My Hands hurt

My hands hurt. I sifted compost and planted five new plants I bought at Menard’s I had told myself that under no circumstances would I buy another plant this season but I saw these giant blue scabiosas and white salvias and so I just did it.

I made an enchilada-type lasagna dish today and it was wonderful!

Sauce:

2 T olive oil 2 T flour and make a roux
add one small can of chicken stock
about 1 T chili powder
1 t cumin
½ cup water
and whisk it together and cook it for 10-15 minutes and set aside

Filling:

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T red pepper flakes
1 small can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 large package of corn tortillas

1 packaged shredded Mexican/Taco cheese


Spray glass baking dish with non stick spray. Layer of corn tortillas (put them in the microwave for about 30 seconds before layering)—I cut mine in half to make them fit the pan.

Layer of meat mixture

Layer of cheese

Layer of tortillas

Layer of meat

A final layer of tortillas and then top with the remaining cheese


Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for thirty minutes
I served it with a salad, but you can do whatever you want.

Hardware Cloth

Happy Friday.
I’m going to work today. I was “sick” on Wednesday and Thursday---an upset stomach passes for sick—right? Anyway, I took LP to the dentist yesterday and he had a cavity and she filled it that same day, which was good.
The guys went to see Spider-man 3 last evening. I didn’t want to go—I didn’t really enjoy S-M #2. They both enjoyed it and ate popcorn and those little non-pariel (sp?) chocolates.
We worked on the yard a lot, including clearing away some dead branches which I wouldn’t have minded keeping the area “wild” but I was over ruled. That’s okay though because there was some kick ass compost at the bottom of the pile of stuff.
Know what Hardware Cloth is? That’s okay, I didn’t either until two days ago. It’s a screen type thing that’s a cross between chicken wire and a screen for a door. Anyway BP built me this great compost sifter from hardware cloth and old 2 x 4’s. It was just like Design Remix!! Making good stuff from the crappy stuff you have lying around the house and yard. Now, I can put this sifter over the wheelbarrow and sift out the big chucks from my compost, use the small stuff and return the big chucks to my composter. Does that make sense?
I’m going back to work today and then it’s a 3-day weekend, which I love.
I’ll post a picture of my sifter soon.

For Elu

A fucked Frosty--got so hot, he melted!

Go ahead, make fun

What's Blooming

Pink Lupine, Orange Poppies, Columbine, and Dame's rocket, columbine and lambs ears

1. Letter from Mister Rogers

2. Letter from Paul Newman

3. Letter from Dalai Lama

4. Letter from JFK, Jr.

5. Oval Office

6. View from 2nd floor

Clinton Library

We loved the Library. It was uncrowded, the workers and volunteers were wonderful (even if this sweet, kinda withered old man chastised me for taking flash pictures--he suggested holding my finger over the flash and that worked just fine.)

My favorite part was the Oval Office replica (pictures to come soon.) The Museum Store--housed down the street--was a disappointment. A lot of cheesy cheap crap, but I did buy a William J Clinton Presidential Library checkbook cover and an "I MISS BILL" bumpersticker.

I also liked the letters on display and the gifts they received from the American people and world leaders.

The Cafe 42 is in the basement of the building and we had a good lunch there--crab salad and chocolate torte for me, and my mother and Sis had the chicken salad and the Hillary cookies.

Speaking of my Mother. Sigh. Y'all haven't lived until you've taken a 9 hour road trip with an 80+ year old woman.

But it was a good time, and now I want to visit the Harry S Truman Presidential Library in Missouri.

--more photos to come--

An Orchid in the lobby of the Little Rock Peabody Hotel. The Duckmaster and the Peabody Ducks descending to the lobby via the elevator. The view of the Old Statehouse and the Arkansas River from our room.