Rosemary is for remembrance

Why am I writing about rosemary on New Year's eve? I dunno, but I love, love, love rosemary. Maybe friendship, fidelity, and remembrance aren't bad things for a New Year's eve. The best flourishing plant in my yard besides rosemary is the orange tree. Rosemary is cool - it will flourish with little care. My rosemary is about 4 feet around now and about that tall and loaded with blue blooms. The fragrance is intoxicating. For Christmas decorations it is stunning, especially if it is sugared and used a garnishes for food.

The following came from an email from Gulf News:

Rosemary is typically considered a culinary herb. But there are so many uses for rosemary that no garden should be without this attractive and versatile plant.

The genus name Rosmarinus means "dew of the sea", a reference to the plant's preference for seaside conditions. This plant does indeed have good salt tolerance. The species name - officinalis - indicates that the plant has been used for medicinal purposes. Rosemary was a vital part of many ancient herb gardens and is still one of the most widely planted herbs.

Rosemary is a member of the mint family and may be grown outside from zones 8 to 11. In its native range around the Mediterranean Sea, rosemary flourishes in coastal regions so arid that a significant part of the plant's moisture comes from the dew absorbed through the foliage. Rosemary has flourished in Southern gardens ever since the arrival of European colonists on these shores.

Rosemary is steeped in holiday traditions, symbolism, and legends. Associated with remembrance, friendship, and fidelity, many stories have been told about this fragrant herb.

Two rosemary legends relate directly to the Christmas story. Rosemary flowers were originally white. One day during her travels, Mary draped her blue cloak over a rosemary bush. The rosemary flowers turned blue and the whole plant took on the lovely color and fragrance of Mary’s cloak.

In a similar legend, Mary dries the baby Jesus’s clothes on a fragrant bush after laundering. The plant’s name, rosemary, and its blue flowers are in remembrance of its humble service to the Holy family.

Because rosemary lends itself to pruning into topiary shapes, it is frequently seen as a potted plant pruned into a traditional cone-shaped Christmas tree. To maintain the shape, trim off branches that grow outside of the desired shape. Use the cuttings for cooking, strewing on walkways to release the aroma, or even adding to the grill or fireplace to release their smell.

After the holidays, consider planting your rosemary in the landscape. Rosemary needs at least six hours of full sun, well-drained soil and good air circulation. It is relatively easy to grow as long as it is watered sparingly to prevent root rot. Fertilize by mulching with a light layer of compost or using fish emulsion or other organic fertilizer.

If you keep your rosemary in a pot, the challenge with caring for this plant is to keep it on the dry side, but not so dry that it dies of drought. Repotting may be needed as they can get rootbound. If placed outside in a pot it can survive most of our normal temperatures.

Rosemary is propagated best from cuttings. Pencil-size cuttings should be taken in fall or early winter. Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the stems, and then stick the cuttings in moist garden soil, where they will root by summer. In moist climates, where rosemaries often prove short-lived, it is a good idea to root new plants periodically to maintain a supply of replacements.

I'm glad to have this article to remember in the spring to do some cuttings and a few more plantings. The local health food store has a gorgeous herb garden in front of it and I always like to linger there.

Aftermath

Ah, Christmas aftermath. Trying to clean up the piles. Just returned from a couple of days at my older daughter's house. The weather has been just a tad nippy. Got to see my daughter's ex, both the kids, and spend time with kids and daughter and eat some of the best southern greens and field lima beans I ever wrapped my lips around.

My 16 year old grandson, as of Saturday, showed me his restored vintage mustang with great pride - it will be his as soon as he gets his permenent license.

The little guy's Christmas present was the above bunk bed - yes, that's the show room not the little fellow's messy room. We're still working on that. He also got his own computer obtained by Mom for a pittance by lurking in Walmart electronics section from midnight to 6 a.m. on a specials night. The same lurking session netted a portable DVD player for me which I am going to love since my TV is broke and I have no sound devices at all working at the apartment.

