Imigini Personality Profile

http://dna.imagini.net/friends/

Okay, so I got this emailed to me from a friend and tried it out. It is so neat. You get a group of pictures for numerous different catagories and you select the picture that appeals to you most. At the end it gives you a little profile based on the pictures you selected. I have to admit, it is pretty accurate. Here's part of what it said about me.....hummmm....do they know me???

"You love to be far away from your everyday life. You love the sun, you like to live life at a slower pace than most-You probably like spending time alone, your drive and curiousity will take you all over the world. You have a simple approach to style. When you think of freedom nature takes over-Getting back out into the wilderness is a big draw."


Anyway it was very interesting and very accurate and kind of fun too! Check it out... Let me know what your Personality profile reveals.

It's fig time!

Well the long awaiting time has come for fresh figs. I was hoping I would get a good crop this year and I certainly did. The good ole' food network had thousands of recipes for fresh figs. I think I found the perfect one. Roasted fresh figs with gorgonzola....now tell me, how good does that sound???? And, I get to use my new fresh herbs too.

The recipe calls for 12 fresh figs, now I never have quite that many ripe at a time but I can always quarter the recipe. I will be sure to post after the fig feast for all interested in the results. I think it will be the perfect treat this upcoming week while I am doing my not so fun projects.

Sweet Herbs

Balm brings you sympathy and Marjoram joy

Sage is long life..Sweet Woodruff augurs well for health-

A blessing richer far than wealth.

While Lavender means deep devotion,

Herbs of sweet omen, Rosemary conveys

Affection and remembrance all your days.

May Heaven and Earth and Man combine

To keep these blessings ever thine.

-Rachel Page Elliot

As a reward of completing the first of my big projects I treated my clean kitchen table to this wonderfully fragrant display of herbs. The ones I have had outside are doing okay and might make it through the summer but are having a tought time with this heat. So before the stores stop carrying them, I went and bought these yummy herbs. I love to cook with fresh herbs, and these should last me all summer long. I had so much fun putting this little arrangement together. I have a total of 6 herbs some that are new to me. I have chives, basil, peppermint (love it in my lemonade & mojito's are YUM)), Greek oregano, sage and pineapple mint. So the pineapple mint seemed a little different and there was not much left to choose from and it smelled so good. When I got these guys home I started planting them. I snipped off a leave of the delicious spelling pineapple mint and a rush of memories came flooding back to me. We had this growing wild at the home I grew up in on Cook street. What an added bonus! Now my kitchen looks and smells great AND I get to refelct on my childhood. Everytime I walk in that room my herb bouquet brings a smile to my face.

Back to reality

Well after 3 days of rest and relaxation in the cool pines I am back to reality. I have been working towards a goal of un-cluttering my life. I seem to like "stuff", not sure how this happened but it did. After being in my house no more than an hour I started to feel overwhelmed. My house is small, very cute and comfy, but small. So when I let my cluttering habits get the best of me there is no way to avoid it. I have 3 days off in a row for the 4th of July and I can not run away up to the cabin (its rented). So I will have plenty of time to start of some of the projects I have put off for far too long. My closet is full of clothes that are out of style and don't fit. My office has stacks of papers so high they might topple over. My garage is full of tons of misc crappola. Even my kitchen table has stacks of stuff, mail, catalogs magazines etc.....

I strive to be better at all this, but it is a goal I have not yet perfected. After working all week the last thing I want to do is clean and organize. But I need to be more disciplined so it does not get so out of control. Because then I just get really overwhelmed by it. So a project a day is my goal. If I get at least 2 of these areas completed I will be really happy with myself. Wish me luck....I'll let you know how it goes. Do you have any tips to help me un-clutter my life and move towards a simpler way of living? Please share!

As it turns out.....

