Missing my smeller...

It was four weeks ago when it started. I sneezed and sneezed and sneezed. From sneezing to watery eyes to a cough, over the past month things got progressively yuckier. After nasal washes, steam, allergy medicine and herbal treatments, I am now happily taking antibiotics for a "chronic sinus infection". Because it wasn't an acute sinusitis, I didn't have any major symptoms, but unfortunately because everything is blocked, I haven't been able to smell anything in about a week! And that one symptom bothered me the most. My cough and constant clearing my throat apparently was what bothered my family members the most, but I miss my abililty to smell. Hopefully the cough will go away and my sense of smell will return quickly.

I don't think I realized how much I would miss smelling. I've thought about losing my sight or losing my hearing, when I"ve seen others dealing with these issues. I don't think I've ever thought about losing my sense of smell, though. The advantages have been while cleaning the litter box, or tying up the garbage. But I've really missed being able to smell dinner cooking, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the lavender oil I like to use on my pillow at night. I've been going a bit crazy asking my daughter several times in the morning: Do I have enough perfume on? Too much?

Ahh...the little problems in life...

My Etsy Shop is open!

I'm pleased and excited to announce that my Etsy shop is now open! Come browse beaded bracelets and bookmarks at www.judycolorsincreation.etsy.com. Enjoy!

My Etsy Shop is almost ready!

It's almost here...Colors in Creation will be on Etsy before the weekend is over! It's a very involved process, but I'm looking forward to the results. As I sit here with my hair wrapped in a towel but knowing the grocery shopping needs to be done and a recipe needs to be made before tonight's birthday party, I know I need to go get dressed and dry my hair! But I'd so much rather be uploading and tagging, etc... Visit me on Etsy soon to see homemade jewelry and beaded bookmarks! I'll post a link as soon as I go live...

Evening Primrose

Have you ever seen an evening primrose?

Our plant shoots up buds

that take a day or two or three to mature,

then unfurl into beautiful yellow flowers,

only in the evening,

and only for that night -

by the morning they are wilting away.

We thought our plant was not coming back this year,

but it has come back with even more plants than last year!

My hubby sets his phone alarm for 8:30 each night

to go out and watch the blossoms unfurl into flowers.

Last night he was very excited because he saw at least 10 buds that could burst,

and we had company -

it's always more exciting with someone to share the beauty!

Unfortunately, the timing seemed to have changed last night;

the flowers had bloomed before they got there :-(

(Primrose images from google images)

We've read that this flower

also comes in purple!

How's the Dip Dip

For those who know me well, you'll be surprised that I'm posting a recipe. For those who don't know me well, it's not that I can't or don't cook, it's just not my favorite activity when there's so much reading or crafting to do :-) But this one is definitely worth the chopping time. I recommend making a double recipe!



Several years ago we were at a cookout for my son's baseball team. All four of us in my family were really enjoying a dip made with corn and beans and peppers, with tortilla chips. My daughter, in her early teens, was feeling a bit out of place; one of the kids nearly bumped into her and didn't know what to say. What came out was "How's the dip?" So we have renamed this recipe "How's the Dip? Dip".



My friend John, from Simply Delicious Catering, calls the dip "Autumn Salsa". He has given me permission to share it with you here; the picture and recipe are both from his website (http://sdcatering.net/). Enjoy! (Don't wait until autumn!)



Autumn Salsa
from John Mauro, Simply Delicious Catering

Ingredients:
1 Orange Pepper
1 Red Pepper
½ Red Onion
½ c Pea Pods
1 can Shoepeg Corn
1 can Black eyed peas

In large serving bowl combine:chopped orange pepper, chopped red pepper, chopped red onion, shoepeg corn, and blackeyed peas.
Blanch pea pods. Cool pea pods, chop and add to bowl with other ingredients.
Dressing:
1/3 cup oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
½ tsp Tabasco
Sugar to taste
Mix dressing ingredients together and heat in microwave for 1 minute. Cool completely. Add dressing to the bowl and mix. Refrigerate.

Playing the Uncle Keith card

My dear sister was married for only 2 months when her husband was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 23. She was more nurse than newlywed for the next year and few months, and the week before she turned 24 she was a widow. That was in 1998 and we still feel the heaviness of missing Uncle Keith.


On a positive note, we now have an Uncle Chris, introduced by Keith's mutual friend to my sister the following year. We can't imagine life any other way than to have my sister, her (new) husband, and their two kids at every family gathering. However, the lesson has been learned...life is fragile and we need to enjoy all of the time that we do have together because we don't know what tomorrow will bring. I firmly believe that God is in control; we just don't always know how He is going to work things out.


So this week I was discussing with my sixteen year old daughter that I was beginning to regret spending money on tickets for the July 4th celebration at the Museum of Science in Boston. I was blabbering on about spending our money more responsibly, blah blah blah, and she said, "Mom, do I really have to play the Uncle Keith card with you?" I can't remember what I answered, but the lesson sunk home again. And I'm so glad to see proof that our values are being passed down to our children. I will gladly participate in another family outing to Boston, and my wish for you is for you to enjoy your family and friends and the blessings shared every day!