Mosaic Mom

Yesterday was the first day in 12 days that we had no rain. Yay!
But today looks as if we'll be wet before noon.

To go shopping in weather like this, I use the internet.
Try this site for some fun!

It's Uncle Eddie!

Weather Report

What’s worse than rain every day?

Rain TWICE A DAY every day!

I barely get started writing when the first sound rumble-growl thunder develops. I immediately take the computer off the grid and off the modem.
Does that seem extreme?

Once upon a time, I was sitting on the sofa waiting for a strong electrical storm to pass. A bolt hit the house. The back of my TV blew off. Shazaam! That was noisy, messy and costly. Therefore, I unplug.



They call it that good ole Mountain Dew Dew Dew…..
And them who refuse it are few, mighty few…


Mountain Dew’s new Blueberry flavor found its way into my shopping cart at Publix.

The teenaged stock boy snickered as I lifted the 2 liter bottle off the shelf. “That’s strong stuff,” he cautioned. “I drink it myself.”

“I’ll only have one glass and throw the rest away,” I promised.

He rolled his eyes.

I have saved this bottle for Saturday. One sip and I will have a caffeine high that may not end till Monday. I plan on getting a lot of work done…if my heart doesn’t spasm. Tomorrow may be my last day on Earth!
Really, I mean it!



Lujo Virus

Didja hear about the new ebola-type virus in Africa?
It set my hypochondria in motion. Yes, somewhere in Namibia this morning, a mosquito hatched and is flying directly towards me. I just know it. Ayeiiii!


Writing contests

I sent my entry into the local Flash Fiction contest yesterday. I hope it got in; I was having trouble loading the attachment.
This weekend, the San Diego contest winners may be announced. I really appreciated that the editor out there replied to the submissions so I knew I had posted them correctly.

Art Lessons
My friend Suzy and her daughter Shelly will be teaching art this summer. Holler back if you're interested in some excellent instruction in watercolors!

I made progress. Got all the tesserae on that's going on. Then I began to grout the center...and a little bit of one petal.

I will finish up the grouting today then make a final push on the yellow polka dot strawberry jar.

Today's Blog is courtesy of Aunt Terri...who is rescuing me cause I have a boatload of Zucchini! Enjoy!

ZUCCHINI PIE
3 cups zucchini, diced
1 onion, chopped
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup buttermilk baking mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
ground black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x6 inch pan or a 12 inch pie plate.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine zucchini, onion, eggs, buttermilk baking mix, vegetable oil, Parmesan cheese, marjoram, parsley and pepper; mix well. Spread into the prepared baking dish.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly brown.



ZUCCHINI MOCK APPLE PIE
1 pie crust, unbaked
5 c. sliced zucchini, peeled and remove seeds
3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. real lemon juice
3/4 c. water
CRUMB TOPPING:
1 c. flour
1/2 c. brown sugar
6 tbsp. butter, butter
1/4 tsp. salt
Bring to boil zucchini, sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and water; simmer until soft. Pour into an unbaked pie shell; pat crumb topping over mock apples and bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.



IMPOSSIBLE ZUCCHINI PIE
1 cup chopped zucchini
1 cup chopped tomato
½ cup chopped onion
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2/3 cup Bisquick mix
3/4 cup fat-free (skim) milk
2 eggs or 1/2 cup fat-free cholesterol-free egg product
½ teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease bottom and side of pie plate, 9x1 1/4 inches.
2. Sprinkle zucchini, tomato, onion and cheese evenly in pie plate.
3. Stir together remaining ingredients with fork until blended. Pour evenly into pie plate.
4. Bake about 35 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool at least 10 minutes.

This sculpture that Plant Daddy made is about 3 feet across. He does the metal frame and I do the mosaic application. It may look gaudy now, but remember, it will be out in the pasture, viewed from a distance so it has to be large.

On the right...see the bucket to catch drips from the leaky roof in the mosaic studio? That was 2 days worth of drips.
Plant Daddy put plastic on the roof till we can get a proper repair. No drips in yesterday's storm. We are predicted for more rain today too. Nargh!
See the bug spray just to the left of the flower? Sigh!

A little Sentra visited from Orlando yesterday and made off with a huge load of tomatoes, peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, basil, rosemary, eggplant, and corn, corn, corn!

There's some good eats in Orlando today!

Plant Daddy went on the roof of the mosaic studio to apply a tarp. Now we, too, have a beautiful Florida roof! But at least it won't leak when the rains come today...15.5 inches so far and it's cloudy this morning ya'll!

