Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Portugal Bound!

It has been a long time since I posted last. I am a freelance photographer (that does not mean I work for free, though many think and hope I will) and it is a busy time for me. :D And that is a "Good Thing!"


At church, I work with GA's. It is our younger girls mission program. Girls in Action. One day, during my blog surfing expeditions, I discovered Portugal Bound. It is about a family of Service Corp Missionaries who God lead to Portugal. The wife, Nina, misses Wal-Mart and Pam amongst other delicacies of the south. (Oh, I forgot to mention, she and her DH grew up in the Greater Birmingham Area, pronounced Bur-min-ham.) As a mission action project, we decided to collect a few things….



Nina, did you say you like Pam….






I sure hope! There are 10 or 11 cans there. Your story about the European equivalent costing $16 made an impact. It will take a while to get there. Because of the aerosol cans, they have to be shipped on a boat. It will take 3-4 months. I hope you have enough to last until then. Then you will have enough for the rest of your life!!!! Now to go see about getting some of this…






packaged up! I hope to get it shipped off to you in the next couple of days. :D

Friday, April 17, 2009

Birmingham, Alabama

First you must learn to pronounce the city's name. It's 'Bur-min-ham'.

Driving Information:

Burminham has its own version of traffic rules. The truck with the loudest
exhaust goes next at a four-way stop. The truck with the biggest tires goes
after that. Note: Blue-haired ladies driving anything have the right-of-way
anytime.

To find anything in the city, it is required that you know where
Malfunction Junction is, which is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and
the end. It may be one of only two 'cloverleaf formation' interchanges in
the world. We invented it and only one other city was stupid enough to
implement it again, Atlanta -- making them only a wee bit dumber than we
are.

The morning rush hour is from 6:00 to 10:00. The evening rush hour is from
3:00 to 7:00. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday morning. If the term
'merging delays' is ever used by the person reporting the traffic, even in
passing, call in to work and tell them that you will be at least 30 minutes
late regardless of where you are in your commute.

If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be (at the very least)
rear-ended, cussed out, and possibly shot. This applies to male and female
drivers alike.

You must know that 'I-459,' 'I-59,' 'I-20,' and 'I-65' are the same road.
They just loop around, cutting in and out of each other's path. We think
this was a ploy utilized to confuse outsiders and discourage visitors after
the War of Northern Aggression.

Always, always, always, find out if it is a race or football weekend before
you get on any of these highways to travel somewhere. If it is a race or
football weekend, stay home. You won't be pleasantly going anywhere else.

Construction is a permanent fixture in Burminham. The barrels are moved
around in the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a little
more interesting.

If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them over to the
shoulder immediately to let them know -- you can be sure it was
'accidentally activated'.

The minimum acceptable speed on 'I-65' (see above) is 85 mph. Anything less
is considered downright sissy.

This is also Alabama 's state-highway-sponsored version of NASCAR --
especially during rush hour (see above) and everyone in the city is driving
at once, bumper-to-bumper. If you are in the left lane and only going 70 in
a 55-65 zone, you are considered a road hazard and will be 'flipped a
bird' accordingly.

Do not gawk at the woman in the car beside you in traffic who is applying
make-up, drinking a Diet Coke, smoking a Marlboro and maintaining a steady
speed of 85 mph on I-65 in rush hour traffic. If she is coming from north
of Burminham, she might be packing. If she is coming from south of
Burminham, she IS packing and is not afraid to use it.

Weather Information:

If it's 110 degrees, Thanksgiving could be next weekend. If it's 10-20
degrees and sleeting or snowing, then watch out. Burminham residents
consider this 'demolition derby' day and will be all over the roads
(frontways, sideways, etc). Please proceed with caution, as you could be
the next target.

Seasonal Information:

If you stick to the seats in your vehicle, it is Spring.

If you need to let the car 'get some air' while standing next to it with
the doors open for a minute before you can stick your upper body inside to
crank it and get the air going, it is Summer.

If you are sweating even with the windows down, driving 55 mph, it is Fall.

If you finally turn the AC off and roll your windows up, it is Winter.

General Information:

Do not ever speak during the song ' Sweet Home Alabama ' unless it is to
sing along with the lyrics. This is a form of heresy and will erupt in a
brawl if everyone doesn't show 'proper respect' to the band who gave us
Free Bird. This is especially true if alcohol is present (notice I didn't
say 'sold at this event,' but 'present').

Yes, we know that Vulcan is mooning the entire city. It's not that funny to
us anymore and by now we're used to it.

If you ask someone for a 'coke,' they will often ask you, 'What kind?' This
is not a trick question. Tell them what you want: Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Root
Beer, etc., it is all 'coke'.

