta and Spinach Salad recipe I got at a Tupperware party back in the 80s. I have tweaked it just a bit but it's basically the same. Sooo yummy! Hope you enjoy it too:)


Pasta & Spinach Salad


1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup lemon juice (or vinegar)
1 teaspoon dry mustard 
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed (or 1 Tablespoon fresh minced basil)
1 clove garlic, minced or crushed
Pinch of salt
16 ounces corkscrew macaroni (penne is also good)
1 large sweet red, green or yellow pepper, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
2/3 cup sliced pitted ripe olives
2 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
5 cups torn fresh spinach


Combine first 7 ingredients in a jar and shake well to combine. Set aside.
Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and rinse cold water and drain again. 
In a large bowl combine marinade, macaroni, sweet pepper, olives, cherry tomatoes and spinach. Stir to combine.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.


As a side dish this recipe will serve 6-8; as a main dish it will serve 4-6. You could add some chicken cut up to make it go farther. 


NOTE: This salad is also good with Tortellini as the pasta and broccoli instead of spinach:) Try adding a can of artichoke hearts for an extra yumm factor:)


Have a great day! Kat

A Little Love

My birthday is next month but Sunday night I got an early birthday present from my dear friend and Stampin' Up! downline, Margarita:) My husband and I love tea and frequently buy teas "just to try them out". Some are good; some are not! Anyway, I was overjoyed with this delightful Organic Tea Set for Two! I am planning to make myself a pot of tea to enjoy today.

Accompanying my wonderful new tea set was this card. I LOVE it!!! Not sure what color she used but the stamp sets are Mixed Bunch and Oval All (retired). She used the Scallop Oval Punch and the Large Oval Punch. She used Baker's Twine and a button to finish off her card. You can find a tutorial for making this card at Dawn Olchefske's website DO Stamping with Dawn. I am hoping to make one of these cards with my Happy Stampers soon!


Are you a tea drinker or a coffee drinker? What kind of tea do you like? What time of day do you prefer your tea? 


Have a wonderful Tuesday. I sure hope it's warm (but not too hot) where you are. It won't even hit 70 degrees F here today:(  Kat

The Cupboard Trilogy Countdown is on...

The Cupboard Trilogy is a Challenge Blog. They are currently revamping and preparing to launch with new and improved monthly challenges starting July 1. They are giving away Blog Candy (and I do love Blog Candy) so head on over to The Cupboard Trilogy to find out what YOU have to do to sign up for their Blog Candy! And don't forget to check out The Cupboard Trilogy on July 1!!!


Kat