Since it continues to rain, rain, rain and I can't get out to garden, I have made another push to get my home decor out of the '80's and up to current style. I got a big ole hunk of wallpaper scraped off yesterday.

I had the radio playing while doing this...listening to '80's hits like "Godzilla" and "Take the Long Way Home" . I was wearing an outfit I bought in the '80's...perfect work clothes for a messy job.

Total rain for the week was 13.5 inches! No major leaks in the house, but the mosaic studio was another story, Drenched. More on that later.

The oldest and longest running garden section is behind the greenhouses.

From right to left you are looking at peppers, onions, marigolds, green beans and catnip...we wouldn't forget our Zeus!
Around the back is carrotts, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and rosemary and basil.

In the middle house is the July and August paradise crop...pineapples.

Plant Daddy has some late bearing strawberries in the first house too.

We've got our Memorial Day feast planned. We're going to grill veggies! How about you?

My story about life (and gardening) on the hippie commune has been published in the summer issue of GreenPrints.

Go buy one!

Woo Hoo!

This garden is temporary...squeezed in where we took out some underperforming figs and added persimmons.

It holds sweet potatoes...which may be small due to excessive rain this spring...
Bell peppers, and corn.
Behind the corn see the loquats. This area will be all orchard next year.

Garden #1

This is the newest garden section. We added it this year and we love the traditional rectangular look of it.

On the first row is squash...zucchimi on the left and yellow squash on the right. The squash will be done very soon since the mildew has set in.

The next row is tomatoes.

Then, OMG, I planted WAY TOO MUCH OKRA!!! Help!

On the end is the corn. We don't know yet how the rain affected the germination...pollen germination for the fullness of the ears.

The view is towards the east. My neighbor's field was soaked with all the rain...12 inches in the last 4 days!

Tropical paradise my Aunt Gladys!
We've had 8 inches of rain in 3 days! Woo Hoo!
Sharpen the mower blades. That grass is a growin'.

We had to pump out the pool to prevent an over flow today.
I'm lovin'it!
(I guess that last sentence came from having eaten fast food yesterday. Pardon me.)

Tesserae

All the little pieces…here they come…

Plant Daddy is still sick. He went to another doctor today. Doctor #2 gave him some new antibiotics and some dry-your-nose-up stuff. We really need his earache to go away. Prayers accepted.

We went to the lawyer this morning. We have had the same lawyer since 1994…15 years! Yikes. We signed our lives away…lots of changes have happened in estate law since we did this the first time…attorney says ..hold on, the new tax laws will change it all again.

Went to McDonald’s for lunch. Haven’t eaten there in 5 years, maybe longer than that. The roof was leaking and the floor was dangerously slick and greasy; the artificial purple flowers in the ladies room were a nice touch. Ate the fish sandwich and really enjoyed the French fries. Now have McGas!

Palm Writers Group met last night. Nice group, had 12 regulars and 2 people dropped in but decided not to stay. Kudos to Patty who showed me how to navigate a few things on the netbook. This month I managed to review people’s work AND e-mail it back to them. I am Paperless now, Baby!

I am waiting to hear results from a national Drabble contest…like I have any chance…bosh! I also have a piece to submit for a local flash fiction contest. Due by the end of May.

It’s raining. We’ve had 4.5 inches in 2 days. Wonderful! The trees really need it. Unfortunately, the zucchini and yellow squash and onions have succumbed to fungal disease. The beans no doubt will get blight. Don’t know if the corn will do well. Blackberries are toast.

Killed 12 hornworm caterpillars on 2 tomato plants yesterday. I love cutting their heads off with my clippers. It is soooo satisfying. Those are MY tomatoes dammit! Grrrr.

Pool is flooded. Ayeyiyi!

Weather wonks are saying “tropical low” but not using the “H” word yet. My sinuses are popping from pressure shift and the clouds are low and dreary. I am one spoiled weather watcher. I expect every day to have some sunshine. It’s Florida, C’mon already.

On Sunday, new kitty and Zeus got into a whambang fight. I turned the hose on both of them. New Kitty has been laying low. No sign of her. Hope she is not off dropping kittens close by. Grrr.

LME went antiquing and bought me a new ginger jar for the collection. I love it. Thanks. From the color I am guessing it to be circa 1985…peach tones! Was peach and blue just before green and burgundy? Just after dusty rose?

LME drove out from Orlando Sunday morning to pick blackberries. The crop is slim this year due to a late frost. Now the rains have started and the delicate berries are not holding up, so it was absolutely great she got them yesterday.