All tea is sweet. If it's not sweet, you are in a Chinese restaurant or
have crossed the Mason-Dixon Line .

Possums sleep in the middle of the road with their feet in the air.

There are 5,000 types of snakes on earth and 4,998 of them live in Alabama

(an' this little feller's mama, daddy and bros and sisters live in my yard!)



There are 10,000 types of spiders. All 10,000 live in Alabama, plus acouple no one's seen before.

If it grows, it sticks; if it crawls, it bites.

Onced and Twiced are words.

It is not a shopping cart; it is a buggy.

People actually grow and eat okra.

'Fixinto' is one word.

There is no such thing as 'lunch.' There is only dinner and then supper.

Iced tea is appropriate for all meals and you start drinking it when you'retwo.We do like a little tea with our sugar!

Backwards and forwards means 'I know everything about you.

DJeet is actually a phrase meaning 'Did you eat?'

You don't have to wear a watch because it doesn't matter what time it is.You work until you're done or it's too dark to see.

You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH them.

You measure distance in minutes.

You'll probably have to switch from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the same day

All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable,grain, insect or animal.

You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.

You carry jumper cables in your car . . . for your OWN car.

There are only own four spices: salt, pepper, Tabasco and ketchup.

The local papers cover national and international news on one page, butrequire 6 pages for local gossip and sports.

The first day of deer season is a national holiday.

100 degrees Fahrenheit is 'a little warm'.

We have four seasons: Almost Summer, Summer, still Summer and Christmas.

Going to Wal-mart is a favorite past time.Fried catfish is the other white meat..

We don't need no stinking driver's ed ... if our mama says we can drive, wecan drive.

If you understand these jokes, please forward them to your friends fromAlabama (and those who just wish they were).

EVERYONE can't be a Alabamian; it takes talent. You might say it's an artform or a gift from God.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Happy....

...Resurrection Sunday Everyone!

Sing Alleluia! Jennifer Knapp & Mac Powell w/3rd Day. To enjoy, please turn off the music on my playlist on the sidebar on the right.



Have a Blessed Easter!
Love,
Melissa

Thursday, March 26, 2009

GiveAWays I have Won!

Have y'all missed me? I sure have missed you. I have been and will continue to be very busy for a while and it is keeping me from bloggerville! I am able to lurk and post some. So I do know a little bit about what is going on. :D I am also collecting a lot of blogging material so .... when time allows... y'all watch out!

I want to take a few moments to show off some things I won!


Remember our ~Southern Lady~ Nancy's - Flaunt it Red Party! All the participants were entered into a drawing and I WON one of the 2 prizes! Thank you Nancy!





The box was just full of goodies! A precious note and kewl black, white and....



RED Goodies! There is a bag that can be used as a clutch or a make-up bag, beautiful luggage tags, look at that sweet picture frame! It is shaped like a little red purse! Zebra Kleenexes! ( I will have to hid them from DD...)


And you know Nancy! Roosters!!! She included these sweet Country French toile plates and napkins with Roosters on them. And they are Red too! They are just precious!


I also won a beautiful teacup and saucer from Jan and Tom of Rose Haven. They gave away 14-16 teacups and saucer sets in their big Teacup Giveaway that started the first of the year.


Isn't it sweet! I love the little birds. I love bird watching out my kitchen windows as I drink my coffee or tea. This is the perfect cup and saucer for that.



And Jan added something else! I am always in need of sewing needles and I found a nice surprise! A pack of sewing needles! Good sharp ones too! Thank you Jan!


Thank you for my prizes ladies.


I will be on bloggy break for a couple of more weeks. Hopefully will be able return soon!


God Bless,

Love,

Melissa



Friday, March 13, 2009

Foodie Friday~Turnip Green Soup


I hope it is not too late to participate! Thank you Gollum (of Designs by Gollum) for hosting Foodie Friday. It looks like much fun!

There is a wet chill in the air here in the South and I had to make some soup. We love Turnip Green Soup. Yum Yum!



~Recipe~
  • Beef Sausage -fried (I usually grill-and pat with paper towels less fat that way)
  • 1/2 bag of dried Navy Beans or 1 large can of Navy Beans
  • 2 boxes of fresh frozen turnip greens or one package of fresh frozen turnip greens. Rinse and squeeze.
  • 1 package of Knorr Soup Mix
  • 3 Shakes of Tabasco Sauce
  • 3 Cups of water (maybe a tad more)


I use dried beans. First, I like to soak them in a solution of Baking Soda dissolved in hot tap water. I usually let them soak for several hours or in the fridge overnight. Next, I cook them in an iron pot (any pot will do with 1-2 table spoons of Apple Cider Vinegar. These too steps keep beans from making people gassy and have heartburn.


