When Life Gives You (Lemons) Yellow Pear Tomatoes

In May when our hopes were soaring high about summer gardens and planting, Tony bought "Roma" tomato plants from a local nursery.  Obviously the flat was mislabeled because the stalks and leaves grew much larger than any plum tomato plant we ever had.  And also because these were the fruits of our labor:

 My daughter-in-law suggested I write about this unfortunate event in our gardening history.  She even gave me the title:  When Live Gives You Lemons or Yellow Tomatoes

You must understand that it's in Tony's DNA to grow RED meaty Roma tomatoes every summer.  He derives much pleasure from watching the plants grow, staking them, pruning, and then finally, making quarts and quarts of beautiful tomato sauce for the winter.  By this time every year my counter is usually lined with dozens of tomatoes ready for cooking. This year Tony resorted to buying bushels of lovely red plum tomatoes from local farmers and made his sauce.  His disappointment in our harvest didn't stop him!

Last week I decided to pick as many of these small yellow tomatoes as I could and try to cook something with them.  Tony took the lead and made a beautiful sauce flavored with lots of garlic, Italian spices, and Romano cheese.  It looked more like corn chowder than tomato sauce:)

I used it to make a lasagna and it was wonderful!  I also sliced a bunch in half and dehydrated them for pizza toppings.  They really are sweet and delicious.

So I guess my little life lesson here is to be ready for surprises, work with what I have, and not quickly be disappointed.  Sometimes things work out in ways I could never anticipate or expect!

Be a Good Host

Do you have an opportunity to welcome guests into your home?  Summer is a great time to get together with family and friends.  With some preparation ahead of time, you can enjoy your guests and not stress about your home. 

Here are some ways that I try to do this well!

*Remember that a house is made to be lived in and full of people.  It's not a museum to be admired.

1. Think about the basics - clean bathrooms, clean sheets, welcoming places to hang out

It really doesn't take much time to clean a bathroom.  I move as quickly as possible and make sure the important areas are clean (toilet, sinks, tub).  Make sure there is plenty of toilet paper, bottles of shampoo, soap, towels, etc.

A fresh bed really helps your guests to rest well at your house.  I have extra pillows for anyone who needs them!

Make sure the living areas are cleared so that everyone can sit and visit comfortably.  We move a few chairs when needed to have maximum space to chat.  It's all about being together and sharing our lives.  If everyone has a place to relax, the conversation happens naturally!

*Don't hesitate to cook for people you love.  Kitchens are made to be messed up and then cleaned up!

2. Food!

It's your preference how much you want to cook vs. eating out.  I know families who order everything out because they don't want the fuss.  They love the service and get to enjoy each other's company all the more!

We do a lot of cooking because it's Tony's thing.  He shows his love by feeding people and sharing his gift for planning and cooking meals.

I tried to think ahead for basic snacks, drinks, and staples.  Tony went food shopping as needed for meal preparations.

Either way, enjoy your guests and savor all the moments around your table.  Don't forget some photos to remember the laughs!

We just had a houseful of relatives here and it was wonderful.  Tony did most of the cooking.  I tried to keep the dishwasher going and the fridge organized so everyone could find what they wanted.

*Remember to relax and enjoy your guests!  The people God puts in our lives are gifts to be savored.

3. When your guests have arrived, don't stress about anything.  Just enjoy them and let the moments happen.  No one will care if you forgot something or if the food isn't perfect.  That's life.  Accept offers of help with simple chores.  Take time to talk and laugh.  And thank your guests for coming to visit!!

We had so many beautiful conversations and moments with our family members.  I am truly thankful that they took the time and effort to come to visit.  Those are memories that we will always have.  I hope that everyone was comfortable and knew that they were wanted in our home.😃

Simplify and Declutter

I've seen many posts and ads recently for steps to simplify and declutter.  It's a way of life for me, so reading these ads started me thinking about my own steps to simplify and declutter my house (and life).  Here's my tip list:

1. "Stuff" and "Stress" both start with the same letters.  That teaches a lesson - too much stuff produces stress.  Fact: every item you own has 2 price tags.  One is how much you paid originally, and the other is how much is costs for maintenance.  Cars are perfect examples.  We pay a lot to buy vehicles.  But we all know that it costs us dearly to keep them running well.  We need to view every item in our houses with the same '2-price-tag' way.  

Do you know the terrible feeling you get when you open a kitchen cupboard to get a plate and random things fall out onto the counter??  That takes a toll on you!  Why should your cupboards make you stressed?  The good news is that you can do something about it.

