My Rosemary Story ~





Later spring, early summer it gets
 fuller and  lush-healthy

This is my one big bush of Rosemary and it produces enough for me year round and for any friends who will allow me to send some home with them. 

My first Rosemary plant proved to be a learning experience as most herbs are.  All I knew was to read the instructions that came w the plant. I thought I did that but with a little time realized it was not thriving in it's new home.

We moved it and found a permanent home. It never would stop growing and making more Rosemary.  That has basically been my philosophy with trying new herbs.  If it thrives that's a home run. If it does not then try a new home.  If it just doesn't seem to be happy no matter where you put it down..move on to another wonderful herb until it works for you. 

It's easy to search the internet to find ideas for using Rosemary with your recipes.

but that's not the only use-Consider other uses:

• I almost always have fresh bundles of cuttings in my kitchen window...rooting
• Same little bunches work stuck in a container and allowed to dry/ refresh as needed [just before 'Company' knocks at the front door]
• Use cuttings for filler as you design a wreath
• Strip stems and add the fresh rosemary to other natural ingredients to make your own [natural] potpourri
• Tie a tiny bundle atop a gift package using a piece of twine or go for fancy use pretty ribbon
• Take a larger bundle to a friend when visiting b/c you know she would love it too
• When the house is about to be inundated with wonderful guests for a time that's all the excuse  I need to scatter Rosemary in it's various forms [bundles, stems, vases/jars filled, potpourri] all about the house. Often times the flat basket hanging on the wall beside the front door will be filled to overflowing with a massive bunch of generous Rosemary cuttings..
• Not to worry about cutting too much...it makes more-Enjoy!

Rosemary everywhere!

 Use your imagination
 My Craft room is a kitchen counter,
  breakfast room table - just wherever I
settle in and start the project. 



Note the supplies & materials I am using in the photos-
there's ordinary Kraft Paper, twine, hot glue and Burlap...

OF COURSE, BURLAP

You can buy the Burlap Ribbon but I love working 
from the stash of Burlap bags we have [cheeeeep]
The ribbon I am using above is strips of the burlap bags
 on hand...guess what???   MUCH CHEAPER.
It cost pennies per yard...
No joke...pennies per yard. You choose.

Looking Forward,
Jonell



Let's go to a Linky Party:   
http://sunnysimplelife.blogspot.com/
also at A Delightsome Life:  http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2013/03/home-and-garden-thursday-17.html

http://stringtownhome.net/tips-tricks-36/

post script:  "Molly" left a note asking about how I keep the Rosemary from freezing in winter-I was not able to connect with her so here goes just for the lovely person who stopped to read and comment:

  'Molly, I live in south Alabama and when I first began experimenting with herbs we were in Southeast Texas. I think that should answer your question

We do not have freezing temps for extended periods of time-not enough to be a problem.  Precautions for colder climates will depend upon your specific  temps etc. In Alabama if we were predicted to have at or below FREEZING FOR a long period of time ...let's say 3 hrs-24 hrs I would def grab the old linens saved for this purpose and give my Rosemary some cover...please come visit-let me know how to connect with you.I will be glad to share on the subject. jh

Just Showin' Off- Pictures

1. Another season, another reason to dress up

2. One of my favorite spots for hugging my

mug of hot coffee [w real cream please]or

an afternoon 'cuppa tea with just me' if no one

else joins me

Yes we did..we stopped in the street  to snap

this-wish it were close up to show off the

Ornamental Pear in full bloom

and....No we didn't stop in the highway for

this one...just pointed the handy dandy digital

out the window. We're on the way all the way

[10 miles] to 'get a cup of coffee' - why? well,

Just Because, that's why.

Visiting in the Kitchen Today -Come On In~

 




Entering the kitchen from our
cozy/small Den the door  shows
off a very old salvaged chalk
board and a Vintage Style
Apron-a gift from a Tx. friend

  



Vintage -Okeefee-Merritt Gas Range
we moved with us to Alabama in 2006
& My husband gave it a 95%
restoration 5 yrs later- a labor of Love



 

 



Cookbook collection held in place by the cast iron
white Rooster/actually a door stop; the brown
pottery pitcher, a gift from a Texas friend and the
hammered aluminum little basket, an Ebay find 
finishes the little Kitchen Counter Scene.







