Tuesday 31 May 2022

Expanding??

I hope my US friends had an enjoyable Memorial Day... as we remembered those who gave all they had to give, in service of their country
MrD and I had a laid back weekend... just getting stuff done around the house.. replanning the veggie garden..and talking about increasing the household....
A trip to the local weed and feed... and tractor supply store gave a chance to weigh up all the prices.. Eggs are over $4 dollars a dozen in most places... if you can get them...
With no sign of the price increases stopping...getting chickens would be a good idea. Also they would be good for the garden... eating pests..and their manure is excellent.
Plus I found the perfect wellies to wear while cleaning the coop....

Anyone else have feathered freinds?

Love and Hugs
Phoebe x

Thursday 26 May 2022

May Flowers... and Turkey Curry...

The first thing I do every morning.. even before my daily walk..I go out and check the veggie garden. Since the grasshopper fiasco... and my carrots disappearing overnight.. Im a little nervous

But..everything seems to be doing well..and more plants are beginning to flower...
The summer squash
The tomatillos..

the peppers (yes I have removed thoselower leaves)
and even the sunflowers have buds.
The sunflowers by the way have grown at a massive rate.. 
and a couple are now taller than me.

although.. MrD says that thats not difficult as most things are!!!

Turkey Curry

We have to go pick up the truck this afternoon...so tonights dinner is going to be a quick and easy one... using some of the leftover Easter turkey, plus some onions and peppers I have in the feezer. I use this recipe a lot as we love it.. as its tasty filling..and healthy. Add a little coriander on top to make it more pleasing to the eye


Spice mix:
1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Curry:
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 medium onion , chopped (6 oz)
1 (14 oz) bag frozen bell pepper slices (or use three large bell peppers, chopped)
1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic
1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root
3 cups cooked turkey breast skinless, cut into chunks (16 oz)
2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons cornstarch

  • Mix the spices in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat, about 2 minutes. 
  • Add the onions and the frozen bell peppers. 
  • Cook, stirring occasionally, until the peppers have defrosted and the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. 
  • If using fresh peppers, add a splash of water if the pan gets too dry.
  • Stir in the garlic, the ginger and the spices, 
  • Add the turkey and stir to coat.
  • Add the broth. 
  • Bring to a boil over high heat, then turn the heat down to medium-low 
  • Simmer the curry, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
  • Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water. 
  • Stir the mixture into the curry. 
  • Keep stirring until the curry thickens, about 1 more minute. 
  • Serve immediately, over rice or cauliflower rice.
Love and Hugs
Phoebe x

Tuesday 24 May 2022

Five Years...

Good Morning from the Blue House... and its Teal Tuesday.
Its a reminder that a pap smear DOES NOT detect Ovarian Cancer. You have to look for symptoms (which is difficult as they mimic so many other ilnness) Early detection is essential as its not usually diagnosed til its too late. So listen to your body and push your doctor... it will save your life
Coincidently..this photo appeared in my memories of me five years ago during my chemo. Five years ago that my doctor told me that even if the chemo worked... the cancer would probably come back within a year. Well that didnt happen.
It was also five years ago that he said that I had a five year life expectancy... Well.. five years later...and Im still here!! The round of blood tests... doctors visits...x rays and exams have started again.. but I am not the slightest bit worried. Im feeling great...and living a wonderful life

I am very blessed...and Im not going anywhere..

Love and Hugs
Phoebe x

Monday 23 May 2022

Whats for Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday...


Happy Monday from the Blue House. My posts have been a bit sporadic... but hopefully I will get on track this week

Today is another busy one. It started super early as MrD has to leave at 1.30 am all week. He has to be home early as we had a recall notice on the truck as there is a problem with the airbags. They are replacing them for free..and supplying us with a courtesy car until its fixed. Nice of them

The rest of the week will be doing normal things.... housework... gardening... cooking... oh... and keep talking about perhaps getting chickens...as yesterday afternoon we actually went to do some price checks... and look at some chicks that will be ready in a couple of weeks! Fingers crossed.

So here's this weeks menu selection

Weekly Plan - 23rd May 2022

Monday               Sweet and Sour Pork, Stir Fried Veg, Rice

Tuesday               Baked Chicken and Spinach Flautas, Mexican Rice

Wednesday          Turkey Curry, Spicy Potatoes, Naan Bread

Thursday             Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagne, Garlic Bread

Friday                  Pizza Night

Saturday              Chicken Spinach and Artichoke Quesadillas

Sunday                 Herb Crusted Salmon, Baby Potatoes, 



 

Friday 20 May 2022

Happy Birthday Son..

Happy Birthday to my eldest lad who today is making me feel very old
Thank you for everything you do…for your quick wit.. your surprising common sense( yes I know there were lean years during your teens lol )…for giving me strength and for looking after me through the bad years. And of course for giving us our gorgeous grandson

I’m very thankful for the man you have become. Nana And Gaga would be so proud

Love you Son xx

Monday 16 May 2022

Whats For Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday


Another week begins...and its a four day working one for MrD. On Friday we both have appointments with our doctor... who is 25 miles from where we live. For him.its a follow up on his last appointment.. when is blood pressure was quite high. For me... its the start of four weeks of check ups to make sure the cancer is staying away. I have no worries on that score at all.