Start with one closet, one cupboard, one drawer, and be ruthless.  Take everything out and make tough decisions to keep ONLY the items you really use and need.  Donate the rest or throw it away.  Then put your good stuff away neatly.

*Tip:  Use wire-wrapped shelves, baskets, and hooks to maximize storage space!

2. Clothes!  Almost everyone I know has too many clothes.  Their closets and drawers are stuffed full of items that don't fit or are outdated.  It's stressful to get dressed in the morning and have to sift through too many clothes!

There are many ways to pare down.  One tip is to turn every hanger in your closet backwards.  Then as you wear an item you can turn the hanger forwards.  After one season, get rid of every backwards-hanger clothing item!

My way is to be HONEST with myself and just donate any clothes that I haven't worn in a long time.  It's ok to keep some rarely worn clothes for special occasions.  But if your closet is so stuffed that you can't see what you own, it's time to simplify and donate!

3. Clear off counter tops.  It's frustrating to not have space to work in your kitchen, bathroom, or dining room.  If you have stuff covering all available surfaces, it's stressful to try to find space to cook or work.  

Why not make it a habit to keep all surfaces as clear as possible?  Then when you need space to work, it's ready to go!  Why do magazine homes always look so appealing?  Because they have NO CLUTTER anywhere in sight.  You can improve the look of your home easily by clearing all counters and tables, putting everything away.

That creates a challenge - where to put everything??  Use drawers, baskets, trays, and shelves to organize your stuff.  Remember my mantra:  Be honest and be ruthless!  If you really use it, keep it and put it somewhere convenient.  If you don't use or need that item, get rid of it!

I hope I've given you a few helpful hints about simplifying and decluttering.  Let me know how you keep your home and life simple!!

June 2018 Blooms

Here's what's happening in the yard!

Astilbes (just starting)

Lemon Drop Groundcover

Salvia

Roses

Astrantia

Clematis

Apple Blossom Potentilla

Bachelor Buttons

Potentilla

Clematis

Love in a Mist

Gorgeous Coral Rose

Spring 2018 Blooms

Here are some photos from the yard.

I missed taking a photo of my tulips:(

Columbines

Clematis

Siberian Weeping Pea

Lily of the Valley

Forget Me Nots

Sweet Woodruff

Japanese Maple

Poppy

What Papers Should You Keep?

What papers are important?

What receipts should you keep?

What do you do with all the papers piled on your kitchen table?

What about product manuals and assembly instructions?

Here's what I suggest keeping, plus a few tips about how to organize them:

1. Tax Returns and Support Documents - Keep these in a file cabinet (or fireproof safe) for at least 7 years (and maybe forever) including supporting documents.  Here's a link with more info: 

Keeping Tax Returns

2. Receipts for Major Purchases - If your gas grill, furnace or refrigerator malfunctions within the first year or so, you should be able to document the date of sale.  Even if the warranty is expired, you can still contact customer service with a valid complaint.  I keep the sales receipt inside the front cover of the product manual.  These are in my file cabinet.  You could store them in a plastic bin in a closet or basement storage.

3. Receipts for Major Home Improvements - Depending on what state you live in and what year, there are tax breaks for certain energy-saving improvements.  Keep those papers in a file or folder.  They might even come in handy if you sell your house!

4. Vehicle Records - Keep your purchase records from the dealer, your insurance policy, major repair receipts (transmission, etc.), and warranties in a file, one for each vehicle.

5. Life Documents - Birth certificates, passports, wills, immunization records, social security cards, marriage certificates...all the really important stuff should be in a fire-proof box.  You don't want to ever go through the hassle of replacing these documents!

6. Credit Card Statements, Utility Bills, Maintenance Receipts - It depends on your situation.  If you have a small business and need to use these receipts for taxes at the end of the year, then keep them in a file for that year, then file with your taxes.  If you don't need them for tax purposes, then they can be shredded once you've checked to make sure they are correct.  **These are the kinds of papers I've seen piled up on a kitchen counter!  Have a designated spot for them and put them away.

7. Restaurant Receipts, Gas Receipts, Grocery Store, etc...  Once you've cleared the transaction with your bank account, shred these!!  Don't let them pile up anywhere!

Welcome Spring!

I love this time of year!

I love the flowers poking up through the ground.

I love the green color popping up all over.

I love the smell of freshness in the air.

I love the promise of life coming back from

a long, winter's sleep.

I love dreaming of all the things I want to do outside!

Here are some photos from my yard

and some great quotes to Welcome Spring!

Hans Christian Andersen

"Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

Gerard De Nerval

"Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature."

Theodore Roethke

"Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light."

Luther Burbank

Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul."

Marcus Tullius Cicero

"If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need."