 

Old Coffee Pots are not discarded
at Gramma's House- repurposed!





The "oldie"  kitchen table with drop leaves is
courtesy of a daughter in law-Can you believe I had
the nerve to ask to use it? Having it all dressed 
up  makes it less likely to be a drop off for keys,etc.
The bentwood Ice Cream Parlor chairs came with
an Antique Drug store Ice cream parlor table
that came from Palestine, Texas.









Grocery Maket scales found in north
Arkansas in mid 1970's-paid a whopping
$20 and 2 or 3 years ago restored for $50.
I'm told sombody's NAME IS ON THEM
.[keep going-there's a few more goodies]

--A Little Bit of Country for the Foodies

I had a request for a pan of old fashioned baked cornbread today. Aha , I see a blog post coming together here. 

I often feel remiss for not including  recipe posts as so many of our blogger friends share so this is my day! It doesn't get more Country than this y'all!



Right NOW: Set your oven to about 425 degrees-
depending on how hot your oven heats-
For a small pan:  1 1/2 cups Self Rising Corn Meal-
2 generous TBLS Sugar-2 Eggs[ if you were not looking
on I would use ONE egg] +Whisk together & add about
1 full cup of Buttermilk.
*Use your own judgement re measurements



Some things I buy generic always-others I learn never
to choose generic. Some things I alway choose the
Low Fat...but NOT buttermilk.







#1>  20 MINUTES at 425 degrees... 
Add 3-5 more minutes for all over golden finish
Read on..There's More

Take the Living Room Tour While I Put On A Pot Of Coffee~

Please come in and take the 'Nickel Tour'...Our house is not modern nor is it 'the oldest' around. It was built in 1937 and we are the first owner since the original builders. It does not have the open floor plan so popular now. The living room and dining room seem a little more spacious than they actually measure I think because there are double doors opening between.[I see French doors in my future]  The living room measures only 20ft x 14ft. & opens onto a small screened in porch.  I'll get that all dressed up for you one day soon. With all the furniture choices 6 years ago one of my first considerations was ..seating. The blanket chest below was placed just inside the front door with extra seating in mind.

The Blanket chest is quite old,

primative & with a crowd it will

seat two. The mirror above is

[$40/N. Arkansas '70s]  perhaps

the first old oak piece I painted-not

always my first choice but you see

all the dark wood?

This was a swap with another antiquer friend in Texas. No money changed hands. It's a two in one- radio and record player-outside is veeneer

The kinda thing that makes people

like me drool..

I like wing back and love, love any kind of

hydrangeas also Red is my color!

In recent years I am very selective about

the baskets I choose to 'take home'.this one

opens from the top..cost $28 /Jasper, Tx.

I told you I love hydrangeas...fresh or dried
or [good quality] silk. The wash stand is
oak [$85 Crossett, Arkansas] That was
a huge price for me in early 1970's-
Read on-There's More>

Saturday Spring-spiration



This is my inspiration post..load it up-head out-get going
It's time to start crossing off some of those "will do" when
Spring gets here jobs

Enough THYME for sharing





Personally, I am not likely to actually spend money on the
yard art--more likely to make something similar myself

The Thyme, The Thyme---makes one wanna grab a
whole basket full-instead I will TAKE TWO-
Read On -There's More





We lost our geraniums last year..time for a few starters
to nuture for summertime..always love THE RED ONES
does that surprise anyone?

Of course I DID get the Thyme in the ground- two little
pots will make enough for me plus plenty for sharing,
naturally!

OOOOOOkay ladies, grab your carts and fill 'em up. I must confess we do not get it all done in one Saturday- you know that. Our yard projects are usually done in shifts of perhaps an hour then it's time
for 'sitting and swinging or maybe rocking, but eventually it gets done. At any rate we get enough done
to make us feel good about it.

We know there are a few people in the community who make a habit of driving down our street regularly to see what we are up to..We do like to make enough progress to make it worth the trip.  An of course you have to have pictures for sharing with blogger friends near and far.

