Blog Index - December 2016

December 1, 2016	Shoe fetish
December 2, 2016	Rain, Rain, Rain and Winter Gardening
December 3, 2016	Pack Rat – Political Cartons by Michael Ramirez
December 4, 2016	Tag or No Tag that is the predicament
December 5, 2016	The Zen Garden
December 6, 2016	Glory Lily – Gloriosa rothschildiana – also called Flame Lily
December 7, 2016	Our Christmas Tradition – White Florist Cyclamen
December 8, 2016	Mistake – Big Mistake
December 9, 2016	My “pointy shrub” Christmas
December 10, 2016	The Gardener’s Journal
December 11, 2016	Dibble, a great gift for the Gardener
December 12, 2016	Humor in the face of death
December 13, 2016	Christmas sentiments – Best Friend
December 14, 2016	Christmas Tree Napkin Fold and Blue Cheese Crackers recipe
December 15, 2016	I am the Master of the Master Closet
December 16, 2016	The mystery of the disappearing sheet
December 17, 2016	Rain drop Mowing
December 18, 2016	The Mansard Roof Mansion adventure
December 19, 2016	Is it a bird, a plane – no, it’s a flaming flying saucer
December 20, 2016	Daddy’s little garden helper.
December 21, 2016	Christmas Story No. 1
December 22, 2016	Christmas Story No. 2
December 23, 2016	Christmas Story No. 3
December 24, 2016	Christmas Story No. 4
December 25, 2016	Christmas Traditions
December 26, 2016	Christmas Greens
December 27, 2016	Christmas Graciousness
December 28, 2016	The year is coming to a close
December 29, 2016	Out with the old – in with the new.
December 31, 2016	New Year’s Resolutions

Thoughts from Quail Thicket - 

Observations from a Country home

2016 INDEX

DECEMBER 2016

December 31, 2016	New Year’s Resolutions
December 29, 2016	Out with the old – in with the new.
December 28, 2016	The year is coming to a close
December 27, 2016	Christmas Graciousness
December 26, 2016	Christmas Greens
December 25, 2016	Christmas Traditions
December 24, 2016	Christmas Story No. 4
December 23, 2016	Christmas Story No. 3
December 22, 2016	Christmas Story No. 2
December 21, 2016	Christmas Story No. 1
December 20, 2016	Daddy’s little garden helper.
December 19, 2016	Is it a bird, a plane – no, it’s a flaming flying saucer
December 18, 2016	The Mansard Roof Mansion adventure
December 17, 2016	Rain drop Mowing
December 16, 2016	The mystery of the disappearing sheet
December 15, 2016	I am the Master of the Master Closet
December 14, 2016	Christmas Tree Napkin Fold and Blue Cheese Crackers recipe
December 13, 2016	Christmas sentiments – Best Friend
December 12, 2016	Humor in the face of death
December 11, 2016	Dibble, a great gift for the Gardener
December 10, 2016	The Gardener’s Journal
December 9, 2016	My “pointy shrub” Christmas
December 8, 2016	Mistake – Big Mistake
December 7, 2016	Our Christmas Tradition – White Florist Cyclamen
December 6, 2016	Glory Lily – Gloriosa rothschildiana – also called Flame Lily
December 5, 2016	The Zen Garden
December 4, 2016	Tag or No Tag that is the predicament
December 3, 2016	Pack Rat – Political Cartons by Michael Ramirez
December 2, 2016	Rain, Rain, Rain and Winter Gardening
December 1, 2016	Shoe fetish