I watched The Black Dahlia - interesting theory of the famous murder case, a very dark and seductive movie, and Night at the Museum (at the Rave Theatre) which was boring to start with but turned out to be quite a fun movie - Robin Williams' twinkling pulled it through and a delightful monkey and some supporting actors - I can never remember names - it was a feel good movie - just fun, and the little boy loved it.

Also watched M. Night Shyamaian's Lady in the Water - it was very good, the mood setting fabulous, and I loved the Lady's "Protector." What a guy that can look, hug, hold, and protect a naked woman and because she was in trouble, treat her so tenderly and protectively without putting a hustle on because she was vulnerable! The movie wasn't scary, just interesting, and funny in places. This guy did ANYTHING to protect the Lady, including swimming down the drain of a swimming pool - now how is THAT for chivalry. Uh, don't try it guys - this was a VERY pretend movie! I think Shyamaian is so unique with his stories.

Back to real life mimics -- also watched Eye for an Eye with Sally Field which I had seen before but it was still an exciting movie. Sorry folks, movie reviews are not what I am good at - I relate to them emotionally rather than intellectually -

Christmas Eve dinner? Ahhhhhhhhhh - Sushi and Tuna Sashimi. Did traditional ham Christmas day - nothing fancy, just some steamed broc, steamed carrots, and mashed 'taters, two pies we didn't eat. I love gourmet cooking - but just couldn't get it together - oh well, we had a great time just being together.

Time here is drawing to a close, now I wish I had thought ahead and along with the other medical stuff I got caught up on with my old doctors here, I wish I had obtained a second opinion on my back. I think its probably too late now. My mother informed me my car has been repaired and is awaiting me when I come back to the mountains. With obtaining an attorney, getting my car fixed, and a few other things underway, I am making some progress. Still indecisive about the back surgery. The girls want me to do it here. My hubby just wants it to go away. Guess it won't.

Peace

Warm Holiday Thoughts for All

I did it.

Ok, here it is. The agony and the reward. I warn you, no laughing. I had wanted a thinner bird with some deep magenta and blues in the black feathers but it was explained to me that he was going to do sort of a Japanese style motif, so after some indecision I thought, well if I were commissioned for a painting and someone started telling me how to paint it, I would think twice about the commission, so I said, go for it. I'm happy with it.

Presents

Yep, Santa onna Beach. Not the real reason for the season, true, but the camera is at home, and cruising the net for good pics is not a time option! Our Lord deserves a gorgeous photo!

Boy, did I get out of town in time! I keep hearing stories of Denver being completely shut down as far as mail, traffic slow downs, road closures, etc. We have had one glorious day of 75 degrees with sunshine, and then it clouded up and continues to rain. But tis pleasant rain, not ice cold with wind driving it at 40 mph, but this is gentle.

Too much going on to blog about but here's one that cracked me up:

Conversation with grandson: (he) "You know Santa has a permnanent list, and he puts his finger by his nose and turns a switch to put you on the good one or bad one."

Love it! Love being around the youngsters. Will have to post the tattoo pics when I can talk my daughter into feeding them into a photo program on the computer. I have come to the conclusion that this Christmas present may have been more about her, as I don't think I have seen her laugh so much at my groans, whimpering, eye movements, etc. as I've seen her laugh about anything. Anyway I'm very happy with it, it is appropriately "mysterious" and artistic and at my age ya know you're not going to want it off before you die. And I was only kidding about my daughter, it was a wonderful Christmas present. The kids just love leading me down all kinds of wild roads! Sushi, taxi drivers, tattoos, ska, rockabilly, blues, etc. They are all so unique (the kids & grandkids and my greatest present is being present with them!)

Decorating for Christmas on a budget

For Karen: I promised a picture of the urangle. The hospital had a Christmas tree and decorated it with "found" objects. There was unique recycling of masks, urinals, medicine cups, a prescription or two from Rudolph or Frosty the Snowman - I think they are GP's, accu-check strip bottles, and a few donated ornaments.

