Dog Days Of Summer Are Upon Us - 2016

If it's too hot out there for ya, just stay inside and paint pretty pictures.  It is fun, creative and makes you feel good.  No matter what your age is, or your state of health, painting is a wonderful diversion from problems.  Don't watch the news - it's depressing.  I recommend staying  in tune with your happy self and keep a positive attitude. 

Lunch Is Served

Summer is here ! Bring on the salads and fresh veggies. Seasonings are key to the taste of each.

These are old stand-by salads with my twist on the ingredients.  Deliciousness that is easy to prepare, filling and enjoyable to the taste buds.
I saw a Pinterest chicken salad served in half an avocado that looked yummy.  I used tuna and pasta and wished I had avocados. 

The tuna salad has all the same ingredients that,  I use in potato salad, unless, its German potato salad.  No measuring required.  Chop and throw in the ingredients that you want to use.
Enjoy :)




1.  Tuna-Pasta Salad: Served cold
     Tuna (canned)
      Bell pepper
      Celery
      Onion
      Green & Black Olives
      Tri-Colored Pasta Spirals
       Oregano
       Basil
       Boiled, Chopped Eggs
       Salt and Pepper to taste
       Dukes Mayo
       Touch of yellow mustard

2.   Shrimp & Rice With Veggies: served hot
      Jumbo Shrimp
      Arborio Rice (Italian) Super Fine
      Baby Bella Mushrooms
      Rope Sausage (plain, cut into small pieces)
       Onion
       Bell Pepper
       Salt & Pepper to taste

April - A Few Thoughts

Cherry Blossom Thyme...Fun with painting spring

colors.  Beautiful flowers and delicious veggies 

are almost here.  A re-birth of life, health and attitudes after a long, cold winter.

The air conditioning is running for short periods 

of time in the afternoons. Allergy season is very

lucrative for stores that sell those products. The air is full of new blossoms and weeds.  Fine greenery everywhere. Bad weather all over the world it seems.  The weather in April is not unlike an impulsive teenager.  One minute the weather is sweet and innocent. The next day it can be the opposite - not unlike a temper tantrum. 

For older, retired folks who are not exactly the picture of health - life can be a struggle in completing every-day tasks large and small.   Money is always a problem. There is never enough.   I see every day couples who are fighting and taking out their frustrations on each other.  Always tension erupts due to lack of funds to support them and buy food.  Where we live and probably in every neighborhood not just poor ones there is always people yelling at each other.  Words can be so abusive.      Our neighbors are always struggling physically and mentally.  Mostly couples and singles fighting to make ends meet.   Keeping a positive attitude when facing adversity is not easy to do.  We older folks just keep on trudging along.  No need complaining.  It does nothing to help pay taxes, put up with  terrible landlords, poor water, expensive utilities, pay our many, many taxes that is levied on everything.  Buying  food for the table with costs getting higher daily.   Taxes are sky high and average folks are hounded by the IRS.  It is a shame that the IRS can do this to poor people and, of course, overlook  big businesses that have lawyers and loop holds.  Medical health costs are outrageous. Two thousand dollars a month for two people is bad enough.  And that is just with two plans.  Adding more plans, such as part B cannot be afforded. There are those few volunteer groups, churches and out-reach programs that might help if you are lucky.  Family members are usually busy with their activities, as well as, taking care of work and children.

  

Burrrrrr - February 15, 2016

We are now experiencing more snow falling on President's Day.  We have another foot or more of the white stuff on our deck.  Although the snow is beautiful as it lays white across the land, it is a nuisance and a downer.  Can't get outside and don't want to go anywhere for fear of falling on the ice.  I still have that knee injury from long ago.  It happened when, I was scraping ice off the car to go to work.  The bad knee from this fall on the ice, still plagues today as it did  most of my adult life.
    Can't believe that, I actually loved the snow when younger. My mother and I would look out her picture window and say how beautiful the white snow looked.  We all played in it and did not come in to the house until we were nearly frozen and our fingers needed heating up over the heater.    We ran out of clean, dry gloves every time we played outside.  We used socks on our hands instead.  Mother didn't mind.  Maybe this will be the last snow fall for winter 2016. Hubby and I are ready for spring.  Stores already have Easter items on sale and inside, it feels warm and cozy.  Inside is great except for the furnace always coming on and off.  The electric bill will be extremely high for this month. 
I guess we will be complaining about the heat before long.  Never ending seasonal grief.
Well, guess I will just have to paint and draw Easter bunnies in memory of warmer days that will come around then.  Keep the faith, Your friend, Cooky :)