	NOVEMBER 2016
November 30, 2016	“Life ain’t fair!” I cried.
November 29, 2016	Pack Rat – tossing out saved recipes
November 28, 2016	Glazed Shallots – recipe
November 27, 2016	We do have local “culture” here in the county.
November 26, 2016	News clipping magic.
November 25, 2016	Black Friday
November 24, 2016	Thanksgiving leftovers in four acts.
November 23, 2016	Thanksgiving is food, family, and tradition.
November 22, 2016	Time is running short already and we aren’t even into December!
November 21, 2016	Point of View in the garden
November 20, 2016	The Rosary Beads
November 19, 2016	Murphy’s Law
November 18, 2018	When they say your first car is your first love – it’s true, even if you’re a girl.
November 17, 2016	Sunny day, cold air observations
November 16, 2016	This year start a new tradition . . .
November 15, 2016	Hoarfrost: The Blond Assassin
November 14, 2016	Hot Cocoa weather!
November 13, 2016	Wishing on a necklace clasp showing.
November 12, 2016	Lip brush luxury – you’ll LOVE IT
November 11, 2016	My brother visits North Carolina before I “get gone.”
November 10, 2016	Clever is as Clever does
November 9, 2016	“Fasten your seatbelts.  It’s going to be bumpy . . .”
November 8, 2016	The Skunk Whisperer
November 7, 2016	Force of Gravity oooopps moment.
November 6, 2016	Christmas Cookies
November 5, 2016	“Forever” Stamps.
November 4, 2016	The raccoon sniff.
November 3, 2016	Are you cold – your feet are blue?
November 2, 2016	Why few friends like to go clothes shopping with me.
November 1, 2016	The fall color has finally arrived!

OCTOBER 2016

October 31, 2016	Hoot Owl Cookies [a technique update] and Golden Beef Stew [recipe]
October 30, 2016	Occasionally I buy silly little things.
October 29, 2016	The lost art of the heart felt Thank you note.
October 28, 2016	Box of Fruit from the Band Fund Raiser
October 27, 2016	A place for everything and everything in its place.  Benjamin Franklin
October 26, 2016	Deer sightings in Three  Acts
October 25, 2016	Another treasurer from my archives while I am under the burden of a head-cold.  Vintage Potpourri – Column No. 1
October 24, 2016	SNEAKERS
October 23, 2016	I opened the door to the aroma of home baked muffins . . .
October 22, 2016	Oops, is it my age or my education showing?
October 21, 2016	“I’m a cheapskate at heart . . . or am I frugal?”
October 20, 2016	“Cat here is a no name slob.”
October 19, 2016	Have you ever watched leaves fall of trees in the Fall?
October 18, 2016	White lace and Promises . . .
October 17, 2016	Tidbits, Teasers & Wanderings
October 16, 2016	“I Dare You” by author William H. Danforth
October 15, 2016	Dumpster Dive Lilies
October 14, 2016	PSSST . . . let me tell you about my secret gardening weapon
October 13, 2016	Birthday dinner in Paris, France, in 1987 – Conclusion
October 12, 2016	Birthday dinner in Paris, France, in 1987 –  Part I
October 11, 2016	Surprises in the Fall Garden
October 10, 2016	This is a family heirloom story that is not yet complete.
October 9, 2016	Usefulness is not impaired by imperfection.  You can drink from a chipped cup.
October 8, 2016	Please take my word for it; switching from summer clothes to winter clothes isn’t always easy.
October 7, 2016	If you want the best seat in the house, you have to move the cat.
October 6, 2016	Another reprint from the original column – Thoughts from Quail Thicket
October 5, 2016	All in the family – writers of one kind or another.
October 4, 2016	Bulb Planting – session 2 – Going to Plan B.
October 3, 2016	Remember the importance of “now” in the garden cycle.
October 2, 2016	Hoot Owl Cookies
October 1, 2016	Fall is in the air – which makes me turn to Fall Cleaning

SEPTEMBER 2016

September 30, 2016	Oh! The perfect pear.  Plus bonus recipe.
September 29, 2016	BAH-Hamburger, Herb Hamburgers, and Where’s the Beef?
September 28, 2016	A salute to my Mom on my Birthday
September 27, 2016	One of those embarrassing moments in life.
September 26, 2016	The fashion police are not interested
September 25, 2016	Lounge Liz-zard Relocation Team
September 24, 2016	How I got the name for this Blog – reprint of original column

 September 23, 2016       Let’s talk about Red Two Lips – I mean, Red
                                      Tulips

 September 22, 2016       I snagged a “Cinderella” pumpkin at my
                                      favorite garden

 September 21, 2016       Have you ever screwed up and the family 
                                      never lets you

 September 20, 2016       French Women and the scarf

 September 19, 2016       Love Letters in the Sand – Far from it

 September 18, 2016       Ikebana “In Situ” technique – expanded to
                                      composting

 September 17, 2016       Pecan Chocolate Chip Tassies [recipe]

 September 16, 2016       “Two shall now become one”

 September 15, 2016       Eradicating Johnson Grass sorghum 
                           halepense

 September 14, 2016       The Good, the Bad and the Curious

 September 13, 2016       The mystery of the dirty blue tea kettle.