That's all tonight - oh the ballet was great - my youngest grandson took a younger yet friends and watching the little boys on the edge of the chairs with their eyes sparkling was the greatest present in the whole wide world.

Arrived.

Made it! Not too terribly exhausting. It's warmer here. There is 14" of snow expected where I left from. So I haven't seen daylight here yet - got in at 10:00 p.m. Krispy Kreme is demolished in favor of a new building. There is a new Walmart. Marble Slab Ice Cream Parlour is still going strong - we had multi spinkler birthday cake ice cream and dark chocolate with almonds and coconut. I don't waste time. Little boy wanted to go to Ci Ci's pizza, but it was soooo late - maybe later.

Stopped by daughter's work and saw the most unique Christmas ornament - an angel made out of a urinal.

Flying over Utah reminded me of flying over Greenland. A good share of it was white.

The big plane was spacious, had a movie, "The Illusionist," which was good - anyway I liked it. First newly released movie I've seen in months and months. The plot was great, but felt like some pieces may have been missing, but maybe that was because it took me a while to figure out the ear phones.

I want to visit my church tomorrow but perhaps should acclimatize for a few hours - I can breathe again - actual air coming through my nostrils instead of sand and dust! Hoorah.

Purple couch is pretty but has made the rest of our furniture look pretty shabby.

Enough - so tired.

How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Stalkers

I have a few more errands to run and I'm on my way to the airport. I had to contact a major in forensic computer science to protect myself from stalker. Here is good news for those of us who have had our blogs and/or our lives disrupted by cyber stalkers. This is something we read about or see on TV, but never think it will happen to us.

Also, if we have children, this will come in handy. My teen grandson was also victim to a cyber bully. Luckily it didn't go so far as phone calls and serious damage to his life, yet a teen's ego is fragile. I wish I had known this before! We erased his blog and he did not get back on the internet for a long time. That wasn't fair. These people should not be able to get away with making our lives miserable. Because of the wonderful reports on my handy site meter, I have reason to believe the stalker that was after me has attempted to cause me employment as well as legal problems. Why else would the State have spent a half hour reading 40 of my posts? This is carrying things to the point she could be prosecuted thanks to the work of a great cyber-sleuth. So, take a look at this blog below - it will show you how to keep evidence to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Ya Think is dedicated to helping us protect ourselves from this sort of outrage. This link is worth visiting. I never thought I would need it, but you never know until it happens to you.

Will blog ya from the South!

Christmas rushing

Viko Propane Sauna Heater? (from my comments) - no thanks, not this Christmas. I've had some luck lately, mostly bad, and you better bet your bottom dollar I will not be buying that propane sauna heater for anyone. Or me for my pretend sauna. Imagine the walls blowing up while you are sitting there naked, sweating!

Well, countdown! I HAVE to go pack last suitcase, so this will be short blog. Will worry about clean-up of place when I get back.

I found one thing Ms. Meowi will not eat, hee, hee. Lentils! She begged and begged and I gave in - and she keeps looking at her bowl and looking at me like she thinks I'm nuts!

I hate to report, I was having a hard time commenting on some blogs. I think blogspot is wrestling with its new brain child...or something.

This is a short one - too much to do, too little time.

Christmas is coming.........too fast

Ok, folks this is a western Christmas tree with no decorations. It is called a tumbleweed. Because it tumbles across the highway. Actually these dudes can be about 4' all the way around and they are beautiful sprayed white or silver with teensy lights on them.

Well, I'll soon be on the airplane. I'm so excited. I got my oldest daughter's gift ordered off of EBAY. I forgot to ask the younger if the tree was up. She was freaking about cleaning up the house before I got there. The first time I went home, I found the large rug from the bedroom covering the carpet in the study. I figured correctly that rug was covering a large coke/pepsi stain. Oh well. Just got a call from hubby. There is no Christmas tree up. Well, its about too late now. I guess we can string lights on the fake plant in the corner when I get there. I wish I could get them a tumbleweed, but I can't run fast enough with a broke back to catch one. I will do something artistic and fun anyway - we'll see what.

