microderm abrasion plants

Is it just me or is this just some sadistic beauty industry term for sand blasting of the face?

Plus I got a pimple! Ugh, I guess the random pimple is better than wrinkles, thank you Dad's side of the family.

So, yesterday I purchased a flat of perennials. Ok, Crazy early for zone 5, but they had delpheniums, fox glove and poppies for 3 plants for .99! It is supposed to warm up here this week, so I am to follow my late Mothers advice. "Honey, it is people like us who keep nurseries in business. We buy early, and if that doesn't work we buy again and again!"

Trader Jim's and "outlet malls"

On Saturday, BP and I made a road trip south. We went to the famous Jungle Jim's grocery store. We had a wonderful time! They have an acre of just produce, and I found my favorite yellow mangoes. They are buttery and sweet, just incredible. BP had been searching for twenty years for a fruit he sampled on a missionary trip to Thailand. We found it, canned in the most extensive international food section that I could imagine. In the health food department I finally found some slippery elm lozenges. I am not a huge holistic healing fan, but these are incredible for soothing a cough.

We also stopped at gold star chili on the way home and I snagged a couple of cans for cravings that won't wait the 2 hour drive.

And on to outlet malls. As strong a rave about Jungle Jim's, this is a pure rant.

I need some church lady earrings, and was hoping to stop by Claire's and get some cute multi pack earrings at a discount. I did this quite often about ten years ago. Boy did I get a slap in the face. The "outlet store" was full of full priced items. They had less clearance than the regular retail stores. Such a disappointment. Phooey on them!

Well, I am off to go second hand shopping. BP calls it Goodwill Hunting, lol!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Here in Ohio, this has been an important day for our family. We Plant our peas outdoors. By this time of the year, I am ready to grab spring by the tail and reel it in.

To honor my mother, today I set up a raised planting bed for the kids at the school. We carefully divided the round bed into slices, like a big dirt pie. The kids were so happy to go out. One little boy stuck his finger in the soil, and for the first time in my life, I saw someone have a shiver of excitement. Big thanks for Mrs Burns for all the work and contributing the supplies.

I also dressed up like a wee Irishwoman and passed out chocolate gold coins to the kids in each class. The pre-schoolers were delighted. The older kids are used to me by now. They still pulled on that giant green hat and giggled.

I am waiting for my husband BP to come home. We cook our own brisket and we are having Rubens for dinner. I also tried to do a dish called Colc annon. It smells really good so I have high hopes!

What an ideal day it was.

The seeds are out!

First off for those holding their breath about the puppy, he was already adopted.

This was a big disappointment but it is well tempered by the news that the garden seeds are in our local stores!

I have only purchased peas so far. Peas are a great source of cheer to me every year. They seem to bring spring early. My family tradition is to rush out on St Patrick's day and plant the peas, even if we have to brush the snow away.

I promised to do a little gardening class for the students at our church school. I was discouraged because I couldn't figure out a crop that would be ready to harvest before the end of the school year. So... You guessed it, Peas it is! I know most kids don't care for peas, so I bought the sugar snap 2 "peapods" I hope to slip them in to a deliciously sweet stir fry so they can enjoy them.

I saw the coolest thing at Wal-mart. I wish that I had invented this! Someone took a large piece of edging, the hard plastic kind, threw in some connectors and called it a raised bed kit. This is exactly what I need for my project! I won't have to till on the school/church grounds. Just fill it with soil and we will have peas a plenty!

Of course, a little prayer won't hurt either.

snow days

Another beautiful snowy day today. My husband and I have been looking for a dog for about 8 months and there is a beautiful puppy up for adoption at our local humane society. I haven't heard back from them yet but here is a pic.