I usually grill my sausage, but today I precooked them in a skillet. After patting down in paper towels, cut up into small pieces.


After rinsing and squeezing turnip greens, set them aside ( I have used fresh greens, I have also used kale and other greens. Whatever I had in the fridge that had to be used up. My family loved it. In fact, my 10 yo DD prefers fresh kale over the turnip greens...)

In crock pot or large stew pot, add 3 cups of water, Knorr soup mix, 3 shakes of Tabasco and bring to a boil. Add greens, beans and sausage. Cover and if in a crock pot, walk away until you are ready to eat. :-) If stew pot, let it cook for another hour or so.

Now you have to have bread with this soup and nothing is better than made from scratch buttermilk cornbread unless.....

You have one of these babies in your pantry! Yum yum!

Nice and hot, fresh from the oven. (Two packages for a pan like this.)


Side salad optional... This soup is a meal by itself. And very filling!
(Nina, if you are reading this, do you want us to send you some dried Navy Beans, Knorr Soup Mix and maybe some canned Bushes Turnip Greens? Can you get that where you are? We have plenty of Jiffy Mix now....)


And what better for dessert? Strawberry Shortcake!

To see more Foodie Friday participants or to participate yourself, go to Gollum's Blog. Thanks for hosting Gollum!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Tablescape Thursday


This is my first Tablescape Thursday. And I hope that I do not bore you with this tablescape! Thank you Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for hosting Tablescape every Thursday.

Now you see, because I do have a lot of dishes, and I lust, I mean admire all the dishes I see out there, and because I made the 'Dishaholic Award' a few of you accused me of being a Dishaholic! Now I have never been awarded the Dishaholic Award. :D But I think you do have to buy a lot of dishes to be a Dishaholic. ;-) (Tee Hee)

Well here is one set that I have actually bought. And some have already fallen victim to my granite tile counter and terracotta floor. (Sigh....) I certainly am glad that I only paid $9 bucks on clearance for a 4 piece place sitting for 6 at Big Lots. One of the Dessert/Salad plates was cracked (all of the boxes had one cracked Dessert/Salad plate thus "Clarance" for $9 bucks!)


A lovely white stoneware set that goes with anything!


I had to have some lovely flowers for my Tablescape so I got these from my garden. They look perfect in the vase. A friend gave me that vase for my birthday several years ago.

My Chateau (by Oneida) stainless flatware (wedding gifts) looks just right with this set of dishes. Here in the south, or at least in this house, our iced tea glasses are huge! I bought the glass (I do buy my glasses and I try to keep about 10 - 12) you see here, a Libby Glass from Wally World. .97 or so. When it falls victum of my counter top or kitchen floor, I go buy another...

The placemats and napkins are a gift from my mom. I think I have had them at least 20-25 years. Not sure. They used to go with a set of stoneware I had when I was single.


I found this little square plate on clearance somewhere last fall. It goes with one of my homemade cloches. (I borrowed it from the cloche.) Now after seeing it with this tablescape, I want 5 more.... (is that lusting or sinning? Am I a dish-o-holic?)


Guess what? When DD came along, we got several sets of Chateau baby/toddler flatware! I guess Oneida makes it for little ones too! Well I think the knives look just like individual butter knives so that is what I use them for. :-)


I thought everyone in Bloggerville had a set of these but me. Then one day I was in that French store.... Tar'je' (Target) and there they were! I plan to make tassels out of them.


The bread basket was a wedding gift. It was silver plated. Last fall, after reading all the paint parties on the blogs, I primed it and painted it blue. See, I did not buy it either and I was about to give it away. (I have given tons of stuff away. But I continue to be blessed!)

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment. To view more Tablescapes or to participate, stop by Susan's blog @ Between Naps on the Porch.

Have a blessed day,
Hugs,
Melissa

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Outdoor Wednesday


I am eager to spend more time up in the Blue Ridge Mountains. For us in the Deep South, it is summertime in June, but there, it is still spring. Hey, this Deep South gal packs long johns for that trip. LOL!

I love it because...


The Daises pose...


The cows pose....


The moths...


and butterflies (or maybe this is a moth as well) pose for photographs....

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. To see more Outdoor Wednesday posts or to participate in Outdoor Wednesday, stop by Susan's blog, A Southern Daydreamer. Thank you Susan for hosting another fun Wednesday!

Have a great day!
Hugs,
Melissa