Enough with the SPRING-SPIRATION...Let's get busy!

It's Spring and It's Saturday-Enough Said~

Testing, Testing- I wanna see how well you read UPSIDE DOWN

March Winds & My To Do List~

It's early March and I can hear the March Winds blowing outsde..if I were out there
[above-back yard] right now I would be wrapped in a blanket-cannot wait for the temps
to settle predictably into the 70's and get out there with the rakes, shovels and clippers
There are soooooooo many leaves and twigs to gather and quite a lot of snipping to be
done-My "yard man" has been a 'no show'  ---Just a bit of humor there-We don't have
a YARD MAN..Just us..But it will get done .

Join Me On the Front Porch -

It's All About Southern Hospitality-

One of our favorite places to visit- Please join me



Welcome- I can see this was taken
early Summer b/c the Humming Bird
Vine has barely begun to bloom as it
begins to wrap around the Mail Box
support - an antique Pump - Get out,
come In - We were expecting you!



The thin flat black basket is just right for a front door
 it's filled with fresh cuttings from Butterfly Bushes

We enjoy our front porch almost year round-
and the scene is set and reset according to the
Season or event we might be planning. When
Company is coming that's all the motivation I
need for tweaking, sprucing up or completely
changing the front porch setting..Enjoy!
Read on ..There's More

The D a y s o f O u r L i v e s ~

Timely Thoughts

About time

and the 'days of our lives'

Mail is sent and received instantly

Work schedules are flexible

Hardwood floors are EEZZ care

Machines wash and dry our clothes

Ditto the dishes

Ironing...w h a t  I s  t h a t ?!

We often say "Let's make time."

We cannot make time, of course.

We do need to use it better

We have longer talks with internet contacts

than with family and close friends

While we enjoy conversation

 Oftentimes we say little

We hear...though not always listening

or is it the other way around?

Perhaps we listen without really hearing.

What a joy one whole day would be

with each dear loved one

in my life-

We cannot seem to make that happen

These are

T H E  D A Y S  O F  O U R  L I V E S

But for a short time

Just Stack 'em Up Girls-

Oldies that are just  too good to let get away-some are cardboard, some are metal with fabric looking designs & others are imitation/real leather. Whatever the materials they can still have 'a life.'

• Stack 'em  in place of a bedside table -1-2-3 high
• Store little treasures inside-letters, journals, photos, etc.
• Don't forget those forgotten, naked  spaces as you look up; This is perfect filler for between the bedroom ceiling and top of the open linen closet

 

A TRIBUTE TO S W E E T H E A R T S on Valentines Day

Our love story began in May of 1958 with a blind date arranged by mutual friend/acquaintances.

I was a junior in High School & he was in his last year in the

U.S.  Navy stationed 100 miles away.

Share your sweetheart story-Leave a COMMENT!



Jonell & Ted
the Harrison House
est. 6-21-59

Making It Up As I Go ~

Does that ANTIQUE quilt look familiar? One overlay is a sheer curtain panel and the topper is my own hand fringed B U R L A P * B A G creation. The pink/red Valentines have been in a drawer for several years and the chair cushion covers are, I kid you not-B U R L A P  * B A G S slipped the cushions inside the bag and folded the open ends under. mmm kinda redefines E A S Y dontcha think?

 Good Morning-Good Day-Good Evening! Pour yourself a Cup of your Fav Tea, turn off the TV & Pull up a Chair. Let's visit~ 

I am so so honored that my dear young friend  invited me to post on her blog Stringtownhome .   Regular Readers and Followers will recognize that Heather posts here  on LGH occasionally and you will see on my Contributor Page that she & I do have a history though not a  family relationship.  When Heather suggested I might share a post about table settings  - proper table settings, it gave me pause for thought.

Friends Let's Stop Right there! I cannot do this-a proper, appropriate table setting?  No, I can't do that. Please note this Gramma no longer dwells on "appropriate table settings."  Getting old means.....doing it my way, right? Just for the record:

• Call me a  'Make it Up as You Go' decorator

Yes, I know it is not really set for a meal or tea but it
could be quick as a flash..grab some napkins and silver
and you're ready for a little cuppa tea & dessert.