.....It wasn't anything that a little mountain air couldn't cure. I had 3 days up north at my little cabin. I have to admit it took me a few hours to "rebond" with my cabin after the "extreme makeover cabin edition" took place. It was really hard but most everything was moved back by my cleaning lady. I spent some time puttering and moving stuff around. It was actually very theraputic for me. I went on a great hike, took a long drive, did some laundry, went on a lot little neighborhood walks, read a book, made some great meals, went to the neighborhood bar for a beer and just sat on the front porch and enjoyed God's beautiful world around me. It was fantastic. The day time temperature was about 85-90 and it got down to 50ish at night. I loved it, it was so perfect.

So on my long drive I had one thing on my mind.....to find water. So off I went with a really bad map, my dogs and my little Honda accord. Well the road I drove on was not meant for my little Honda accord so instead of going where I intended to go I ended up at the first lake I saw a sign for. It was called Potato lake. In all reality it was more of a swampy pond then it was a lake. But hey, it was an adventure. Mission accomplished, I saw water.

This little river is one I go to almost everytime I am up there. It is the East Verde river and I absolutley love it. It is surrounded by tons of greenery and there is nothing that can soothe the mind as much as the sound of a creek. The mountain air is just delightful, time seems to move so much slower up there, its a pace I would much rather live in. I still always come to the same conclusion....I don't belong down here. But I am here for now and so I will make the best of it. However, some day........a mountain girl I will be!

A Rose bush from a dear friends dad

My best friend, Yvettes' dad is a wonderful man. Him and I have a lot in common and never get bored of talking to one another about gardening. Last year he decided to learn how to graft rose bushes. After a lot of experiemeting he figured it out perfectly! He gave me this one as a gift. After a few months of TLC, it got its first bloom.

This is something I would love to learn how to do and hopefully he will soon teach me. Nature is so amazing...he took a little clipping of a rose bush and viola....a new rose bush is born. I was so happy and honored to get one of his first success stories, so to speak.

My new rose bush will be able to be transplanted into my garden in the fall. I have to find the right spot to plant it when the time comes. It is doing really well. I am so thrilled. What a special gift.

Gloriously gloomy and grey...

The weather today is just fabulous. I am loving it. A gloomy day to match my gloomy mood. I have felt really off the past week, not sure why. Nothing specific has happened, I just feel weird. I am trying hard to get myself out of it, but nothing is really working. I have found some temporary relief from it but nothing that lasts very long. I hope I start to feel better soon. It would be one thing if I had a reason, but I just don't. Anyway, I will enjoy the day without sun for a change. I hope you enjoy it too!

Gorgeous Peonies

Just look at these beauties! They bring back so many memories for me. At the house I grew up in NY on Cook Street, my mom had the most beautiful peony bush. I remeber it so well, the smell all spring and summer long was so wonderful. It was in a raised bed planter that was made of railroad ties. I remember laying down on the railroad ties looking up at the huge peony bush above me just loving the scent.

I wish we could grow them here, but we can't....so I look forward to this time of year when Trader Joes sells these wonderful smelling blooms. These in the picture were a gift from my dear friend Carol. She treated me to a fabulous dinner which we shopped for together at TJ's. Well she bought these peonies, little did I know I was going home with a little bouquet of my own. My house smells wonderful. It is great because they last a long time if you change the water every other day. I am hoping to get a few more days our of these gorgeous blooms. If you get the chance, stop by your local Trader Joes and pick some up for yourself...everyone deserves fresh flowers!

The "K" Chalet is in disarray

I am not even sure where to start. My little cabin has undergo an unsolicited makeover. I had such a strange mix of emotions. A guest that was visiting last weekend decided to move things around. Not just one or two things but everything! You name it, she moved it....towels, sheets, mugs, toaster, couch, rug, end tables, pictures, books, games, porch furntiure, quilts, tooth brush holder, toilet paper, coffee pot, like I said everything! I felt so violated, hurt & discouraged. I truly felt that all my hard work was unappreciated. I am okay now, my cleaning lady and her husband moved all back as it was so I never even had to see it. But seriously, would you ever think to do that? I have had many guests stay and give me some fantastic feedback, but no one until now has ever taken it upon themselves to rearrange my little cabin. I get to go see my little cabin this week....yippee...my favorite time is cabin time!