My son in England on the other hand... had his phone appointment with his doctor and is no further along in getting help. he doctor thinks he has sleep apnea... I think we guessed that... and wants him to see a specialist but that wont be til the end of June. So til then he will have to be careful...espcially as he is off to Turkey for a vacation with his family this weekend. I told him to keep the door to the balcony locked... and the door to the pool. Goodness knows where his sleepwalking will take him.

Have a great week and here's our dinner menu

Weekly Plan - 16th May 2022

Monday               Tomato, Garlic and Basil Chicken, Potato Salad, Corn on the Cob

Tuesday               Slow Cooker Mexican Beef, Cilantro Lime Rice, 

Wednesday          Breakfast Totchos

Thursday             Chicken Supreme Pasta Bake, 

Friday                  Pizza Night

Saturday              Loaded Nacho Burgers

Sunday                 Garlic Chicken Tenders, Mac and Cheese

Friday 13 May 2022

Gorgeous Greens...

Happy Friday from The Blue House... and its a hot one! Temperatures are forecast to reach 98F/37C tomorrow.. a bit of a scorcher
This weekend I had planned to work in the garden... especially in the overgrown corner where the ivy is starting to run rampant... so I will have to get out there early. That area is sometimes forgotten...but I do have a couple of tubs there... one with the blackberry which has finally started to grow... 
and mint which has come back to life. I keep both of them in containers as they tend to take over... and I like to keep them under control.
Around the garden everything is growing nicely...especially the sunflowers...which are really sprouting.. and are now chest height
And it was a lovely surprise this morning to see the pepper plants starting to bud

Everything is so green and luchious right now.

Lets hope the hot weather dosnt bring the grasshoppers in.....

Love and Hugs
Phoebe x

Thursday 12 May 2022

In The Kitchen... Creamy Chicken Pocket Pies

The potato plants in one tub have started to wilt and turn yellow... so I decided to pull up a couple... and was so happy to find some beautiful potatoes.
 There are enough spuds for a couple of meals...with only one being mushy one so was thrown away...and two that had started to sprout. I have put them on one side to start some new plants. Apparently here in So Cal you can grow potatoes all year around.. Lucky!
So last night we had some freshly dug potatoes, lightly boiled in their skins and served with homemade chicken pocket pies and green beans….

Delicious!!

Creamy Chicken Pocket Pies


8 oz. cream cheese
4 Tbsp. butter
¼ tsp. onion powder
¼ tsp. garlic salt
1½ cups cooked and shredded chicken
1½ cups frozen chopped broccoli
½ cup frozen corn
1 box refrigerated Pillsbury Pie Crust

  • In a large microwave safe bowl, combine cream cheese and butter. 
  • Microwave in 15 second intervals until slightly melted and able to stir until smooth.
  • Add onion powder and garlic salt to cream cheese/butter mixture and stir well.
  • Add chicken, frozen chopped broccoli and frozen corn to cream cheese mixture. 
  • Stir until well combined.
  • Unroll both sheets of refrigerated pie crust dough. 
  • Cut each of the round pie crusts into quarters.
  • On one quarter of pie crust dough, put ¼ of cream cheese/chicken mixture (about ¾-1 cup.) 
  • Place a second quarter of pie crust dough over the top (make sure it lines up with bottom quarter) 
  • Pinch seams to seal off. 
  • You can flute the pie crust edges for a prettier look. I wish I could make them pretty.....
  • Repeat until you have 4 pie pockets. 
  • Cut about three small slits on the tops of each pie pocket for breathing. 
  • Place on a greased cookie sheet.
  • Bake at 400 degrees F for about 20 minutes or until tops are golden brown.
  • Enjoy!
Love and Hugs
Phoebe x


Tuesday 10 May 2022

Its Official!...

Oh… my… goodness!!!

I’m so excited!!!
I grew a potato!!!!!

I am now officially a California vegetable grower… lol

Love and Hugs
Phoebe x

Monday 9 May 2022

Whats For Dinner ~ Meal Plan Monday

I dont know where it came from... it wasnt forecast ...and didnt show on the weather report on my phone.. but yesterday I woke up to heavy rain... which continued for at least a coupleof hours til we left for church. It did the garden a world of good and saved on the water bill... what a blessing.

After church.. I got to speak to two out of three of the kids... and was serenaded by Little Mr singing Hickory Dickory Dock ( over and over again!!!)I was grateful to see that my eldest sons nose was looking slightly better...and the bump on the head had gone down slightly. One week til he sees the doctor!

We also got to speak to Mum in Law in Washington. Shes still on the oxygen for her emphysema..but it didnt stop her from talking for nearly an hour. Love her to bits... and I think if possible... we are going to surprise her next February... and visit her on her 90th birthday.(Shhh dont tell her!)

So this week... its the same old same old... housework...garden work... kitchen work... and I love every minute of it...

Have a great week

Here's the menu..

Weekly Plan - 9th May 2022

Monday               Chicken Lo Mein

Tuesday                Taco Meatloaf

Wednesday          Chicken Brocolli Pie Pockets, Potatoes, Green Beans

Thursday             Shrimp Aiago Alfredo                                                                                 

Friday                  Pizza

Saturday              Cheeseburger Quesadillas

Sunday                 Left over Pie Pockets, Potato Wedges