The mocking bird is eating as many as he can snatch and the stink bugs are starting to invade the row. It's a jungle out there. But LME manages to get about a quart of fruit. And not too scratched up by brambles in the process.

Then we enjoyed Brunch. Plant Daddy cooked us over easy eggs and bacon.

The rest of today. Monday, I will be organizing for the Palm Writers Group Meeting tonight at 6:30 at the Sorrento Library. Lake County's creative writing group goes at it again!

I went to Target at the Lake Square Mall today. There were no hookers or drug dealers in sight. Hooray!

That's either good police work or else it is just too hot (91) and bright for any creature to be out.

I looked for a bed skirt at JCPenney, but could not get waited on. So much for their big sale. The three ladies were lounging at the customer service desk but not a one offered to help me look.

Went to Sears to pre shop for Father's Day. Was waited on straight away and will definitely go back for the item later.

Went to Belk's. Didn't see anything I liked. But a Liz Claiborne dress made the maniquin look fat. How must it look in real life.

A girl was displaying Saturn automobiles in front of Belk's. She did not wait on me even though I know LME is in the market for a Murano.

I bought a silly straw hat at Dollar Tree to wear in the pool so my head won't sunburn. It's a riot! Also bought a hula girl dashboard ornament for Plant Daddy's golf cart.

Fun Day.

I made 2 mistakes yesterday...

I told God what my plans for the day were.

and I said the word "vet" within earshot of the cats.

Couldn't find a cat around here all day yesterday,

God laughed in my face.


Anyway...around 2PM I gave up on Kitty Hunt and went to Beall's and bought a new pair of shoes...New Balance...with Lime Green trim...just right for summer and my feet feel better, too.

Mt Dora got rain again. We got a dribble here at the farm, enough to cause mildew in the zucchini. Already weather wonks are predicting a tropical low to cross the Florida peninsula next week!

As I predicted!

As a girl growing up in rural Georgia, I looked forward to Sunday drives in the Buick along the back roads around LaGrange, Hogansville, Franklin and West Point. Dad just motored with no particular destination, just enjoying the drive.

But if we spotted a gopher tortoise in the road, we'd hit the brakes, make a u turn and scoop it up. It would ride home in the Buick and be made into a beloved pet...for a week or so. Then we turned it loose in the back yard and away it would go....except for the one that escaped in my bedroom and died and smelled really really bad.

Little Mind Escape and I always stopped to collect gopher tortoises along Florida roadways too, to prevent their being run over by traffic. We kept it up till one pooped so bad in my van, I had to scrub the interior and never picked up a tortoise again.

Today there is a stray cat around. I am trying to catch it and take it to the vet to have it put to sleep. That's what "sweet country folks" do...we don't adopt the animals you slickers dump out here. We have them put down. They are unwanted. If you don't want it, neither do I.

This cat is pregnant and has ringworm. Blech!

I took PD to the Urgent Care Clinic last night when the earache got too much. Now he has antibiotics and is resting. Will be better soon no doubt.

Here's our newest resident in the yard...enjoying tomatoes. We like him/her/it!

We should have a name the turtle contest. Any suggestions?

Meanwhile, it's raining cats and dogs in Mt Snora but not a drop here. Remember what I predicted about hurricaines!

PD is still sick still in bed. Bad flu ya'll!

Hey, go see Bernie O'Brien on Thursday evening at the Orlando Fringe Festival!

Here's a link to an article for details!
Maybe a photo if I can steal the code...

Yeah baby!
Bernie was an original member of Palm Writers Group in Lake County but his real talent is as a live performance story teller!
If you get to Fringe, check him out!

Last year I started a project and ran out of materials half-way through. Let that be a lesson to you! Don't do what I did!

The project sat around here half done, collecting dust. I could not find the supplies anywhere...I needed glass marbles...the traditional kind. Try to find them anymore! They're not a popular kind of toy so they are getting rare!

Jackie's friend in Wisconsin found some and shipped them here! Yay! I will see Jackie tomorrow and get some marbles! Yay! Actually, I'll swap it for a watch I have for her "Watch Dog" project.


Here's a photo from Land of Marbles...these are expensive collector's types but I had been on the hunt for cheap ones at the dollar stores.

PD feels sick. Rare for him. Poor guy, he suffers deeply because he is sick so rarely.

Tomorrow we were to have gone to the lawyer to sign wills. But the lawyer had a heart attack and has been transported to Shands. We are in lawyer limbo at the moment.