My focus:  "Using What I   Have"

  

• Decorating Should be Fun 
• Know when to quit

Yes, I did the  How to do it correctly classes in high school but after so many years thank heavens I am now older & willing to take risks-I can trust my own inner response to what the eye sees.

Decorating challenges are no longer daunting to me [ I like that word-smile]. When I absolutely love what I have done I STOP.

With a stash of supplies I can throw something together that I like. Notice I said "I like.' That's important. You should like what you create. Don't fret over whether Mom, Gramma or your best friend approves. If you are taking notes, I repeat: Use what you have -Have fun with it! 

 Ladies, what I am saying in a very long winded way is do what you enjoy and don't be afraid to break the traditional rules when decorating and setting your tables or pretty tea trays,etc.  

If this stinking computer...[ Heather's adjective]  and the internet will cooperate I will share a few little pics of tables or trays I threw together...just be careful  'throwing those dishes'.  There's more-

H O M E: A Place You Don't Want To Leave~

YIPPEE! My dear, loving husband just tossed me a package that came in the mail, saying: "A package for you- It says FRAGILE."  Yes, He Did!!

My recent Ebay purchase just came in the mail. Perrrrrfect! My newest dainty, bone china teacup...I'm Making myself a cup of hot tea in the kitchen. It's still a little on the cool side outdoors.  I have no plans to leave home today. Why, she asks self?  Self replies: "You know it's a good place when you just don't want to leave."

That's another way to describe H O M E.

Photo from Spring 2012 It won't be long before those Bridal Wreath
will be showing off again like white baby clouds attached to green
branches.Another of my favorite memories as a child-My Aunt Laura's
Bridalwreath..they looked to a child's view to be about 10 ft tall..funny,
 mine are still no more than 6-6 1/2 ft tall.



Can We Talk About Sweethearts?

Disclosure: No, this was not taken
 in 2012//about 5 years ago-

Simply because it's February and the month of Sweethearts and Valentines, of course. So Be a Sweetheart  y'all and humor me today. These are but a few of the Sweethearts in my life.

You do not have to be a husband/wife to be a Sweetheart, Nor does one have to be engaged to be married . Many people  I readily call a Sweetheart. 

My friend Pam is a real Sweetheart because she is a temporarily a long distance friend who makes the effort to keep our friend connection alive.  We are in touch more now than when she was living just a few miles away.  We value that friendship more now knowing we won't visit in person for months.  How sad that we take for granted dear ones close by because they are 'always there.' 

Our dear dear Sweethearts among friends - Jennie & Melissa and across the street neighbor Dee we so appreciate. We can always count on them for anything at all. They each know they can call, run over or email with even the most trivial request. We often pray for them and don't hesitate to ask for prayers.  Sometimes a week, even two may pass without a conversation with these precious neighbor friends..still they are Sweethearts!

Our little Troy University students [two from China,one American]  we met in the fall and had in our home for lunch-they are connections I would call such Sweethearts. They were so receptive to our reaching out and trying to keep that new relationship going and so gracious to allow us to take pictures to post here and on Facebook. Such Sweethearts!

Our Children, their spouses and our Grands...Sweethearts...Always and I often call them Sweetheart...and of course that "Southern tag of SUGAR".. my little sister Gwen & little brother Carl I call a Sweetheart-So thankful to have them still.

I must add you, my regular or occasional Readers and faithful Blog Followers..such SWEETHEARTS to even be interested in what I have to say! Some check in regularly & I see your town/city on my tracker..others actually take time to give me FEEDBACK.. What A Sweetheart  those are. It always makes me smile inside and out.

Hold on, I only have two more Honorable Mentions .  First is my Sweetheart of a Blogger Friend Heather Graham  Such a Sweetheart in so many ways..and of course a few of that elite group of MY Girls in Texas that follow along. - Sweethearts All!

