A Midnight Toad

 

Have you ever seen a black toad?  Neither had we until we came across this dude living in my herb bed.  Goggle says that "black toads" live only in a small area of California.  Another entry said that Eastern Spadefoot toads can be "almost black".  But nothing else seems to match. 

Seems we have a bit of a warty mystery out here in The Sticks.

Bad, Bad Weather

 This is a section on the NOAA weather web site.  It shows all the severe hail, wind, and tornados so far this year.  Oh my goodness!!!  The site also breaks it down monthly.

https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/summary/     

  

Cherry Gunk (recipe)

 Here is a favorite dating back to my Senior year of high school (that would be 1979-1980).  My best friend Paul would show up carrying a bag from Krogers with the main ingredients of this cake... asking "would you make some of that cherry gunk?"

Cherry Gunk

 

1 box yellow cake mix

1/4 cup oil

2 eggs

1/2 cup water

2 cups cherry pie filling

1 cup crushed pineapple

 

Pre-heat oven to 350*.

 Pour oil into a 13x9 pan to cover bottom and sides.  Put cake mix, eggs, and water into pan.  Stir with fork until blended (about 2 minutes).  Scrape sides and spread batter evenly in pan.  Dump in cherry filling and pineapple into batter.  Use fork to stir fruit into batter, creating a marbled effect.

Bake for 40-50 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Minimalizing With A Capsule Wardrobe

 Because of Covid and Himself's immune issues I have not been clothes shopping for years.  I did have clothes in smaller sizes that I moved down thru.  But it is time...  I've decided I want to do a capsule wardrobe with just the colors I love in my color palette and have only clothes that fit perfectly.

 "A capsule wardrobe is simply a collection of clothing composed of thoughtfully curated, easily interchangeable items designed to maximize the number of outfits that you can create. What is this? Essentially, a capsule wardrobe allows you to create a variety of different looks with a small selection of clothes."  There are all sorts of ideas about how one goes about this.  They range from the simplicity of the above definition to geeky bossy you can only do "X" or you must follow said guru's literal selections (bought thru their web site, of course).  I'm a simple living sort of girl... who doesn't need to be micro managed.

 I did a very serious Kon Mari of all my clothes and accessories.  There's not much left!  Now it's time to rebuild my wardrobe. 

Here is the basic format of building a capsule wardrobe...  I already blew off Rule 1.  I do not like navy and black is too harsh with my complexion.  My choice- charcoal grey. 

Now the fun part!  Picking my accent colors.  In the past I did the "Color Me Beautiful" class.  I am a "Summer".  So from that pallet I picked sky blue & periwinkle, aqua, rose, and lilac-orchid-plum to be mine.  They work well with each other.

 Let the shopping begin!  I am on my way to curating a look that is all "Teri"!

Project Minimalization

 

I've decided I need to set myself a personal ultimatum for minimalizing "things".  Basically I realize I've started slacking.  UGH!  This is not good!  I must take control for my own peace.

 Therefor I have set a deadline that ALL "things" belonging to me will be: dealt with - decluttered - minimalized by midnight 31 Dec.  Including electronic.  Organized or removed.

 That gives me a max of 87 days to be done (Sundays and booked up days subtracted).  House living areas, my studio, attic, garage, shed, yard, computer, papers files. 

 I really want 2024 to be about becoming my best ME. 

 

A Simple Bound Journal

 Because of our Covid ‘seclusion’, the last class I was able to take was a cooking class at Whole Foods (which no longer exists).  That was February 2020.

 The post craft shop has started offering classes again.  Interesting classes.  I’ve jumped on this opportunity!

 

First one was a bound suede leather journal.  Pretty, soft, and flexible.  And the last time I’ll ever use suede again!  In binding the cover to the pages it was almost impossible to see the punched holes in the fuzzy suede texture.  UGH!

 

The binding threads made a nice pattern.  In the future I’ll add beads to make it nicer.

          

The pages are made with mixed media paper so it can be used for about anything.  Five sheets of paper were folded in half, which makes 10 pages per signature (book sections). 

 I did 5 signatures.  So this journal has 50 pages total.  That’s a good size to have.

 I have an idea of what I want to use it for.  Just have to see if the event I want to journal about actually happens.

Beer Bread

 Himself found a bottle of beer pushed way behind other things on the shelf.  It had been there a long time.  Hmmm...  When life gives you stale beer, there is only one thing you can do with it.

 Make beer bread!!

Bisquick Beer Bread

 

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter, softened

3 cups Original Bisquick mix

1/3 cup sugar

1 bottle or can (12 oz) light beer (dark works fine, just more ‘beery’)

 

Steps

1.  Heat oven to 375°F. Grease bottom only of 9x5-inch loaf pan with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the butter.

 

2.  In large bowl, stir together Bisquick mix, sugar and beer with whisk until well blended. Pour into pan.

 

3.  Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until golden brown.

 

4.  In small microwavable bowl, microwave remaining 2 to 3 tablespoons butter on High until melted; brush over warm loaf. Cool 15 minutes before slicing.

Give a Compliment to the Boss

 The world is becoming a mean place.

 It has been breaking my spirit so I've decided to "become the change I want to see".  No, it won't make a huge difference to the world but it will make a huge difference in me.

 

Each month I will start a new habit/action that will have a positive change.  I'm going to share so perhaps you will join me...

 

September's action is to recognize workers who are doing a fantastic job.  First, they will get a warm 'thank you'.  Second, I will make sure to tell their boss; either in person or with a phone call when I get home.