Happy Mother's Day to My Mom and to Plant Daddy's Mom. Hope they have a great Sunday...restful, peaceful.

As for me. LME took me yesterday to the sales at Macy's. She is the best shopper ever and she scored a queensize bed spread, pillow shams and bed skirt for $43!!!
Then we went to another mall to get green sheets to match. And to Pier One store to get throw pillows!

Lots of shopping. Great fun. Thanks!

Plant Daddy BBQ'd yesterday so I don't even have to cook tonight. I'll be lounging aroud and relaxing all afternoon. And out to the garden this evening once it's cool.

LME is here and we are heading out to shop. We'll probably head to Sanford for shoes at Dillards and outfits at Macy's. I need to scout for PD's Father's Day gift ,too.

Yesterday in the kitchen, I put up 2 quarts of zucchini spaghetti sauce...started with tomatoes sliced and roasted them with olive oil and garlic .... I put up a quart of yellow squash and onions. Cooked sweet potaote souffle for supper along with cornish hen and mashed potatoes.

My feet are sore from 6 hours in the kitchen, but I'm going to go pound around the concrete floors of the mall and enjoy my shopping day anyway. I can always rest tomorrow.

it's another.

I went to the gyn yesterday and got a clean bill of health. Then came home and noticed that Zues has a rash. I'll have to take him to the vet either this afternoon or Monday. Sheesh!

Lots and lots and lots of zucchini in the garden. I'm out of recipes. Send yours!

I am looking forward to seeing LME and doing some Mother's Day shopping tomorrow.

It's official...my book Mosaic Mom's Tesserae Tales has been rejected.
Got the letter in this morning's mail. Sigh!

What surprized me was this...the letter said there were only 300 submissions. I thought there would have been more than that.

Also it was nice to get a letter. The first place I sent the query never responded.

Andway, now to look at self-publishing!

Small gardens can be very productive!

Corn- 3 stalks yielded 5 ears.

Broccoli- 3 large heads and 2 small heads of broccoli from there 3 plants. There’s more out there but we’re letting it bolt to feed nectar to the bees.

Green Beans -That one large pot gave us enough for 2 meals.

Rosemary bush on the corner has been happy there for years.

Carrots, like the green beans are also being grown in tubs not in the ground. They are just about ready to pull and eat!

Lots of return on investment here.



Yesterday afternoon, I sliced zucchini and tomatoes onto a roasting pan. I slathered it with olive oil, salt and pepper, and added onions and garlic. Into the oven for dinner.

I decided to give the tomato scraps to Mr. Turtle. So I hiked out to his burrow about 3PM and left my offering at his door.

Plant Daddy and I were back in that area at 7:30PM to harvest corn and yellow squash. Mr. Turtle had already eaten all his scraps! Good Boy!

This was the first morning in quite a few days I woke up without inflamed private parts! What a relief! Damn bacteria anyway!

I have errands to run for first of the month today...two banks, post office and Publix. Have to make a trip to the Publix Pharmacy...for Plant Daddy, tho, not for me this time.

(Not to worry. it's a refill for his thumb medicine, antiflamitory stuff, NBD.)

I'll be excited to come home and read all the Palm Writers Group submissions for May!

PD fixed up his Z car this weekend.
I harvested Zucchini from the garden and went over to Jackie's house this afternoon. We had a nice visit and watched cardinals and a hummingbird at her feeder!

The "carrier" is made from a root beer carton, inserts removed then painted with enamel based paint.

Sorry for the outburst...I went to the gyn early this afternoon. He called this thing by a latin name and said its nickname is "opportunistic bacteria". Since the sinus meds had killed all the competetion, the opportunistic fellow...which must be related to sharks and jelly fish judging by the way it inflicts pain ...GRRRR...anyway, it had open season and took full advantage of me.
The good news...it just enjoyed its last supper. I got the goods to nuke it out of existence tonight. I expect to be having a happier day tomorrow!

After several more rewrites, the flash fiction piece for competetion is done.
Also finished a piece about Pachira. Money Tree. Sure could use some of that.

Have been sick all week with an infection. Went to the primary care yesterday. The nurse snickered at me. Thought I was too fat to climb on the exam table. But truth is I have a slug o pain and can't sit easily. Anyway Primary care wouldn't even look at me, but today I got much much worse so the gyn is taking me in thank god. Fever nausea sore throat flu...or maybe just the Whine Flu...who knows.

The newly upholstered sofa got delivered this morning. I love the monstera deliciosa pattern. Very retro 60's.