And Last...but First the Sweetheart of my Life..my silver Fox. Yes, even with the loss of the silver temporarily he's still my silver fox ...I could never have imagined in May 1958 what an incredible [unbelievable] Love Story we would be living out even 54 years later. Not a day in these 54 yrs have I wished to be anywhere else...the safest most joyous place to be..in the arms of one who's devoted his all to you. My SWEETHEART for Life!

Looking Forward...[my personal challenge to you: Share some love with the Sweethearts in your life.Perhaps LEAVE A COMMENT here to tell brag/PTL  about your Sweethearts.]

Jonell

post script: The one big groups of Sweethearts I never forget are those in my Lydia S.S. class And Anela & those ladies Bible Study Sweethearts..precious, precious, dear Godly, praying, loving Sweethearts in my life. I and my Love count on the prayers of these so dear to my  heart.



Gramma's Going Visiting ~

 ~Watch for some changes at Like Gramma's House soon!  Don't go far or stay away too long...you  will miss out and I don't want you to miss anything!

No, No, we are NOT MOVING!
This was a recent repair scene- Some things like roof leaks
cannot be ignored or postponed  

I JUST WANTED TO GRAB YOUR ATTENTION

Welllllllllllllllll, it did look like this from
my view on the ground ~ 

Old Favorites -Also Known As Re-Runs~

Re-Run #1-Inspired as I read old posts and take note of how many views they had. And besides...You may have missed these. Enjoy! [this repost originated on my first blog Down the Lane  ]

Sometimes people bless me with strange gifts. This week a large bundle of freshly pulled from the ground stalks of dried and drying OKRA just appeared on the back of Ted's golf cart. I was a bit slow-saw something from a distance but wasn't curious enough to take a close look..just assumed it was something Ted had dropped there. Two or three days later as I walked over, took a close look and realized it was stalks of okra pulled up roots and all. That's when I knew I had the most amazing husband on this earth. That sweetheart had salvaged those from who knows where and KNOWING HOW I LOVE NATURALS brought them home for me..

now THAT'S A ROMANTIC GESTURE.

He was working at the back yard and I called out to him "Ted, where did you get those stalks of Okra?" He answered "I didn't -I thought you had brought them home."

Funny, he should have taken credit but that's okay now I know someone who knows my peculiar love of naturals has just done the most thoughtful thing..he or she remembered! and shared.
It's still a mystery- someone will confess though.

Now I ask you~ what does it say about one when your friends or your husband's friends bring you strange gifts? That's not the first or strangest. Ted's friends have sent me things like a huge beautifully in tact HORNET'S NEST a few years back. Another sent me unique beautiful little rocks collected while on vacation in Colorado. My sweetheart brought home a large collection of huge incredible ACORNS from a White Oak once..still have some of those too.

Strange, Mysterious and wonderful! I do enjoy God's creation.

Post Script:  Mystery solved! While visiting with friends she asked me if I found the OKRA her husband left for me! I should have known..Robert and Martha are such fabulous precious friends.

Re-Run #2 Copied from my first blog Down the Lane.

                                    Once Upon A Time


Yes, there was a time in the far distant past when I longed for those 'little ones' to be able to just feed, dress and bathe themselves!

And there was the time when I wished they wouldn't run so fast, scream so loudly or allow the doors to slam so often.

Later still I prayed for them to be home on time, to talk to me about their problems and to just tell me the truth. I could handle most surprises armed with the truth.

Some time passed and I could adjust to just seeing most of them once or twice a year if I had to..and sometimes we did.."had to".

Things that Makes Me Drool...[hg]

In spite of wind and a smattering of snow in some form all over creation  I am convinced  Spring Really is on the way.  This wonderful design from Pinterest is something that makes me drool...quoting my friend Heather Graham . 




Source

 

Oh Dear, Oh My, We Gotta Get Out More Often~

While we have never been world travelers, in recent months our getting out of town, big events have been the drive to Birmingham at least every three weeks. Honestly I know that's sad, I mean SAD-since the big trips are for my husband's regular chemo therapy appointments.  I know- it sounds strange.

Read on...be patient. This is a long post!

