Quote Me On This!

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress….
But then I repeat myself.

-Mark Twain

Mutts!

I love mutts. Mutt kitties, mutt doggies, mutt humans. Purebreds are a snore. But Mutts the comic is a must read every day and I have it emailed to me every morning for a wake me up smile. Do you like Mutts? If so, they have an online store they are closing for t shirts, toys, books, jammies and pet items. A portion of the proceeds go to animal charities and other human helps to make the world a better place. Take a look. I have t shirts and the book ends myself.

Mutts Store

Tom Cat-Unmasked

Herb Gardens For The Kitchen

Look what I got!!! I had seen these a while back and had one on my wish list at Amazon. Then my daughter got one for her birthday in November and when she went to Florida, I had to check in on it. I then came home and used some of my reward certificates from my Amazon Credit Card to buy my machine. I love it so far! I get so many goodies using credit cards that pay ME as I always pay my bills on time and in full.

This is what my garden will look like fully grown. I planted mine on Thursday of last week and by Sunday my first seeds had sprouted. I will post when I can take all the domes off the seedlings in a couple of weeks. This will be a great way to have fresh herbs, not get ripped off at the grocery store and have them go bad so fast and a little bit of nature in the cold ugliness of a Michigan winter.

You can find more info here and also on Amazon. There is also the possibility that Target has them as their website sells them, too.

I suggest the Pro models or better as the originals don't have the same timers or alternative capabilities. Free shipping at both sites.

Bumper Stickers Stuck On You

• There are many ways to say "I love you," but sex is the fastest.
• I feel so much better since I lost hope.
• If you smoke after sex, you're doing it too fast.
• It's people like you that make people like me take medicine.
• Alzheimer's. A disease that...where are my socks?
• Don't vote. It just encourages them.
• Reality is a nice place, but I wouldn't want to live there.
• Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.
• If walking is so good for you, why does my mailman look like that?
• Ask me about my vow of silence.
• If the answer isn't beer, you've asked the wrong question.
• Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
• Before you condemn someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Then you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
• We must silence those who oppose freedom of speech.
• A man does not have to be a bigamist to have one wife too many.
• Try not to let your mind wander. It's too small and fragile to be out by itself.
• Guys, just because you have one, doesn't mean you have to be one.
• I'm happily married, but my wife isn't.
• Real women don't have hot flashes, they have power surges.
• When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
• You are right where you belong. Behind me.
• Old age comes at a bad time.
• The severity of the itch is proportional to the reach.
• Veni, Vedi, Visa: I came, I saw, I did a little shopping.
• Do unto others before they do unto you.
• Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
• Don't play stupid with me. I'm better at it.
• Experience is learning a lot of crap you didn't really want to know.
• I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
• If 10 percent is good enough for God, it should be enough for the IRS.
• Sex is not the answer. Sex is the question. The answer is yes.
• Was today really necessary?
• Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
• The more I learn, the less I understand.
• Just because people don't understand you doesn't make you an artist.
• Love is grand. Divorce is fifty grand.
• I came here with nothing, and I still have most of it.
• Even if you win the rat race, you're still a rat.
• Pass carefully. Driver chews tobacco.
• O.K., I take it back. Unscrew you.
• The more people I meet, the more I like my dog.
• I wasn't born a bitch. Men like you made me this way.
• Taxation with representation isn't so hot, either!
• Not all men are annoying. Some are dead.
• Does your train of thought have a caboose?
• Better living through denial.
• I majored in liberal arts. Will that be for here or to go?
• You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
• I'm not a complete idiot. Some parts are missing.
• Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now.
• The bigger the jackass, the louder the bray.
• If you lived in your car, you would be home right now.
• It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
• If voting could really change things, it would be illegal.
• I'm not completely worthless. I can be used as a bad example.
• A bartender is just a pharmacist with a limited inventory.
  

Happy 90th Birthday Ernie Harwell

The long time voice of the Detroit Tigers and a soothing comfort for many local generations, he celebrated with ice cream, pizza and a walk on the treadmill. If Ernie was calling the game, it made all the sadness and badness go away for a while. Five generations of my family have loved him and I hope a sixth will get to hear his voice someday. Many more healthy and ice cream celebration days to you Ernie!

Nora The Piano Playing Cat

And The Sequel!

African Sweet Potato Stew

Some aromas are indescribable. This stew at full simmer was incredible. I took this photo about 2 hours into the 8 hour slow cook on low. I let it simmer all night and then added the peanut butter right at the end. I did play around with some of the ingredients as I had more of some items and less of another. Since I love garlic, I used more.

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced (I used 5)
• 4 cups peeled and cubed sweet potato (1 1/2 pounds)
• 1 can garbanzo beans, drained (I wanted red beans but didn't have any) and any legume you like will work as long as they are fully cooked.
• 1 cup baby carrots cut in half
• 1 cup frozen full green beans cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated (use less if dried)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• fresh ground cinnamon to taste-I used 1/2 teaspoon
• 1 can diced tomatoes drained
• a few chopped chili peppers (depends on the heat you want)
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter
• chopped peanuts
• one lime-wedged

Heat oil in skillet and add onion and garlic. Sweat these for 5 minutes over medium heat. Place onion mixture in slow cooker adding sweet potato and other ingredients. Cover and cook on slow for 8 hours or until tender.

Spoon out 1 cup of liquid into a small bowl and add 3 tablespoons of peanut butter,using whisk to blend out any lumps. Stir into hot stew evenly. Top each serving with chopped peanuts and a lime wedge squeezed over the top.

6-8 servings

Serve with spinach salad and crusty bread. Protein 11 grams, fiber 10 grams and 220 mg sodium based on 6 servings.

Sam the Butcher

I grew up watching the Brady Bunch. Coming from a fractured family, I loved that even in turmoil, the Brady's loved each other. I have to believe there are real families like that. My favorite character was Alice as I felt she was that BFF everyone wanted and needed with a dose of common sense. Age meant no difference. I only wanted to see her happy with Sam.

Allan Melvin died this weekend. What a wonderful character actor and just seeing his face here, I have a grin on my face. I hope "Sam" is bowling for the tournament this week.And still pining for Alice.

It's Cold!