 September 12, 2016       Spotlight on Liriope muscari variegate

 September 11, 2016       Caladiums – Color in the Garden from July 
                                      through late

 September 10, 2016       “What do you do?”

 September 9, 2016         Essay: What is Success?

 September 8, 2016         Meeting a new friend and furniture shopping

 September 7, 2016         Near the top of my to-do list is “Update my

 September 6, 2016         Twenty six years ago – what got me started.

 September 5, 2016         A Renaissance woman or “life skills”

 September 4, 2016         I recommend two books

 September 3, 2016         End of Summer Basil Tomatoes – recipe

 September 2, 2016         Are you local?  A question direct at me. 

 September 1, 2016         First Post – First place poem in the Anuran
                                      The New Corporate Wife,Winning Essay – 
                                      First Place

                                      

December 31, 2016 – New Year’s Resolutions

          Over the years I have made different types of New Year’s Resolutions. Some were far reaching and I was unable to accomplish them.  Many were simplistic and lasted more than a year and are now built into my modus operandi.

          When people ask I blurt out my favorites:

          The year of the pin.  Or you could say the brooch.  I love big pins and realized I didn’t seem to own but a few and discovered a lovely shop in Chesnee, North Carolina, Harley’s Dress Shop that always has elegant pins as well as fun pins and reasonably priced pins.  That year I made the decision to add “a lovely pin” to the top of my shopping list whenever I went shopping.  It was a successful campaign – I now have a wonderful collection of pins for all occasions and I enjoy wearing them immensely.

          After that “easy” year I realized I needed to do the following roster to accomplish filling out my wardrobe and my accessories:

         

          The year of the scarf which is now an on-going thing. 

The year of the shoe – also successful; the right shoe for every outfit – OH I had happy feet that year.

          The year of the slip and camisole.  You can’t even find them in stores anymore. But, some dresses just need a slip or they ride up.  That year I grew my collection to include different lengths for different outfits.  I used to wear more dresses at that time.

          Those were all easy to accomplish, at the end of the year I had tangible results to enjoy and continue to wear.

          Then I shifted into things that were more difficult and less easy to track.

          The year of “working smart” – not working harder – just smarter.

          The year of being organized.

          The year of “healthy food.”

          The year of using my time wisely.

          Then, I slipped back into more easily trackable things:

          The year of the journal.

          The year of painting every room in the house.

          The year of landscaping with trees and shrubs.

          The year of interesting continued education. [Brick laying, keeping bees, etc.,]

          The year of perfect housekeeping.

          The year of updating the kitchen utensils, pots, pans, baking items.

          Then I came up with something that would please others all year:

         

          The year of the greeting card for the ‘other’ holidays, i.e., Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, etc.

         

          And of course, I’ve the done the “Diet and exercise and the lose weight and the eat right and get healthy” for many years.

          Also the year of prayer and finding time to squeeze in more prayer.

          Then one year I worked on just patience.  I would take a magazine with me when I had to stand in line and violá – suddenly no line.  I would take a book to the auto place when I needed repairs and – they were suddenly quick.  When I went out to lunch with a friend – I wasn’t concerned that the staff was slow to serve us – I enjoyed the company of my friend and wasn’t looking at the clock.

The year of patience taught me to expect the mediocrity and ineptitude that has permeated all levels in society and just be “patient,” because they do not know what they do.  A good lesson that has served me well; others might consider it “just chilling out or kicking back”.  Either way, it is a good thing to learn and practice.

          After all the prior year’s resolutions which many theories and practices have spilled over into becoming permanent in my life, I am at the cross roads of picking my New Year’s Resolution for this year.

          I have whittled it down to the following:

                A place for everything, and everything in its place.

                Learn to live within my means.

                Devote the year to taking care of ME; my health, my spirituality, and my creativity.

         

Or maybe I should simply say:

A year for me to just do it all - that is do ‘LIFE’ better.