With that in mind you'll understand when I say I have hardly left home for the past month. Of course we have to count several trips to Wal Mart.  We would all go there...even on the way to the cemetery I imagine.  [Who said Gramma does not have a sense of humor!]

On December 17th I went to the Nail Salon and the same night we joined the Lydia Sunday School Class for a wonderful annual Christmas gathering. Before the end of the week I just couldn't resist scheduling a quick trip to Urgent Care and no, we did not cancel our family Christmas date on the 23rd. You get the picture there.

All that tedious background to get here-yesterday on January 14th I was suddenly inspired...

• She:  "Hey would you like to go somewhere for a sandwich late this afternoon?" 
• He:  "But, we'll just eat it!" See, he has a sense of humor too.
• Two or three hours later I felt much more like venturing out after a shower, shampoo and a bit of sprucing up. I can't run to town [ Troy-8 miles away] without 'bundling'  some other errands. It's called using time & gasoline well- so I grab a pair of slacks to drop off at the Dry Cleaners and check to see if my husband has anything for the cleaners. If I lay the slacks down in the den I'll easily remember and grab them on the way out.  Now-purse, telephone, camera, [ remember? I'm a Blogger] doors locked and lights out behind us..off we go!

 You know what's going to happen: 

January 2013 in the Deep South-Our Unique Viewpoint

Yes, yes, we know it's only the second week of Winter according to the calendar.
Yes, we do understand that Spring does not show up until the Month of March.  Nonetheless, this is how we think.  It's how we see things in the deep South-the state of Alabama. It never fails-we stumble into the first weeks of January and I put on my planner & organizer hat and begin looking close up toward Springtime. I begin making lists, plotting projects.  It matters not what the weather outside is doing...wet, stormy, unseasonably warm, whatever-I always know Springtime is coming very very soon, ready or not.

There are plants that have been ignored, neglected.  There are flower beds that have had no attention in the Fall, even some prominent flowers that we know are to be pruned or cut back seriously and on schedule are still waiting their turn for necessary attention. 

And did anyone notice all the small limbs left after some windy weather days...they will dissappear and my focus will be on all the bare branches and how totally beautiful our outdoors will be when those naked trees are covered again with leaves!!

I do the same thing  indoors...started working on clearing out the unbearable clutter in the freezer this morning. Just the way my mind works. Confession: I know this does not mean I will have it all done on schedule-but, hey a girl can dream!

Looking Forward,

Jonell

Can We Back Up & Start Over?

Thank God for the Delete Option 

Yes, I actually can back up and start over...thanks to that "delete" option.  And why would I want to do that? Frankly I have been doing some whining lately.  I didn't know I was whining when I chose "publish" instead of 'draft' or 'delete' options.  I didn't mean to be whining.  Some quiet, analytical  introspection is sometimes required to be able to see one's self as she really is.  Does that make any sense?  I don't know ...yet. I am still analyzing  and I don't pretend to have the answers.  I am still asking questions [of myself].

We all know even when we apologize for words or deeds & are forgiven - we cannot actually make those words or actions dissappear and not have ocurred. God forgets but how often we find those missteps still hanging out there like  little dark clouds floating past in the distance. 

In contrast to real life -in BLOGGERLAND- we have those magical options of Save, Publish or Delete. This is unlike the 'accidentally' sent email  you so wish you had not chosen to 'send'. It takes a while for many of your Blog readers to get around to your latest post so with just a little luck few if any will have read that less than encouraging or challenging post you shared in a weak moment. 

Whooppee!! There's another thing I can add to my THANKFUL LIST. Thank God for the "delete" option on my blog. I really can erase or back up and start over and I would much rather leave my readers with a somewhat amusing take on my personal revelation. Quite possibly you find this amusing simply because you have had the same 'conversation with self'...and it's perfectly okay if you are laughing at/with me. I will never know unless you choose to disclose it. I much rather leave you laughing...even at me  than to leave you discouraged and gloomy.

Looking Forward...with you -to a 2013 in which I can truly be useful to the Lord I serve and who's name  I wear: "Christian"

No My Peanut Tree does not have this many blooms in
January but it does still have a few beautiful yellow blooms
hanging on though not for long I am sure. 

Jonell