Wow, we're having a wild night in the apartments. Last night I couldn't sleep as people were ringing my doorbell or knocking until about 3 in the morning. I have a new invention - a doorbell that when it is punched, sounds like 4 barking dobermans. The banging has started, and a few screams from upstairs, yelling from a car out front....and gee, we're early tonight - it's not after 10:00 p.m. yet.

I have shredded nerves for about five different reasons. Well gotta go wash clothes, get organized.

Lentils and Lethal Weapons

Yum yum lentil soup. Minus the $3.99 red pepper. Are red peppers that expensive where you all live? Wow. Why do lentils, beans, etc., all say to sort and wash? Sort what - why do they sometimes have rocks and little pieces of mud in them? Why aren't they sorted and washed before packaging. Its a little bit like buying dirty underwear, isn't it? Yeh, I do have a lot of questions.

I'm actually cooking tonight. Last night dinner was green chili sour cream dip and tortillas. Store bought. But tonight I also have a recipe for orange date bars as well as the lentil salad. More yum.

One more suitcase to pack. Tomorrow I go find boxes and bubble wrap for my pottery pieces. Why, oh why did I ever bring those? I got a box from my daughter today full of yummy skin stuff which is great because it is so dry here that your skin gets sore and falls off. Well, almost. It does get sore, red, cracked, wrinkled - etc., etc.

Also in the box were pics of grandchildren, beautiful grandchildren. I'm not posting the pics for now, cuz ya' all know why, but I can't wait to see them. I hope my new camera battery arrives by then. Hubby says oranges aren't quite ready to pick yet. I said, "Wait for Nan!" Picking oranges with grandkids has become a nice Christmas ritual.

Called the airline a bit ago to ask for wheelchair, and it was hillarious as I was on hold forever, but some of the tidbits to keep one interested were as follows:

Any toiletries must be in 3 ounce containers and put into quart size plastic bags. OK? (Quart size bags are wonderful protection from liquid bombs.) Are the airlines merging with the sandwich bag companies?

New drinks are being offered, something about a super martini. Sounded delicous. Well, three or four of those would take your mind off a body cavity search for weapons like film canister openers, would it not? Nah, my whole family will be waiting - I don't want to slosh off the plane and breath straight alcohol into their faces.

I can't wait to face up to the TSA people - that is the T__tty patters (underwire bras ya know). Ya might wriggle one out (wire, that is) and strangle the guy in front of you. Ya know how threatening grandmas can be. It might be what the underwire is holding up that is the lethal weapon. Yuck, yuck.

Last time I flew, three TSA people scared me to death over a film canister opener about the size of small nail nippers, which according to the TSA website were acceptable, however a disclaimer did note that any TSA agent could declare any item a lethal weapon, which whether you know it is in your possession or not is a criminal offense. 'Tis true.

Is it me, or are people just getting meaner? I know in the past few months here, its been like dealing with, as my grandma says, "ol' bears with sore pee pees" Ok, ok, time to go wash my mouth out with soap, and finish the lentil salad.

Here's the recipe if you want:
1 cup dried lentils
1 medium sized carrot, finely diced or 1/4 cup
6 green onions, thinkly slice
l celery stalk finely diced
1/2 red bell pepper finely diced
1/2 cup cilantro leaves finely chopped
1/2 cup italian parsely leaves fine chopped
1 clove garlic minced
l tsp lemon zest
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
romain lettuce leaves for garnish

Cook lentils till just tender. Cool.
Toss lentils, carrot, green onions, celery, bell pepper, (I've done without that one), cilantro, parsely, garlic and lemon zest in large bowl. Drizzel with lemon juice and olive oil and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Set on lettuce leaves.

G'night, ya'll.

For Mr. Anchovy

Ducks along the Platte River